Comparison in Pilates Class

Theodore Roosevelt famously stated that “comparison is the thief of joy”. Oftentimes, the term “comparison” can hold a pretty negative connotation, and in the Pilates world it can be downright ugly. Comparison that makes you feel less-than and leads you to put yourself down, due to the fact that you feel you are perhaps inadequate in relation to another, is undeniably toxic. However, when comparison is used to observe and take notes to better grasp something, or to emulate someone who has progressed more than you, it can serve to raise your ability and understanding of your Pilates practice. It all comes down to the mindset of the observer and the intent behind the comparison. 

I come from a background of competitive sports, where you not only compete against the other team and players, but also with your own teammates to be the best at your position. As crazy as it may sound, and as much as it goes against the “one team one dream” mentality, the harsh reality is if you want more playing time on the field or court, you have to be better than the person sitting on the bench waiting to take your spot. I learned from a young age that you can disassociate the ugly side of comparison from the useful, motivating side.

Pilates is not by any sense of the word competitive. Nor is it really a sport in the traditional sense of the word, for that matter. It’s a method of exercise and fitness that focuses on the individual’s ability and how that individual can progress and enhance their quality of movement. Kathy Grant (a Pilates elder and one of two people to be certified under Joseph Pilates) said, “You don’t do [Pilates] physically. You do it mentally. You do it from the inside”. This is completely in line with the idea that Pilates is a very personal activity that one does for one’s self. Therefore, any sense of competition or comparison is within one’s self. Well, she is absolutely correct in that sentiment, and I’m not here to debate the validity of self-improvement in the Pilates method. In fact, I completely agree that the fundamental and overall purpose of Pilates is to be more in touch with yourself and strengthen the mind-body-spirit connection that Joseph Pilates championed. The only question it leaves is: Is there nothing to be gained from observing other practitioners? Moreover, is observation not (in some ways) comparison?

Mary Bowen (another Pilates elder) wisely stated, “The student and the teacher live together in us. There is no graduation from that duality”. Therefore, I’m writing this as both a student of Pilates and an instructor, so when it comes to how comparison can benefit the Pilates practice, I’ll be considering both perspectives. 

From the viewpoint of the instructor:

The importance of refraining from demonstration as an instructor was reiterated throughout my teacher certification. Cueing a client to bring about changes in their body was the main focus of how to help them achieve the proper form and movement. Demonstrating the exercises should be limited if avoided altogether. As an instructor, I can understand the thinking behind this, because you want your students to learn and feel those adjustments for themselves. It allows for more exploration of the body, and challenges the mind to let the imagination of the movement connect with the exercise itself. Plus, performing certain exercises, purely for demonstration purposes, can be harmful to the instructor. Doing some of the more advanced exercises “cold” (meaning you have not warmed up or done preparatory movements beforehand), like Snake on the reformer, can possibly end up with injuries for the teacher. To put it plainly, instructors should protect their own bodies the way they would their clients and weight the cost/benefits of demonstration. 

With all that being said, if you are in a position of instructing someone to do anything, understanding the various types of learners has to come into play in order to be effective in getting your point across. I am not an education major, but I did seriously consider a career in teaching at one time in my life. I had a college degree, so that allowed me to take alternative training courses to get certified to teach grades K-8 in Texas. I learned about the 4 learning styles: Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and Kinesthetic. I realize there are even more styles in certain circles, but that is neither here nor there, because for the purpose of this blog, we’re specifically talking about visual learners. 

Visual learners learn and retain information best when they are able to see or observe, so when it comes to Pilates, it will be advantageous to either demonstrate the exercise or have them watch another student in the class. Of course, it is imperative to consider the flow of the class, willingness of the “guinea pig” being observed, or your own ability to properly show the movement with respect to time/space/equipment. Also, (as previously discussed) you must consider your body’s health, so please do not do anything that is contraindicated for you. In no way do I mean that this should be the first or only tool in your belt to guide your visual learners. More often than not, carefully crafted imagery cues that allow the client to imagine and visualize the movement in their head are immensely helpful. Just don’t feel like a failure if you do, in fact, rely on some show and tell, as it is inevitably the best way sometimes. 

From the viewpoint of the student: 

Now that we’ve explored the reasons why comparison and demonstration can be useful to a Pilates instructor, as well as why teachers may shy away from it, let’s look at things from the student’s point of view. As a Pilates student I needed to sometimes see how someone in my class or the instructor do an exercise in order for me to understand what I was doing. I have actually, in plain English, asked instructors to show me how to do something and “show me what I’m doing and then how I’m supposed to do it”. Regardless of how long I’ve been practicing Pilates, there are just certain times when no amount of cueing can compare to the visual of someone performing the movement. It is important to note, however, that the years of honing my skills in body awareness through Pilates have undoubtedly decreased the need for visual learning. I do harken back to my earlier days as a Pilates student, and remember very clearly a woman, Mary, in my class that I would look to when I felt lost or unsure of how to perform an exercise. She had been regularly taking classes with that (awesome) instructor for a while, so I felt she was someone I could emulate to help me navigate this new and unfamiliar method. Yes, there were even times when my instructor would kick off her shoes to show us a thing or two as well. The important thing is, comparing myself to Mary or my teacher so I could visualize my goals was greatly beneficial to my progression. Naturally, my instructor would remind me to practice the movements on my own and in my own way too. 

In my opinion, the best part about using comparison in Pilates setting is the conversation that comes from it. Complimenting a fellow student on their Teasers or Splits (just as a couple examples) almost always led to reassuring words and the acknowledgment that they were not always so good at Pilates. Often, I would even get kudos in return on some exercises I was good at. Talk about a boost of confidence! Even if I was frustrated with my progression (or lack thereof), I would feel a renewed sense of gusto to tackle my not-so-favorite movements, knowing that everyone starts somewhere. It just takes commitment, practice, and some encouragement from those that have been there.

You are ultimately in control:

I won’t pretend that there isn’t a fine line between good and evil when it comes to comparison. There truly are two sides of that proverbial coin. A watchful eye on the part of both instructor and student is crucial to keeping the negative parts from rearing their ugly heads, so that the genuinely great parts can serve everyone in a productive manner. By simply asking yourself, “is this filling my cup or draining it,” you can determine whether or not comparison is stealing your joy or if it is a useful tool for your Pilates practice. I tend to favor it, when needed, but to each their own.