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Hi everyone,
I hope you’ve been well, and I wish you all a happy new year and a strong start to 2026!
Today, I would like to talk about class titles and its implications.
In our Pilates journey, we often see a persistent question: which class is truly the right fit for me? Students and practitioners from beginners, intermediate and advanced routinely look for guidance on what class to choose, which type of classes to take, and which teacher aligns with their needs.
In this edition, I am not here to provide direct answers. I want to share questions for instructors, practitioners, and students alikeand encourage them to engage in thoughtful reflection.
We see studios adopting varying approaches, with some categorizing classes by skill level and others fostering an inclusive environment where all levels intersect. But how significant do you think this distinction is in enhancing the learning experience?
Consider this: why might an instructor sometimes choose to introduce advanced moves, like The Snake, in a group class of ten or fifteen participants? Should the preferences of a few clients dictate the pace of the entire class, while the rest are struggling or simply trying to keep up? What drives us to pursueadvanced moves? Do you think these decisions are driven by fear of losing advanced students, our egos or the need to impress? And what do you think we lose when we do that? It is essential to consider the potential consequences of making such choices.
Effective teaching demands attention and commitment and care to the needs of every participant, rather than focusing solely on the strongest or most experienced person in the room.
Each person is unique. Each body is unique. That is what makes our duty as instructors both challenging and rewarding.
In an advanced class, for instance, you might find a strong yet inflexible participant, someone skilled in movement but recovering from injury, or an experienced athlete new to the Reformer. So what do class titles really tell us in these situations?
Regardless of the location – be it in Dubai or elsewhere – the essence of Reformer group classes lies not in their labels but in their execution. The true measure of a class’s value lies in how the instructors observe participants, choose appropriate exercises, and make essential adaptations.
Our primary goal is not for everyone to do the same thing or for uniformity in the movement amongst all the participants. Instead, we strive for each and every one to do the right movement for themselves.
And after the class, perhaps this is the only question that matters: how successful was I in meeting my students’ or clients’ needs? Did I meet their expectations? Because in the end, we succeed only if they succeed.
Warm regards,
Anesti