Staying Positive in Teaching Amidst Turbulence

How do we stay positive in the studio? What happens when issues arise in our personal lives and we are not in a positive or centered place? How can we go into the studio and present a positive teaching environment for our clients while dealing with uncomfortable issues outside the studio?

Teaching Pilates is about giving, supporting, and guiding our clients’ movement each session. Clients come to Pilates to feel better, to be taken care of, for inspiration, motivation, and confidence, and to leave feeling better than when they arrived. Providing high-quality, personalized, and valuable sessions requires a lot of energy expenditure and concentration, which can be challenging when we're simultaneously dealing with stressors outside of the studio, the "turbulence" of life.

In our podcast S4E12 “Staying Positive in Teaching Amidst Turbulence”, we discuss how we stay positive in the studio when issues arise in our lives. When we're teaching alongside the normal irritations of everyday life or more serious life issues, such as caring for someone through a long-term illness, we must balance business and self-care to maintain a professional teaching environment for our clients while maintaining a healthy environment for ourselves.

There are major differences in what's required for managing our energy depending on whether we're dealing with smaller, daily annoyances versus long-term stressors such as caregiving, financial concerns, or major life changes. When we're simply annoyed at traffic or a recent disagreement, it may be more feasible to simply take a deep breath and walk into the studio leaving the issues at the door, using the focus of the session to pull the mind off of outside irritations. In these situations, we can use the studio as our haven away from our outside stressors, focusing on something else. Sometimes pretending everything is okay can help reset, where we can momentarily shift our focus and find solace in the work itself.

It is however essential to acknowledge that life's weight isn't always easy to leave outside the studio. There are times when personal struggles seep into our teaching environment. Sometimes getting lost in our work is a helpful distraction, and while it can be helpful at times to pretend we're happy for our clients when we're not, it's not always possible or healthy to do so continually.

Positivity isn't synonymous with superficial cheerfulness.  Attempting to maintain positivity in the studio isn't asking for unrealistic expectations. It is simply a practice of maintaining a professional environment where we can connect with our clients, show up for them in the ways they need, and focus on the session even when we might be dealing with other issues as well. When this balance becomes unmanageable or feels unsustainable, that's when we need to take a step back or reset in some way.

When we take care of ourselves we're better able to show up for our clients. We want to find a healthy balance between business and self-care, running our Pilates business while not burning out. This also requires a balance of realism and optimism, not acting "fake happy", but also not dumping on our clients or ruminating throughout the day.

Our career involves consistently giving a lot of energy to others and caring for clients, so it's not realistic to expect ourselves to always stay positive, keeping energy up for everyone else especially when we're dealing with other stressors. We can still love teaching while at times feeling overwhelmed, fatigued, or irritated and in need of time off.

It is important to schedule space for ourselves to rejuvenate and reset.

If a client cancels, maybe we don't refill the free slot that particular week with another client. Taking an afternoon off, or giving ourselves a free day to not think about teaching at all can be immeasurably beneficial. We don't need to use our free time to plan or catch up on work, simply give ourselves the space to do whatever we need to rejuvenate. Knowing when to step away and take time off or lessen the weekly client load is important.

Sometimes the need for a break in the routine doesn't even correspond with serious or stressful situations. Maybe we deal with depression or struggle for other unknown reasons. Sometimes we simply need a break. This is when we remind ourselves to put on our own oxygen mask first before helping others with theirs.

While at times we do need to take a step back from teaching for a short time, sometimes maintaining our normal routine can feel comfortable, creating a sense of normalcy when dealing with a lot of anxiety around the unusual, such as during the COVID lockdown. Continuing to teach virtual sessions during that time provided a sense of normalcy for ourselves and our clients, and created a routine to feel structured among chaos and uncertainty outside.

Everyone has to figure out for themselves what they need and what their capacity is in various situations. When going through grief or a long stressful situation we need to allow ourselves to move through the process understanding that at different times what we need may change. Throughout it all how we feel capable of showing up for clients may change as well.

What we provide our clients is a gift. As they move through their stressors and difficult times we provide comfort, routine, and support. We have an amazing profession in which we share space with someone, often multiple hours a week, for many years, offering them a safe and personal space. If our clients feel that they can share with us when their life issues arise, that means we're doing a great job as teachers, because clients feel safe, supported, and comfortable with us in the studio.

The most important thing is knowing when it's okay to take a step back and when to push through. Taking time off or feeling burnt out doesn't mean we're not good at what we do, or that we don't like teaching Pilates. We can love what we do and still need to take time away. Doing what we need for ourselves only enhances our ability to be available for our clients when we return.

Sometimes when focusing deeply on teaching sessions, the concentration and flow of teaching can create a distraction from all the "stuff", almost like a mindfulness practice. Sometimes just teaching in our routine can help get us back into a positive space. But sometimes, we need that time away.

Balancing our self-care with the care we extend to our clients is a continual journey, punctuated by the wisdom to discern when self-renewal is essential.

Take the time when needed. Clients will understand.

It's life.

The top 10 mental health tips for teachers include:

Mindfulness and breathing practices

Scheduling our own weekly Pilates and exercise sessions

Spending time outside walking, biking, hiking, or sitting

Getting enough sleep, hydration, and nutrition

Spending some quiet time alone reading, watching tv, or any other calming activity

Maintaining a teaching load that is manageable and not overscheduled

Connecting to a community whether that's with friends, family, or an organized group

Journaling thoughts and stressors in a private notebook

Talking openly and sharing, but refraining from constant rumination

Speaking with a licensed professional therapist, counselor, or psychiatrist

Associated Podcast: S4E12 "Staying Positive in Teaching Amidst Turbulence"