{"id":42384,"date":"2026-01-05T20:42:31","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T20:42:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/usa\/ive-been-a-pilates-instructor-for-13-years-here-are-5-common-mistakes-i-see-clients-make-during-their-first-few-classes\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T20:42:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T20:42:31","slug":"ive-been-a-pilates-instructor-for-13-years-here-are-5-common-mistakes-i-see-clients-make-during-their-first-few-classes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/usa\/ive-been-a-pilates-instructor-for-13-years-here-are-5-common-mistakes-i-see-clients-make-during-their-first-few-classes\/","title":{"rendered":"I&#8217;ve been a Pilates instructor for 13 years. Here are 5 common mistakes I see clients make during their first few classes."},"content":{"rendered":"<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/66ccd0861aa2ac29ee346589?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Daniela does a lunge on a Pilates reformer in an empty studio.\"\/><figcaption>I&#039;ve been teaching Pilates classes for 13 years.<\/p>\n<p>Daniela Borodin<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>I&#039;ve been a Pilates instructor for 13 years and often see new clients make the same mistakes.<\/li>\n<li>One of the most common mistakes I see is not arriving early for the first couple of classes.<\/li>\n<li>New students also sometimes forget to follow my instructions and come dressed improperly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I became a Pilates instructor 13 years ago after reformer classes helped me recover from a severe back injury.<\/p>\n<p>Nowadays, I teach 20 group equipment classes weekly and see about 100 clients over seven days. With that many students, it&#039;s no surprise I see new clients make the same mistakes over and over.<\/p>\n<p>Here are the five most common mistakes I see students make during their first few Pilates classes.<\/p>\n<h2>Not arriving early for class<\/h2>\n<p>I recommend new clients arrive at the studio at least 10 minutes before class so that I have time to fit them into the equipment.<\/p>\n<p>For example, the Reformer carriage must be adjusted to fit their unique body type, height, and overall proportions. I also ensure the straps are even and at the correct length for the client.<\/p>\n<p>Arriving ahead of schedule allows students to get settled and stay focused during class.<\/p>\n<h2>Ignoring the instructor&#039;s cues<\/h2>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/66ccdb281aa2ac29ee346bda?format=jpeg\" alt=\"A female Pilates instructor adjusts a woman&#039;s form as she works out on a reformer next to two other women.\"\/><figcaption>It&#039;s important to listen to the instructor&#039;s directions during class.<\/p>\n<p>ilbusca\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Pilates classes involve verbal cueing, which means most teachers will describe the exercises instead of demonstrating them. However, following oral instructions can be particularly challenging for non-auditory learners.<\/p>\n<p>For example, when doing reformer Pilates classes, the springs can be adjusted to increase or decrease resistance. Many first-timers attend Pilates classes with a gym mindset, assuming heavier loads produce the best results.<\/p>\n<p>However, when taking a class, you should never ignore the instructor&#039;s directions on how much resistance to use. Following directions is essential for staying safe and seeing results.<\/p>\n<h2>Not breathing correctly during class<\/h2>\n<p>Pilates uses a technique known as lateral breathing to stabilize the trunk (chest, abdomen, pelvis, and back) while you move. This helps prevent unwanted pelvis movement or an arched back.<\/p>\n<p>Good form during exercise allows for proper muscle recruitment and helps prevent injuries, which is why I always remind my students to be mindful of their breath.<\/p>\n<p>However, it&#039;s important to remember that engaging your core and developing breathing techniques takes time. When in doubt, stick to your usual breathing pattern.<\/p>\n<h2>Not wearing grip socks and proper clothing<\/h2>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/66ccd9861aa2ac29ee346ab8?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Legs in Pilates springs, wearing black pants and pink socks with grips at the bottom.\"\/><figcaption>Most studios require students to wear socks with grips on the bottom.<\/p>\n<p>Raul Valcarcel\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Most studios require clients to wear socks with proper grips on the bottom for safety and hygiene purposes.<\/p>\n<p>Your feet may get slippery during movements requiring extra stability, so I recommend wearing them even if the studio doesn&#039;t mandate it.<\/p>\n<p>It&#039;s also important to avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing so the instructor can see your body and help you make the proper adjustments.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, it&#039;s best to keep long hair in a bun so it doesn&#039;t get caught in the springs or other parts of the equipment.<\/p>\n<h2>Not eating before class \u2014 or eating too much<\/h2>\n<p>Taking a Pilates class on an empty stomach is a big no-no. However, you also don&#039;t want to feel too full before class since Pilates is a core-centered workout.<\/p>\n<p>I recommend eating something light an hour before class. A protein shake or a rice cake with peanut butter are good options if you&#039;re taking an early class.<\/p>\n<p>For those who prefer to exercise on their lunch break, a small salad with light protein will do the trick. The most important thing, however, is to listen to your body and find what works for you.<\/p>\n<p><em>This story was originally published on August 28, 2024, and most recently updated on January 5, 2025.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Read the original article on Business Insider<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I&#039;ve been teaching Pilates classes for 13 years. Daniela Borodin I&#039;ve been a Pilates instructor for 13 years and often see new clients make the same mistakes. One of the most common mistakes I see is not arriving early for the first couple of classes. New students also sometimes forget to follow my instructions and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42385,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-42384","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-usa"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42384","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42384"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42384\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42385"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42384"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42384"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42384"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}