Pilates Soulful Sunday: Your Style, Your Story

A Reformer student in Latvia wearing a sweatshirt that says “Create Your Own Story.”

When we first begin our Pilates journey, whether as a teacher or a client, we often start by learning from one person. It might be a teacher who inspires us or a mentor whose voice becomes the one we hear when we move. That first experience shapes us, gives us a foundation, and introduces us to the magic of the method.

Later, we often move into a training programme with a particular school. That school teaches a system, a structure, a way of understanding and delivering Pilates. And rightly so. You need something solid to build from. But here is where the journey really begins.

I always say, once you have finished your training with that school, that is when it is time to start exploring. Not halfway through. Changing too soon or trying to take in too many versions too quickly can be confusing. Whether you are doing mat work or a comprehensive programme, complete it with that school. Get a full understanding of their approach. Then, and only then, begin looking around. Start to explore other schools, other teachers, other styles. Not to copy or judge, but to understand. Pilates is not one voice. It is a method that lives through those who teach it.

Whether you come from dance, fitness, physiotherapy, or any other path, you bring something unique to how you see and share the work. Over time, you start to shape your own style. It might be influenced by your clients. It might be shaped by the studio you work in. If you teach in a dynamic reformer setting, your classes may lean into that energy and pace. If you run your own space, you can set the tone and choose the direction. You might stay rooted in the traditional work, or you may explore contemporary interpretations. There is no wrong way, as long as you understand the method and honour its principles.

I believe every teacher should know the traditional exercises. These movements are our heritage. But knowledge does not stop there. Understanding fascia, exploring new ways to move, and learning from the ever-growing science of the body can deepen our teaching. Not to change the Pilates method, but to enrich it.

This week, while teaching a Reformer course in Latvia, I saw one of the girls wearing a sweatshirt that caught my eye. It simply said, Create your own story. And it made me stop and reflect. It reminded me of how each of us, as teachers, is creating our own story every day. That story is not written in one course, one studio, or one client. It evolves, just as we do.

So today, on this Soulful Sunday, take a moment before the week begins to reflect. What is your Pilates story? What do you believe in when you teach? What influences have shaped you?

I often say, my teaching is a collection of all the wonderful people I have learned from. Each one left a mark, gave me something to think about, and opened my eyes to a new possibility. And that is something to celebrate.

In a world where we are often quick to criticise difference, let us instead celebrate it. Let us honour our own voices, our own stories, and the richness that diversity brings to our Pilates community.