Issue #483
Wednesday, March 17, 2026
The Depth You Teach Is the Depth You’ve Gone
Part 2
by Clare Dunphy Hemani
In Part 1, we explored how teaching can flatten into autopilot when we stop deepening our own practice—how we can only truly teach what we’ve genuinely embodied, not just memorized. We looked at why burnout often stems from losing our sense of discovery rather than from overwork itself, and how self-assessment reveals not failures but the exact territory where our next breakthrough lives.
But awareness alone doesn’t create change. Recognizing that you’re teaching on autopilot or that there’s a gap between your principles and your lived experience is just the starting point. The question becomes: How do you actually deepen? How do you identify what you can’t see on your own?
This is where the real work begins.
Your Path Forward
How do you, as a teacher, address your personal developmental needs? How do you identify your blind spots?
This is where outside perspective becomes invaluable—whether from a trusted mentor, a peer study group, or colleagues you respect. The role isn’t to tell you what to change, but to help you see patterns you may not see yourself and how they impact your students, leading you to your own conclusions about the shifts you need to make. A skilled guide or mentor doesn’t tell you which exercises to teach differently. They help you see what your students are experiencing—how they respond when you’re truly present versus when you’re going through the motions.
They ask questions that open doors: “What do you notice in your own body?” “Where do you hold back?” “What if we look at it from another viewpoint?” They help you become a detective in your own practice, noticing patterns rather than isolated corrections.
Clare Dunphy Hemani is a world-renowned Pilates educator and mentor who has spent three decades translating classical Pilates wisdom into accessible frameworks for teacher development. A multi-sport athlete excelling in swimming, diving, field hockey, and lacrosse, Clare earned a full lacrosse scholarship to Northeastern University. She worked as a personal trainer and fitness professional for 18 years before a pivotal moment in 1995 changed everything.
Walking into Drago’s Gym in New York City, she encountered Romana Kryzanowska—Joseph Pilates’ direct student—and discovered a completely different approach to movement. Romana’s insistence on bringing “100% of yourself to every moment” transformed Clare’s entire understanding of what teaching could be.
Based in Newburyport, Massachusetts, Clare founded Progressive Bodyworks, where teachers worldwide experience her approach that honors classical roots while making the method accessible to all. She serves as an NPCP vice president and co-authored the Peak Pilates Comprehensive Education Program, in which she coached and trained teacher trainers internationally.
What distinguishes Clare’s work is her commitment to bridging intellectual knowledge and embodied understanding. Her mentorship programs and upcoming book emerged from years of research asking: How do we help teachers access the depth within them? Her mission: make Pilates accessible, pass authentic knowledge to the next generation, and keep this work’s transformative spirit alive.
Learn more at progressivebodyworksinc.com