Career Trajectories of a Pilates Instructor/Movement Coach
A few years back I heard somebody describe 5 different teaching trajectories of a Pilates instructor. I appreciated hearing it articulated and felt that I had been aware of it sooner, it could have helped me during moments in my career when I felt stagnant or unsure of what to do. But with time, I came to disagree with the 5 this person had listed and instead came up with my own.
A Generalist: A Generalist is an instructor who knows a little bit about a lot of different situations and conditions. They can deliver a safe and effective session to 80% (my estimate) of the people who come through the door but they might not have the knowledge to go deep into any specific condition or situation. The perk of being a generalist is the variety of people who you get to work with. There is the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of situations and the variety you have in your schedule can be rewarding. Some generalists might become tired of not being able to go deep into helping somebody with a specific condition or situation but you always have the opportunity to learn more!
A Specialist: A Specialist is an instructor who has specialized in a specific condition or situation - women’s health, scoliosis, neurological conditions, joint replacements, etc. When you choose to go the specialist route, I recommend doing continuing education on the subject from a variety of fields. I have found tremendous value hearing not just Pilates instructors talking about neurological conditions but hearing body workers, medical professionals, and researchers all discussing this topic - for example. It is also important to become comfortable reading research so that you can be informed on the latest findings for the topic you are specializing in. A benefit of being a specialist is that you gain great depth on a particular topic and can feel confident in supporting people with this situation you are focused on. Another benefit is that if you are good at what you do, you will likely develop a stream of referrals in your community. If you are specialized in working with clients with osteoporosis and physical therapists, massage therapists, and physicians are aware of this, they will quickly think and feel comfortable referring people to you.
Education: If you feel driven to help people become a Pilates instructor or movement coach, you might be called to go the route of education. I have run into a false notion that this is a lucrative path but I promise you, after 15 years of experience I can tell you that this is not true and not the reason to go this path. You go down this path if you feel driven to support the next generation of instructors and coaches. For me, I went this route because I felt that high quality education and support should be more accessible and that if I focused my efforts on helping people become more skilled instructors, I was thereby helping more people than I could by only working with clients. If you go this path, you would likely start as a mentor or apprentice for an existing educational outfit. This experience is invaluable and can shed a lot of light on what is involved, what you like, and what you see could be improved. Then, if you felt called to start your own, you have some experience and insight on how to proceed. There’s a lot more to say on this subject.
Business: If you love teaching but also enjoy being the decision maker, supporting other instructors, learning or utilizing business skills, business can be a great avenue to pursue. This route could include becoming a studio manager, a department director, administration at a clinic, in addition to being a business owner, whether your own independent business or a franchise owner. If you go this route, it is imperative to learn essential skills for operating a business: marketing, accounting, management, organizational skills, funding and banking, and more. People pursuing the business track wear many hats and can find this variety enjoyable and mentally stimulating. It also has the potential to be consuming and exhausting. It helps to delegate, find support when you need help, and recognize when you need a break.
Would love to hear what you have to think about these topics. Are there any you would add to this list? Or anything you would add or change to the descriptions?