Pilates Wellness Wednesday: Anxiety Dreams and the Teaching Mind

Waking from a Pilates anxiety dream—wide-eyed, tangled hair, and heart racing in bed.

Let’s be honest. No matter how long we’ve been teaching Pilates, those sleepless nights filled with bizarre, panic-laced dreams creep in from time to time. Yes, even seasoned professionals have them. Anxiety dreams are a real thing, and if you’ve ever bolted upright in bed after dreaming that your Reformer class was underwater or that your mat turned into a trampoline mid roll-up, you’re not alone.

These dreams are often reflections of the care we bring to our work. We want things to go well. We want our clients to feel supported, safe, and seen. And sometimes, the subconscious expresses that passion in strange and unsettling ways.

Classic Pilates Anxiety Dreams

Here are a few that many of us have experienced or are about to:

• Only one person shows up for your fully booked class

  You keep looking at the door. No one else arrives. The studio echoes with awkward small talk and the sound of one lonely spine stretch forward.

• A client arrives who clearly knows more than you do

  They start cueing you mid class. You smile politely while internally questioning every decision you’ve ever made.

• A well known local teacher drops into your class unannounced

  They lie down, fold their arms, and say, “Show me what you’ve got.” And just like that, you forget your entire lesson plan and your name.

• The equipment vanishes

  You dream you arrive at the studio and everything, Reformers, mats, springs, the lot, is gone. You're expected to teach anyway.

• Your voice doesn’t work

  You open your mouth to cue, and nothing comes out. The clients all start doing their own thing. Someone starts doing burpees.

• Your class turns into a dance recital

  Halfway through, everyone begins performing choreographed routines. Someone asks for the samba warm-up. You panic. You forgot your sequins.

• You forget what Pilates is

  You stand at the front of the class, arms stretched, and your brain goes blank. No hundreds. No footwork. Just silence.

• All your clients are suddenly your old school teachers

  And they’re not impressed with your shoulder bridge variations.

• You’re the client, not the teacher

  Someone else is teaching, and you're doing everything wrong and being loudly corrected in front of the whole room.

Why These Dreams Matter

Dreams like these are often your nervous system's way of processing pressure. Whether you're preparing for a new class, launching a course, or recovering from a tough client session, your brain stays busy long after the lights go out. It's a sign you care.

Rather than brushing these dreams off, take a moment to reflect. Is there something you're worried about? Is your schedule too full? Are you doubting your abilities despite all your training? These dreams can be signposts. Use them as a reminder to breathe, to regroup, and maybe to laugh.

Tips for Calming the Dream Spiral

• Prepare, but don’t over prepare

  It’s good to be ready, but trust your skill. You’ve done this before.

• Keep a dream journal

  You’ll be surprised how funny the dreams become once they’re on paper.

• Talk to other teachers

  Share your dreams over a coffee or in your teacher WhatsApp group. You’ll quickly realise you're not alone.

• Let go of perfection

  Some of the best classes happen when something doesn’t go to plan.

  
  

Remember, anxiety dreams don’t mean you’re not good at what you do. They mean you’re human. And in our world of precision, control, and fluidity, sometimes the most healing thing we can do is simply to laugh, share, and know we're in this together.

Have you had a Pilates-related anxiety dream? Share it with us. We promise not to analyse it too much.