The Best Cues for Your Next Pilates Class
We all know the difference between a highly effective Pilates class and a 45-minute-yawn-efst. It all comes down to one thing: proper alignment (and perhaps your exceptional playlist).
So, how do you go about encouraging the mind-body connection that leads to ideal alignment? Cueing. Cues are like a well-loved Allen key: the best tool in your toolkit to guide clients through each movement, to help them achieve optimal form and maximum benefits.
Before we get started, there are a few important notes on cueing that will ensure your classes are inclusive and relevant for all:
- Remain gender neutral.
- Use body-inclusive language.
- Remember, language matters.
Now, shall we dive into some better cues?
1. "Imagine your spine lengthening like a swan. Yes, you can be Natalie Portman in Black Swan if you must."
Pilates is all about spinal alignment, and this cue beautifully captures the essence of elongating your spine. When clients imagine themselves as a majestic swan, they’ll begin to extend their necks and tailbones away from each other. This cue encourages them to find length in their spine, promoting better posture and a stronger core.
2. "Zip up your core, like you’re zipping up a tight pair of high-waisted jeans."
Your “powerhouse,” also known as your core, is where all strength begins. This cue will remind your clients to engage their deep abdominal muscles, drawing them in towards their spine. Just like zipping up a snug pair of jeans, this cue encourages a gentle but firm contraction in the core, providing stability and support for every movement.
3. "Imagine your breath filling up a balloon in your belly."
Breathing is an integral part of any exercise – particularly Pilates – and this cue helps clients connect with their breath and engage their deep abdominal muscles simultaneously. If you can encourage clients to imagine their breath inflating a balloon in their belly as they inhale, and then to gently blow out a candle as they exhale, they’ll be mindfully breathing before you reach savasana.
4. "Lengthen your limbs like a starfish reaching in all directions."
Pilates is all about finding length and strength in your limbs, and this cue embodies that concept perfectly. When your clients imagine themselves as a (very graceful) starfish, reaching their arms and legs away from their centre, they’ll be creating space in their joints and engaging their muscles from fingertips to toes, resulting in improved flexibility and full-body strength.
5. "Float your shoulder blades down your back like melting butter."
Shoulder tension is a common issue for many people, and this cue is a delicious way to release it. Encourage your clients to imagine their shoulder blades melting down their backs like butter slowly liquefying on a warm surface. This cue promotes proper shoulder alignment and encourages a sense of relaxation and ease in your upper body.
6. "Imagine a string of pearls pulling your head towards the ceiling."
Correct alignment of the head and neck is crucial in Pilates, and this cue helps clients achieve it effortlessly. Cue clients to imagine a delicate string of pearls attached to the crown of their head, gently pulling them upwards towards the ceiling. This cue promotes an elongated neck and proper head positioning, reducing strain and allowing for better overall alignment.
1. "Imagine your spine lengthening like a swan. Yes, you can be Natalie Portman in Black Swan if you must."
Pilates is all about spinal alignment, and this cue beautifully captures the essence of elongating your spine. When clients imagine themselves as a majestic swan, they’ll begin to extend their necks and tailbones away from each other. This cue encourages them to find length in their spine, promoting better posture and a stronger core.
2. "Zip up your core, like you’re zipping up a tight pair of high-waisted jeans."
Your “powerhouse,” also known as your core, is where all strength begins. This cue will remind your clients to engage their deep abdominal muscles, drawing them in towards their spine. Just like zipping up a snug pair of jeans, this cue encourages a gentle but firm contraction in the core, providing stability and support for every movement.
3. "Imagine your breath filling up a balloon in your belly."
Breathing is an integral part of any exercise – particularly Pilates – and this cue helps clients connect with their breath and engage their deep abdominal muscles simultaneously. If you can encourage clients to imagine their breath inflating a balloon in their belly as they inhale, and then to gently blow out a candle as they exhale, they’ll be mindfully breathing before you reach savasana.
4. "Lengthen your limbs like a starfish reaching in all directions."
Pilates is all about finding length and strength in your limbs, and this cue embodies that concept perfectly. When your clients imagine themselves as a (very graceful) starfish, reaching their arms and legs away from their centre, they’ll be creating space in their joints and engaging their muscles from fingertips to toes, resulting in improved flexibility and full-body strength.
5. "Float your shoulder blades down your back like melting butter."
Shoulder tension is a common issue for many people, and this cue is a delicious way to release it. Encourage your clients to imagine their shoulder blades melting down their backs like butter slowly liquefying on a warm surface. This cue promotes proper shoulder alignment and encourages a sense of relaxation and ease in your upper body.
6. "Imagine a string of pearls pulling your head towards the ceiling."
Correct alignment of the head and neck is crucial in Pilates, and this cue helps clients achieve it effortlessly. Cue clients to imagine a delicate string of pearls attached to the crown of their head, gently pulling them upwards towards the ceiling. This cue promotes an elongated neck and proper head positioning, reducing strain and allowing for better overall alignment.
Remember, cues are meant to guide and inspire you, so don't be afraid to experiment and find the ones that resonate with you the most and that make your personality shine.
The beauty of Pilates and Barre lies in their adaptability to different bodies and needs. So, let these cues be merely a guide as you embark on your next class plan. With that, happy cueing!
The beauty of Pilates and Barre lies in their adaptability to different bodies and needs. So, let these cues be merely a guide as you embark on your next class plan. With that, happy cueing!
If you need a little more cueing inspiration or some ideas for your next class, you’ll find all that and much, much more with Teacher Love Club. Find out everything about TLC right here.
We all know the difference between a highly effective Pilates class and a 45-minute-yawn-efst. It all comes down to one thing: proper alignment (and perhaps your exceptional playlist).
