There is no such thing as a universal cue, and no magic bullet that will make an entire class knock out a perfect Pilates “Teaser” or a rider execute a faultless “Passage”.
It can be tempting to throw out multiple cues in the hope that one sticks. But over-teaching during a class, especially in larger group sessions will overload clients until eventually they understandably, zone-out.
This is why it is so important to cue selectively and allow clients time to work on their own, time to think, learn, digest and also to get it wrong.
- Timing is also important. The recognition of when to support learning with a well placed cue and when to be silent is a vital teaching skill.
- How you choose to fill that silence is the genius of your teaching choice and what ultimately brings people back to you, because that silence between your initial cue and observing how your client responds is when the magic happens.
- It gives both you and your client the chance to assess whether they have gained the required level of expertise and independence and when they are ready to move on.
- Spoon-feeding clients cues will reduce their ability to take the information and turn it into movement and knowledge. Clients run the risk of becoming reliant on continued support, rather than being becoming self sufficient and independent in class.
The biggest gift we can give our clients is independence and the ability to recreate exercises and movements through their own understanding
