Dear Siri,
Can you give me advice on how to deal with clients who want to be “beaten up”? I sometimes get clients coming from a fitness background (these tend to be women, but can also be men) who don’t quite understand the depth of Pilates and the fact that they have to learn the fundamentals first to build a good foundation. They seem disappointed that their first sessions don’t feel like a boot camp class. I know how to teach them this over the long haul, but what is the best way to handle these clients initially. I have even lost one or two from the beginning because they are afraid I will not work them hard enough. Victoria
Dear Victoria,
When I started working with horses, my approach to people changed too. Some people are like racehorses and need to be exhausted a little bit first to get their attention and respect. If you have the full system, it’s easier. Someone like Madonna, I will start on the Electric Chair first, which are the heaviest springs in the studio, do the whole chair, then take them to the Cadillac and do all the double legs with heavy springs followed by the single legs followed by the arm springs, then Series-of-five with the Magic Circle. Now you’ve worked them and gotten their attention, take them to the Reformer for their basics and tell them you want to check their alignment and discover things about them, we all like someone to correct us. Demonstrate Pull-ups on the Wunda Chair on one spring first. They wont be able to do it and again, you’ll get their respect. Finish with Pull-ups and Reverse Pull-ups on the Cadillac, that’ll make them sore and they wont think Pilates is for the injured and weak. We are in the service business and if someone asks a masseuse for deep tissue and she does lymphatic that client won’t return. Think of Martial Arts, someone comes to a class wanting to learn how to beat someone up, but it’s really all about self-mastery and englightenment. But, they dont know that, so you have to trick them! Siri
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Siri
I was in a Pilates studio located in a gym and saw an instructor teach flying leg springs to a beginner client, who was complaining that it hurt her back, the instructor just kept saying “work harder”, I wanted to intervene but it wasn’t my place, what would you have done?
Hi,
I have also seen new teachers give advanced exercises to people because of their insecurity, thinking, ‘if I give them the hard ones they will really think I’m a good trainer.’ I have been in England and had a teacher next to me give the short box series without the feet in the strap to a beginner, telling them it was more advanced to not be hooked in! Studio politics are tough. If you are the owner or manager, you have the right to interfere in that person’s hour and politely say, “I think you should try it like this for that person.” When you see a dangerous situation, someone gets or is about to get hurt, and you are just another instructor, you’re in tricky waters. Recently when guest teaching in New York City , a newer teacher was giving the Super Advanced Headstands and Reverse Headstands to a DUET next to me, not even spotting them. I went to the studio owner and told her she might want to check the ego of that teacher because of the liability factor. There have been many lawsuits lately, many, and if you honestly tell the owner or manager you saw something you thought dangerous for a client and perhaps the staff should have a meeting about protocol, that will work. It is up to the Alpha Horse to control the behavior in the herd. SDG
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Siri-
Did Romana create the jumpboard? I’ve wondered if that was Joe’s design or it was added by someone later on? Christine
Dear Christine-
Yes, Romana created the jumpboard. She said NASA came to her looking for exercises for the astronauts to do in space. Now, of course, the dancers love it, and those of us who weren’t dancers love it. It is rather ridiculous, though, to see people make up hour classes on the jumpboard. Pilates is supposed to be no impact on the joints and it should be used for just five or six minutes to raise the heartrate and have some fun. Siri
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Dear Siri,
Our club has been offering Pilates for several years, but recently we have encountered a growing problem. It seems that more and more of our members are insisting they must wear shoes when using the equipment because of every imaginable foot problem. We have taken a hard line on this by not making any exceptions because as we continue to enroll new members, the problem would only continue to grow. We have allowed the use of socks, Pilates socks and a ballet-like slipper. However we are now being threatened with civil rights action and law suits because we will not allow these people to wear shoes. What is your position on this, and what exceptions, if any, do you make in these situations? Jim
Dear Jim,
First of all, it’s an education issue. As gym members are used to wearing shoes from being on treadmills and around heavy weights that might fall on their toes, they don’t know the difference. If you tell your clients the foot bar on the Reformer has been designed to strengthen the arches, toes, heels and balls of the feet, and that you can’t see their toe position in shoes, they may understand. The footwork stimulates the point in the feet like reflexology, and you can’t get a foot massage with shoes on! Also mention shoes are not worn in yoga class. If you have an intake form or policy statement, your policy on shoes could be include a section on proper attire. For example, it is better to not wear sweatshirts as the teachers would like to see as much of the body as possible. Give them a reason, rather than a rule. If it is a fear issue, from germs and fungus that are rampant in gyms, having your clients spray tea-tree oil on equipment after each use makes them know the equipment is always cleaned. Socks can be cleaner than bare feet and are required by law in some states such as New York, but they can be slippery; so selling sock with non-slip bottoms, like ToeSox, in the club store is a good idea. Shoes are allowed on the other apparatus besides the Reformer, such as the Electric Chair and Ladder Barrel, so sometimes I let them start on other equipment and then ask them to take their shoes off for the Reformer. Shoes are necessary on the Reformer if any one has a neurological problem like neuropathy where they can’t feel their feet, or cerebral palsy or paralysis. Then, we hold their feet. Use humor, common sense and a written orientation to get your point across. Good luck!
SDG
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Siri Dharma Galliano is one of the leading Pilates trainers in North America and Europe. She is a renowned New York Pilates instructor with over 20 years of experience, she has trained actors on location in feature films such as The Matrix 2, The Matrix 3, Batman, and the Kill Bill films. In addition to her studio and film work, Ms. Galliano has traveled the world helping to sculpt the bodies of celebrity clients such as Madonna, Sting, Uma Thurman, Cameron Diaz, Carrie- Anne Moss and Jessica Lange.
Ms. Galliano’s unique approach to fitness brings students an awareness of Pilates techniques and health traditions regardless of their age or physical condition. Her instruction incorporates a combination of focus, joy and a refreshing sense of humor.