Dear Rebecca,
I know it's been forever since we connected, but I am the Heidi from Vermont that was hoping to bring you to the Club @ Old Mill, on one of your trips to the East. I read your email the other day, and let me first give my deepest sympathy in the loss of your Mom. Sounds like you were very dedicated in spending as much time possible with her before she passed, even though it added to much stress and running around. May God be with you and give you peace of heart, mind, and soul during this time.
I also would like to thank you for your "article" in your email about the times we are in, and struggling with keeping the "numbers up". I am very happy to report that my classes are staying strong, and I have such a committed number of 'core' people with new ones enrolling periodically. In my Seniors and Beginners mat class, I go by 5 week sessions so that I can really start new people from the beginning and walk them through all the basics. The people that continue to enroll session after session, tell me that the review is always good because they hear new things all the time that maybe didn't get absorbed all the hundreds of other times I said it. I love it when they say, "the light bulb came on : ) for me today!"
Also, they tell me how much they miss it when they are not able to come and how much they can tell when they have not been to class. My Seniors class is one of my largest classes! I teach 5 mat classes a week, which I incorporate the ring, band, ball, weights, depending on the class and who is in it. Of course I do not overwhelm newcomers because just the basics are a bit overwhelming at times. So I teach a Senior class, Adv. Class (some of which have been coming for 5 & 6 years!!!!), Standing with Int. Mat, and 2 beginner classes.
I love it! I love the relationships that I've built with people on a professional level, and even ended up having some great close friends through Pilates.
So I have to say that after reading the article, yes, there are times during the year when the enrollment is low, especially when people are traveling in the summer or getting into the new routine of different parts of the year, but I am so pleased to report that the people that have been with me for many years continue to enjoy coming and always tell me that there is never a day that they walk out of class and wish they didn't come. Even if they feel like crap when they walked in.
That's such a blessing for me to hear cause it gives me the drive to keep wanting to do more, plus I benefit so much myself as I do each and every move and talk through the entire class while I am able to watch everyone and only once in a while have to get up and help someone correct a wrong position. I try to use cues for everyone to benefit, either correcting themselves or double checking themselves, so no one feels like they are being singled out.
Everyone really seems to respond well to that and have told me they appreciate the way I do that. And of course after class I will help people that come up to me with questions or sometimes kindly pull them aside after class to help them with something I know they are struggling with. I am far from the perfect teacher and have so much more I can learn, but I really do learn more everytime I have a class, because everyone's needs are different, and I also get to know how to teach better to give everyone that challenge of leaving feeling satisfied.
Then of course there is that % that Pilates is just not for them. They want a quick fix, and don't invest the time to learn and end up leaving saying they want something more challenging. And the cute thing is, if my dedicated clients happen to hear something like that, they will jump right in and say that you have to give it time, for there is so much to learn, and if you just be patient with your body and do your best, you'll find it is a great program! Then they will usually say how long they have been doing it, and there is still things that they have trouble doing, but keep working at it. It's the clients that really "sell" it! Testimonials are the BEST!
So in closing, I have to tell you how excited I was to be asked to teach the warm up for the local Dance Festival that has now been going on for 6 years. The local private high school in Lyndon Center called Lyndon Institute, also the high school that I graduated from, hosts this and the dance teacher there has been working hard to put it together over the years. She brings in different teachers every year, hoping to offer classes that maybe their current high school dance program or private school may not offer. This day is open to high school age kids that take workshops during the day, then some bring pieces to perform for an evening public performance.
So anyway, in past years, the director has had a lady do Yoga for the 45 min. warm up, but at the last minute she had to be out of town, so Rebecca, the director asked me if I'd be willing to do a Pilates class. ABSOLUTELY! I said. As a dancer myself, I know the benefits of what Pilates has helped me correct, do better, and become stronger. It's amazing to see how much the core is either 'there' or 'not there' in a dancer. I gave them a good workout, and surprisingly a lot of them struggled. It's also a hard concept for dancers to hear the "scooping" or "rounding the spine" cues, because they are hinging so much of the time. And unfortunately in the dance world, there are those that think they know everything, and aren't even listening to what you are trying to tell them, so I focus on the ones that are trying to get everything that I am saying.
There were 133 dancers and a few instructors that did the warm up. Just being surrounded by everyone and wanting to teach them everything I could in 45 minutes was just sosososo invigorating!! I had a really nice comment from one of the long time high school dance directors that said that Pilates was a really nice addition to the festival and would like to see it offered again next year during the festival. I'm not looking to take away the Yoga part from the yoga teacher, but I really hope that Pilates is incorporated some way, even if it is its own workshop that people can take.
I love teaching at my dance studio which I have done now for 20 years, but honestly, there is so much strain on the brain and the body, where burnout happens so easily if not careful, as I have found out over the last couple years. I ended up hiring teachers to teach all of my classes except for the Adult Tap which I did, and hired a general manager, who has been with my studio for the past 9 years, so that I could teach full time at an emotional growth boarding school in the area. I'm glad I did it, but I left there this past August to go back to my studio. I really enjoyed working with the kids at the school, and was able to teach not only dance and Pilates to these kids, but so much more! However, it was not the place for me.
So I went back to my studio full time this season and also continuing with Pilates and the club, and am much happier. I have two other teachers, and my wonderful general manager that helps to lighten the load, but I have to say, I always! look forward to my Pilates classes, because I always! feel so revived afterwards.
Bottom line..............I LOVE PILATES!!! and I have seen so many people come to love it also over the years!
I will tell you again, your classes were some of my favorites that I've ever taken, when I took them at the Pilates Conference in New York in 2006. You are a fantastic teacher, and wish I was closer to take more of your classes.
Thank you for your email, and again, take care during these tough times with your family, and God Bless you as you continue reaching out to all of us across the world!
Many Thanks!
Heidi Cotte