When I was starting out as a Pilates instructor, I was invited by my studio to teach as an intern. But I had to audition first. I was incredibly overwhelmed when I realized I had to plan an actual class that was meant to be taught to actual clients or worse, certified professional Pilates instructors. I scoured the internet trying to figure out exactly how to plan and remember my Pilates class plan while teaching. However, there were hardly any recourses that I could find. There were class programming sections in the back of my manuals but those weren’t realistic since some exercises I wasn’t comfortable teaching yet, and some are exercises that many people either can’t do or can’t do well enough to “feel” anything. The only resource that I was able to find was this incredibly useful Body Harmonics blog post. It helped me out a lot but that was the only thing I could find. I used the methods mentioned in the Body Harmonic blog post and planned out my class.
Unfortunately, when I did my audition, I still struggled which is to be expected as I was still pretty new. I also finished 30 minutes early. I realized that I had to learn to plan classes that were engaging, effective, and lasted long enough so that clients felt like they were getting what they were paying for – a full 50-minute Pilates session. After trying and trying again, I continued to use the system that I had discovered in the Body Harmonics blog post but I played around with it more and more until I came up with my own system for planning my Pilates classes. Through trial and a lot of error, I developed a hand-written Pilates notecard system that helped me to get through the first few years of teaching classes as a new Pilates instructor.
I have seen many other instructors type their classes out on a document and print them out for classes. I started planning classes this way but never really liked it. I always preferred hand-writing my Pilates classes.
I still love my hand-written system and recommend it to many of my Pilates instructor friends. However, a lot has changed in technology and notetaking since I first started planning Pilates classes. Recently, I have been using my iPad Pro and notetaking apps, such as Notability and Good Notes, for unrelated topics more and more. I had also been using my iPad for Pilates-related administrative stuff such as connecting to music or checking in clients at some of the studios that I work at. One day a light bulb went off in my head and I realized that I could start planning class on my iPad using my notetaking apps.
I created a simple class planner with 11 sections for Pilates classes for up to 55 minutes. And it’s completely free!
This new digital Pilates instructor class planner is a PDF document based on my blog post and my video showing how I plan and organize my Pilates classes.
Each section accounts for roughly five minutes of a class. Though you can always run over or under, depending on the exercise, the sequence of the exercises, and the clients.
At the top, you can write the name of the class and any props you may need so that you don’t forget to grab them or have clients grab them before class starts.
There is a section where you can put the name of the exercise at the top.
There is enough space to write any extra information you need to write underneath the name of the Pilates exercise. For example, breathing cues, imagery cues, reps, or sets – whatever helps you out the most.
To the right of the Pilates’ exercise name is a section where you can write down the springs needed just in case you forget. Sometimes, if I haven’t thought or done an exercise in a long time or if it is a new modification, I can easily forget which springs to use. Writing them down and saving them means that doesn’t happen. You can also write the color of the springs needed in the color that is needed so it is easier for you to pick up in a busy class.
And next to the springs you can write down any props that might be in the specific Pilates exercise. This allows you a chance to tell your clients to grab the prop before they are in a position where they can’t reach them. I recommend color-coding by the body position. This is one of the tips that I picked up in the Body Harmonics blog post.
They are numbered in order so that it is easy to create a nice flow without getting lost in your notes.
And at the bottom of the page, there is a section for any extra notes you may need to write down.
This Pilates Class Planner can be downloaded to be used in your notetaking app or printed. You can fold it in half or cut it in half and put them in a half binder as I do with my analog system.
If you are still a student Pilates instructor, you can write down your planned class and then immediately turn the planner over and write down any notes you have after you teach the session. You can write down what went well and what didn’t, where you can improve, and anything you forgot. So not only is this a great planner for Pilates instructors, but it’s a great study resource for Pilates instructor students.
You can read my blog post that goes into more detail on how I plan and organize my classes.
Or watch this video.
This FREE DOWNLOADABLE class planner can be printed out or used on an iPad or tablet. With a note-taking app such as GoodNotes or Notability.
I hope that you find this free Pilates instructor class planner useful. If you do use this free Pilates class planner, I would love to see how you used it for your classes or if you made any changes that best suited you and your practice. You can write it down in the comment section or tag me on Instagram @breathesweatstretchpilates
Do you have your own tried and true system for planning a Pilates class? I would love to hear about and I’m sure other Pilates instructors and Pilates student instructors would too.