While live streaming will never replace real-life Pilates sessions, instructors are utilizing the technology to expand the reach of their business.
EVEN THE JE T SONS , WITH THEIR SPACE-AG E VIDEO -PHONE S , probably couldn’t imagine taking exercise classes in their living rooms while their teachers were in another town, state or country. When Denise Posnak Gaffney launched MyBOD Wellness, a service that offers Pilates via Skype, in 2012, “most people couldn’t grasp how you could teach Pilates without being in the same room,” she recalls.
Today, “this new realm of connectivity is opening up exciting business opportunities for Pilates teachers that were unimaginable even five years ago,” says Brandon Gamble, owner of Pilates Bodies in Motion in University Place, WA, and senior faculty for BASI Pilates. “Not only can they foster an in-person clientele locally, but they can offer their unique services to people anywhere in the world.”
Continuing improvements in videoconferencing platforms have made it ever more accessible, says Gaffney, who charges $30 for a 30-minute session. “In the past two years, demand has increased, and I’ve hired four incredible teachers to take on the overflow.”
Here, teachers around the country discuss how they use Skype to retain and recruit clients, stay in touch with the Pilates community and improve their bottom line.
BRANDON GAMBLE,
owner of Pilates Bodies in Motion in University Place, WA
HOW HE STARTED USING SKYPE:
Many students of my BASI teachertraining courses come from all over the world, and some don’t have access to a full-size studio to do observation hours. I was asked by a student several years ago if we could Skype so she could get some observation in, and a new era was born. From there, I started doing mat classes, evaluation of clients with special needs, private sessions and even practice runs for centralized testing.
SKYPE SERVICES HE OFFERS:
Denne historien er fra July - August 2017-utgaven av Pilates Style.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July - August 2017-utgaven av Pilates Style.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Finding New Momentum
Overcoming obstacles caused by the pandemic, the virtual version of this popular festival still achieved its goals.
Carola Trier's Extraordinary Journey
In his authoritative biography of the first woman to open a studio, Reiner Grootenhuis delved into her personal papers to tell the harrowing story of her time in a prison camp during World War II.
Racism in the Pilates Industry
Incidents of police brutality and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests have shed a bright light on systemic racism in the U.S., including in the Pilates industry. Here, Black instructors share their experiences.
For Self-defense
Moves of the Month
Comfort Food Made Healthy
This fall, cozy up to tantalizing comfort food that’s also healthy. A new cookbook from Kristin Cavallari shows you how.
Pilates Postcard
A Pilates teacher shares how the method is making waves abroad.
The Ultimate Gift
One year ago, Kahley Schiller’s life was completely upended by an extreme health crisis. But thanks to her 20-year Pilates practice, the 40-year-old was able to recover quickly.
Revelations
For Sarita Allen, a star of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and a protégée of Kathleen Stanford Grant, Pilates was key to her decades-long career.
Meaning WITHIN THE Movement
The Five Elements of Chinese Medicine help you go deeper into your practice, promising plenty of play along the way.
PILATES IN THE HOOD
Though she’s trained many top stars, Kim Carruthers says she’s most proud of her work as the founder and director of a nonprofit bringing the method to underserved communities.