So, how do you go about encouraging the mind-body connection that leads to ideal alignment? Cueing. Cues are like a well-loved Allen key: the best tool in your toolkit to guide clients through each movement, to help them achieve optimal form and maximum benefits.
The Best Cues for Your Next Pilates Class
Before we get started, there are a few important notes on cueing that will ensure your classes are inclusive and relevant for all:
- Remain gender neutral.
- Use body-inclusive language.
- Remember, language matters.
Now, shall we dive into some better cues?
1. "Imagine your spine lengthening like a swan. Yes, you can be Natalie Portman in Black Swan if you must."
Pilates is all about spinal alignment, and this cue beautifully captures the essence of elongating your spine. When clients imagine themselves as a majestic swan, they’ll begin to extend their necks and tailbones away from each other. This cue encourages them to find length in their spine, promoting better posture and a stronger core.
2. "Zip up your core, like you’re zipping up a tight pair of high-waisted jeans."
Your “powerhouse,” also known as your core, is where all strength begins. This cue will remind your clients to engage their deep abdominal muscles, drawing them in towards their spine. Just like zipping up a snug pair of jeans, this cue encourages a gentle but firm contraction in the core, providing stability and support for every movement.
3. "Imagine your breath filling up a balloon in your belly."
Breathing is an integral part of any exercise – particularly Pilates – and this cue helps clients connect with their breath and engage their deep abdominal muscles simultaneously. If you can encourage clients to imagine their breath inflating a balloon in their belly as they inhale, and then to gently blow out a candle as they exhale, they’ll be mindfully breathing before you reach savasana.
4. "Lengthen your limbs like a starfish reaching in all directions."
Pilates is all about finding length and strength in your limbs, and this cue embodies that concept perfectly. When your clients imagine themselves as a (very graceful) starfish, reaching their arms and legs away from their centre, they’ll be creating space in their joints and engaging their muscles from fingertips to toes, resulting in improved flexibility and full-body strength.
5. "Float your shoulder blades down your back like melting butter."
Shoulder tension is a common issue for many people, and this cue is a delicious way to release it. Encourage your clients to imagine their shoulder blades melting down their backs like butter slowly liquefying on a warm surface. This cue promotes proper shoulder alignment and encourages a sense of relaxation and ease in your upper body.
6. "Imagine a string of pearls pulling your head towards the ceiling."
Correct alignment of the head and neck is crucial in Pilates, and this cue helps clients achieve it effortlessly. Cue clients to imagine a delicate string of pearls attached to the crown of their head, gently pulling them upwards towards the ceiling. This cue promotes an elongated neck and proper head positioning, reducing strain and allowing for better overall alignment.
1. "Imagine your spine lengthening like a swan. Yes, you can be Natalie Portman in Black Swan if you must."
Pilates is all about spinal alignment, and this cue beautifully captures the essence of elongating your spine. When clients imagine themselves as a majestic swan, they’ll begin to extend their necks and tailbones away from each other. This cue encourages them to find length in their spine, promoting better posture and a stronger core.
2. "Zip up your core, like you’re zipping up a tight pair of high-waisted jeans."
Your “powerhouse,” also known as your core, is where all strength begins. This cue will remind your clients to engage their deep abdominal muscles, drawing them in towards their spine. Just like zipping up a snug pair of jeans, this cue encourages a gentle but firm contraction in the core, providing stability and support for every movement.
3. "Imagine your breath filling up a balloon in your belly."
Breathing is an integral part of any exercise – particularly Pilates – and this cue helps clients connect with their breath and engage their deep abdominal muscles simultaneously. If you can encourage clients to imagine their breath inflating a balloon in their belly as they inhale, and then to gently blow out a candle as they exhale, they’ll be mindfully breathing before you reach savasana.
4. "Lengthen your limbs like a starfish reaching in all directions."
Pilates is all about finding length and strength in your limbs, and this cue embodies that concept perfectly. When your clients imagine themselves as a (very graceful) starfish, reaching their arms and legs away from their centre, they’ll be creating space in their joints and engaging their muscles from fingertips to toes, resulting in improved flexibility and full-body strength.
5. "Float your shoulder blades down your back like melting butter."
Shoulder tension is a common issue for many people, and this cue is a delicious way to release it. Encourage your clients to imagine their shoulder blades melting down their backs like butter slowly liquefying on a warm surface. This cue promotes proper shoulder alignment and encourages a sense of relaxation and ease in your upper body.
6. "Imagine a string of pearls pulling your head towards the ceiling."
Correct alignment of the head and neck is crucial in Pilates, and this cue helps clients achieve it effortlessly. Cue clients to imagine a delicate string of pearls attached to the crown of their head, gently pulling them upwards towards the ceiling. This cue promotes an elongated neck and proper head positioning, reducing strain and allowing for better overall alignment.
Remember, cues are meant to guide and inspire you, so don't be afraid to experiment and find the ones that resonate with you the most and that make your personality shine.
The beauty of Pilates and Barre lies in their adaptability to different bodies and needs. So, let these cues be merely a guide as you embark on your next class plan. With that, happy cueing!
The beauty of Pilates and Barre lies in their adaptability to different bodies and needs. So, let these cues be merely a guide as you embark on your next class plan. With that, happy cueing!
If you need a little more cueing inspiration or some ideas for your next class, you’ll find all that and much, much more with Teacher Love Club. Find out everything about TLC right here.
Upgrade your next class (and have a sneak peek inside TLC while you’re at it) with our free Master Teaching Pack. You’ll receive:
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Three printable class plans (Pilates Mat, Barre and Reformer Pilates)
Three expertly designed Spotify playlists
Three bite sized choreography snippets
Need more inspiration?
