Pilates Soulful Sunday: Long Days of Summer

A peaceful countryside sunset, inviting reflection during the lingering light of a soulful summer evening

There’s something about the long days of summer that invites us to pause. With sunlight stretching deep into the evening and the pace of life softening, if only slightly, it becomes easier to find small moments of stillness. For Pilates teachers, this season often brings a mix of energy and unpredictability: clients away on holidays, studios quieter, or workshops planned in sun-soaked venues.

Rather than resist the slower pace or the change in attendance, what if we embraced it?

Summer offers a rare opportunity to reset. Just as nature blooms with fullness before retreating again in autumn, so can we allow ourselves to open up during this season. Open up to creativity, to new inspiration, or simply to rest.

It's not just the longer evenings that shape this time of year. For many of us, it begins with early mornings. Personally, I love the early hours before the day begins. There’s a clarity that comes with being awake before the world stirs. It’s my time to reflect, to prepare, and to do the things that matter before the schedule fills up. That quiet space at the beginning of the day is often when I feel most grounded.

But when the day starts early and stretches late into the evening, it’s easy to overlook how much time we’re giving away. The extended daylight can trick us into doing more and resting less. As teachers, we often encourage our clients to honour their need for recovery.

This season is a reminder to apply that same care to ourselves.

In these quieter moments, ask yourself:

• Am I giving myself the same attention I offer my clients?

• Is there a movement I haven’t explored for a while that I could revisit in my own body?

• What would it look like to teach with lightness, to reflect the season in my tone, pacing, or breath?

Teaching Pilates in rhythm with the season doesn’t mean every class needs to be slow and soft. It can mean encouraging flow, ease, and awareness. It might mean more time outdoors, incorporating breath-work that mirrors the rising and falling energy of summer, or even inviting your clients to take time in transitions.

We often talk about control in Pilates, but summer reminds us of the power of surrender. Letting go of tight schedules, leaning into the light, and trusting that quieter months are just as valuable as the busy ones.

Let this be a time to reconnect with joy in teaching, in movement, and in your own practice. Allow the long days of summer to stretch not just across your calendar, but through your breath, your intention, and your presence, on and off the mat.

Wishing you a calm, sunlit Sunday