Can I Teach Pilates At My Yoga Studio?
Yoga is not a work-out, it is a work-in. And this is the point of spiritual practice; to make us teachable; to open up our hearts and focus our awareness so that we can know what we already know and be who we already are. – Rolf Gates
Teach Pilates in Studio? It brings in so many doubts and concerns about how to begin, what the cost will be, which booking software to use, how to succeed, and many such related questions.
These questions are not new, as every business wants to know the answers to these questions. If you own a yoga studio or run a yoga business, then much of your success or failure depends on what type of classes you are offering at your yoga studio.
Many yoga teachers only follow the standard norm and begin their journey of teaching with regular yoga sessions, which include the basics of Pranayam, Vinyasa yoga, Hatha yoga, Iyengar yoga, Kundalini yoga, Ashtanga yoga, Bikram yoga, Yin yoga, Restorative yoga, Prenatal yoga and many more.
It’s good that you are working according to the standards of various types of yoga classes. But do you know your customer or client may need something else that you are not offering at your yoga studio?
Like multitasking is imbibed in the corporate world, a yoga teacher should adopt multiple types of yoga and fitness classes to suit everyone’s needs and to earn more. Simply sticking to one type of class is not enough in the routine.
Can I Teach Pilates At My Yoga Studio?
So the question that pops to many yoga teachers is that can I teach Pilates at my yoga studio? The answer is yes, you can teach Pilates at your yoga studio if you are trained in that field, and No If you don’t know the basic understanding of Pilates.
Pilates is similar to yoga to some extent, but comes with many differences as well.
If we talk about yoga in the true sense, it is more of a spiritual practice, whereas Pilates is a body fitness class.
Teaching Pilates, as you are helping the client build their body, develop core strength and flexibility. It is not the same as yoga, and if you want to teach Pilates and yoga, then you should be trained in both, not just yoga. Because physical fitness means proper execution of muscular engagement and alignment, even over some kinds of machines.
What Is Similar And Different In Pilates And Yoga?
The similarity in Pilates and Yoga is that both demand alignment of the body, maintain balance and flexibility and help in developing core strength of the body. Obviously, both also improve your blood circulation and oxygen level in your body.
The difference in Pilates and yoga (besides the origin difference as Pilates was created by Joseph Pilates in mid 1900s and Yoga originated 5,000 years ago in India mainly for spiritual growth) are many.
- Yoga is only performed on mats, and Pilates can be done on both mats and exercise machines.
- In Pilates, your focus is to build strength in the body, leaving the mind and soul aspect
- In Yoga, you need to first know and learn the breath rhythm and control whereas in Pilates, it is a secondary part.
- Pilates wants to engage more of your muscles and limbs, whereas Yoga wants you to engage in mind, body and soul.
- Doing Pilates can make you a good athlete, whereas doing Yoga can make you a yogi or spiritual master.
- Performing yoga takes you to a higher realm in life and promotes ma ore relaxed mind.
In yoga, there is a combination of standing poses, seated poses, and lying down, and some yoga poses involve inversions (upside down). So knowing the differences between the two workouts will answer your question as to what classes to offer at your yoga studio: Pilates, Yoga or Both.
Know Your Target Audience
It’s not necessary that you have to offer only yoga or only Pilates at your yoga studio. You are running a business, and you should know your target audience. Maybe many don’t like doing yoga or Pilates.
So when a student or client joins your yoga studio, ask him or her what he or she likes to do or learn and why. You can ask them about their fitness goals or what they want out of such classes. You can prepare a questionnaire that they can fill out at the time of joining, and you can judge their priorities.
Suppose a student is into depression and anxiety, then teaching him yoga is the best option. The breathing techniques in yoga are designed to help with relaxation and reduce stress.
If your client is sporty and wants more strength in their limbs and muscles, then teaching Pilates is best for them. As in teaching Pilates, the breath is used more as a technique to supply the muscles with the energy needed to exercise effectively. This makes Pilates a great supplement to participating in more aerobic sports because it helps manage the quantity of oxygen coming in and travelling to the muscles.
Similarly, if someone comes to you to lose weight, then she can go for either of the classes, as both yoga and Pilates help in reducing weight. Though doing Pilates over machines will certainly help burn the extra fat and help to reduce weight quickly, as Pilates exercises are intense.
Can I Learn Pilates If I am A Yoga Teacher?
Yes, learning has no bounds. You can learn anything if you want; all you need is the will to learn. You just need to love Pilates and want to share that with others and teach Pilates.
For more Pilates courses and programs in Australia, click here
Conclusion
Generally Pilates course takes between 6 weeks and a year to complete. These days, so many online classes train you in Pilates.
The most sought-after Pilates certified qualification that most gyms or fitness centres will ask for is a Level 3 Diploma in teaching Pilates. This, though, depends if you seek a job as a Pilates instructor in a gym. Otherwise, at your studio, basic Pilates training for a few weeks is enough to teach Pilates in the yoga studio.
Finally, it’s all within you what you want to do. Your trust and confidence in teaching Pilates class and yoga are your own enthusiasm and hard work. Once you understand what you want to teach and see your target audience, you can teach Pilates in your yoga studio. Remember, where there is a will, there is a way!