Pilates Instructor

[lll111]

I am taking a Pilates class offered by the city. Unfortunately the instructor has an injury which does not allow her to do any of the poses. By looking at her you can not tell she has an injury but she informed the class of her limitations, so basically verbally tells the class what poses to do. Being a beginner class this is not helpful at all and everyone ends up looking at each other for what to do. She has this injury for a 6 months or more now and will take at least another half a year or more to recover, if she can fully recover I am not sure.

The instructor thinks this is a positive because everyone was babied previously in having the instructor show all the poses up at the front of the class?

I think I am better off using youtube and doing my Pilates workout rather than paying for classes like this.

Another thing which I was frustrated about was that the instructor had us do some wall exercises, we are in this big gym so 5 people were on one wall and another 5 people at the other wall on the other side of the gym. For 90% of the exercise the instructor is facing only 5 people at the one wall, so much so that I could not even hear what she was saying about the stretch. And even when she turned to look at the other wall of people there was no point in doing so since she is standing close to the first 5 people, not even in the middle of the gym that looking at us is no point unless she wanted to yell across to us to help us improve what we were doing.

Needless to say I am not going to any more classes and will try to get some of my money back.

[Zonny]

I wouldn't pay for that either! The reason that pilates classes are so expensive is that they're normally small so you can get individual attention. If pilates classes could be done just verbally, why not do them via conference call?

[r0c0upons]

wow, lame!

I've heard so many good things about youtube videos for stuff!

[abbasgirl]

That's ridiculous! They should be giving you ALL of your money back.

[Decaf]

That's ridiculous! They should be giving you ALL of your money back.

I agreed! Full refund or another instructor.

[kmiecp]

Here is what you need to know:
1. In Pilates it is much more beneficial to you if the instructors describes the instructions and than watches the students do it. Of course, they need to be very clear with their instructions (but this has nothing to do with being injured or not). The instructions should be clear enough that everyone can follow step-by-step with no confusion. Because the moves are all about the strength of the core- they will look different when everyone does them (especially a novice and a pro). Watching the instructor might even be more harmful- as it can encourage you to "push too hard" in order to do what they are doing. (this is likely what will happen if you watch a video on youtube)

2. I feel for the instructor- she will likely lose her job because she is injured (and ppl like you are bailing on her). That just sucks all around and is probably part of the reason she is not being super friendly about it. These type of instructors are not making tons of money as it is, so try to be empathetic.

3. Be more vocal if you don't understand something. Just speak up in class -"excuse me, I can't follow that move, can you explain again?" she's not a mind reader- she's a pilates teacher

[SassyAshley]

I can fully understand her wanting to try to work through this but here is my issue, you are paying money to take a class and are being given the service you have paid for in my opinion. I do feel for the instructor who is hurt and I can see why she is trying to work through it. But at the same time you are paying for a work out and to put it another way you have a instructor who is limited due to injury is she able to walk around and help you to make sure you are in the right pose or give additional instructions? If not than her offering this service and being paid for it would be like a gym taking your membership when their equipment is not functional as you are paying for a work out you are not getting.

Like OP mentioned she could go on YouTube the reason you pay to take the class is to have the instruction there to help you, make sure you are doing correctly and to have that person to person interaction. If her injury is preventing this than you are paying for service that is not being offered. Unless you were told of this before you paid and asked if it was ok than you should have your money refunded or another class offered to you.

[francine1985]

everyone can look up how to do pretty much everything online for free. including written how to guides and youtube videos physically showing you what to do. this is FREE if someone pays money for something its because they want the service in person taught by a real live person. not dictated by someone across the room with their back turned to you half the time.

i feel for her too. but maybe she needs to on temporary medical leave or depending how she was hurt go after an insurance company or the individual responsible for the injury.

would you accept sorry I'm injured if you took your car to a mechanic who instructed you how to fix it yourself after you paid because they were injured. many mechanics aren't paid much although it still costs a fortune to pay for one.

how about going to get your taxes done. would you be ok paying to get your taxes done in person and being instructed on how to fill in the form yourself instead? (because paying 50+ dollars for something you can do yourself for free is fine as long as it keeps someone who is unable to properly do their job employed)

would you like to take a loved one to a doctor who tells you how to set a bone and make a cast, or how to give anesthetic with a needle and stitch up a cut?

