Introduction
One of the most important things a Pilates teacher can learn is that an exercise does not have one single purpose. The movement may look the same, but what you are asking the client to achieve can be very different. The same exercise can challenge strength in one person, improve coordination in another, build confidence in someone else, or simply give another client the opportunity to move with less tension and more awareness. This is where teaching Pilates becomes more than knowing the repertoire.
The Exercise Is Not the Whole Story
It is easy to think about exercises in terms of what they are called and how they are performed. But a good teacher is also thinking about the person doing the exercise. What does this client need today? What are they capable of? What are you trying to develop? What are you observing? And what changes when you alter the range, tempo, resistance, support or cue? The exercise itself may not change at all. Your intention behind it can.
One Exercise, Different Intentions
For one client, the focus may be on the hips and pelvis. For another, the focus may be on building strength. For someone returning from an injury, you may be using the same movement to gradually rebuild confidence and tolerance. For an older client, you might reduce the range and focus more on control, stability and quality of movement.
The exercise has not necessarily changed. The teaching has. That is an important distinction. Pilates teaching is not about finding one perfect version of an exercise and giving it to everyone. It is about understanding what the exercise can offer and then deciding how it can serve the person in front of you.
Cueing Should Have a Reason
The same principle applies to cueing. A cue that works beautifully for one client may not be useful for another. Some clients need more information. Some need less. Some respond to a visual image, while others need a clear physical instruction. Sometimes a hands-on cue helps someone understand a movement they could not find through words alone.
The goal is not to use as many cues as possible. The goal is to give the right information at the right moment. That requires observation. It requires listening. And it requires the teacher to notice what is actually happening rather than simply delivering the cues they have memorized.
The Repertoire Gives You Options. Understanding Gives You Direction
A strong Pilates teacher does not need to constantly find a different exercise for every client. Sometimes the answer is the same exercise, taught differently. The depth comes from understanding why you are choosing it, what you are looking for, and how you can adapt your teaching when the body in front of you tells you something different.
This is why Pilates education should go beyond memorising exercises. Teachers need time to observe, practise, teach, question, receive feedback and develop their ability to think. Because the goal is not simply to know more exercises. The goal is to become better at knowing what to do with the person in front of you.
Final Thoughts
At Anita Horry Academy, we believe strong Pilates teaching comes from developing understanding, not simply collecting exercises. Through Classical Pilates education, mentorship and practice, teachers develop the ability to observe movement, understand the repertoire and make thoughtful decisions for the individual in front of them.
If you want to deepen your teaching and become a more confident, thoughtful Pilates teacher, explore the Anita Horry Academy Pilates Teacher Training.
Learn the repertoire. Understand the work. Develop your eye. Become a 3rd Generation Pilates Teacher.
Anita Horry
is a 2nd Generation Pilates Master Teacher, founder of the Anita Horry Academy, and an internationally respected educator, mentor, and business coach for Pilates professionals.
A fully certified Classical Pilates teacher, Anita holds a degree in accountancy and began her career in the corporate world before transitioning fully into the world of movement and wellness. Her teaching has been profoundly shaped by the mentorship of industry legends Lolita San Miguel and Bob Liekens, whose wisdom continues to influence her work.
Anita Horry is an international speaker and educator, recognized for her dedication to elevating Pilates standards worldwide. She serves as a juror for the Pilates Method Alliance’s International Teacher Training Accreditation Program (ITTAP), supporting the global standardization of excellence in Pilates education.
Anita is also a judge for the 2025 Pilates Journal Awards in Los Angeles and has presented at international events such as the Pilates Journal in California, USA.
Through the Anita Horry Academy, she offers a comprehensive Pilates teacher training program, hands-on mentorship, and business coaching for instructors ready to build purpose-driven, sustainable careers. Known for her evidence-based, heart-centered approach, Anita helps teachers move beyond memorization to truly understand the method as a complete system.
Based between Malta and Spain, Anita travels internationally to teach, speak, and mentor. With a deep commitment to quality, community, and integrity, she continues to inspire and elevate a new generation of Pilates leaders around the world.