[Ciel]

Check online for your City's Recreation policy on withdrawals and how to submit your request for a refund. You may have to wait some weeks for a refund if a partial one is still possible to attain (sometimes after a certain number of classes i.e. three, a refund may not be available) and there can be an administrative charge.

I have two comments about the instructor-did you approach her after class to inform her that you would like her to circulate between the two groups when wall exercises distances everyone? She might not have considered adapting her lesson to ensure both groups got confirmation of her instructions at each wall. After all, you are having to take instruction based on verbal directions.

As for the instructor's work term-in my experience of looking at jobs on municipal sites in Hamilton/GTA, I have noticed many recreational program instructors are hired part-time and usually just for specific programs; the pay is not stunning per hour given that some rec positions do require CPR certification and sometimes other qualifications that cost market rates to obtain. It is highly unlikely that the instructors have any medical benefits. So this instructor, since she has the position for this program, is likely ensuring she maintains her income from the City by still instructing. Allow for the possibility that due to her injury she might very well need this income thus she is leading the class.

[lll111]

I have two comments about the instructor-did you approach her after class to inform her that you would like her to circulate between the two groups when wall exercises distances everyone? She might not have considered adapting her lesson to ensure both groups got confirmation of her instructions at each wall. After all, you are having to take instruction based on verbal directions.

As for the instructor's work term-in my experience of looking at jobs on municipal sites in Hamilton/GTA, I have noticed many recreational program instructors are hired part-time and usually just for specific programs; the pay is not stunning per hour given that some rec positions do require CPR certification and sometimes other qualifications that cost market rates to obtain. It is highly unlikely that the instructors have any medical benefits. So this instructor, since she has the position for this program, is likely ensuring she maintains her income from the City by still instructing. Allow for the possibility that due to her injury she might very well need this income thus she is leading the class.

I have withdrawn from the class.

Most likely there is no medical benefits for the instructor since this is a part time employment situation for the instructor, but that does not make it right to have others pay for her short comings, which are unfortunate and not her fault but, if it is an issue of income then she should find another way of making money. This is the same as francine1985 posted, if you are paying for a service then you expect it to be given not given verbal instructions on how to do the activity.

The instructors limitations are such that any adjustments or corrections that need to be made are also done verbally. Another example of not understanding what was being said during class or wondering if I was doing something correctly is that I had to look up online once I got home the correct posture and variations of said postures.

[lll111]

Here is what you need to know:
1. In Pilates it is much more beneficial to you if the instructors describes the instructions and than watches the students do it. Of course, they need to be very clear with their instructions (but this has nothing to do with being injured or not). The instructions should be clear enough that everyone can follow step-by-step with no confusion. Because the moves are all about the strength of the core- they will look different when everyone does them (especially a novice and a pro). Watching the instructor might even be more harmful- as it can encourage you to "push too hard" in order to do what they are doing. (this is likely what will happen if you watch a video on youtube)

I've had a different pilates instructor before that did the exercises with the class, showed variations to the exercise, explained that not all will be able to stretch as far and walked around while we did the exercise and gave advise on adjustments.

[Midnightly]

yah i'd be asking for my money back.. they could atleast get in a temp instructor i mean really if if this was a 6 week injury it may be different but... make an effort pull someone from the class to stand upfront to be a guide for people to watch, bring in large images to show people what to follow.. don't just stand there and stay the poses with instructions

[keeko1]

Youtube is always a better (not to mention FREE) option. I watch Blogilates from time to time...try searching her on YT.