Read My Face.

Indulge me.

Whether you are a new grad or an old one – I can guess that the workshops that really get you hot and bothered are the ones that promise to explore the inner workings of your pelvic floor, or the co-contraction of the quads and hamstrings or the stabilization of the shoulder girdle via the activation of the Latissimus…blah blah blah.....

Don’t get me wrong. There is TREMENDOUS value in all of the above but is anyone teaching us how to read the most important bundle of muscles? The ones in the face?

Here are my 3 magic tips for face-reading designed to pull your teaching focus up from the Powerhouse and properly discern WHAT THE HECK your client is actually feeling? Because once you know that – you can decide whether to push forward, pull back or, as Sheryl Sandberg would say, “lean in.”

It’s insanely simple.

I often say “exhale is the universal sign of effort”. Look around the room you are teaching or simply glance at your client’s face when you are closing in on the last few reps. Are they pursing their lips and pushing air out? That is a bona fide signal that work is happening. With work comes effort. With effort comes transformation. Lean in to that. Lean WAY in.

Effort is not only ok – it’s REQUIRED for effective training. An exhale from your client is a signal for a few more reps.

ON THE OTHER HAND – if your client comes in with a random injury – one of those “I’m not sure what I did” type things, or even better, one of those that Pilates teachers have no clue what to do with, you can go back to the face cues for more magic answers. Watch the face during questionable exercises and you may likely see the reverse of an exhale. A hissing sucking IN of air with lips pulled back and teeth pressed together is a sure-fire sign to hit the EJECT BUTTON.  Just like in the wild animal kingdom, when a client SHOWS THEIR TEETH, time to back it up. Back it way up.  Put that exercise away for another time, or another client.

For those who excel at giving the “love” in a one-on-one session via deep yummy stretches and feel good range of motion movements – watch your clients’ EYES.

There is a classic EYE FLUTTER-[SLASH]-LID DROP that accompanies all “oh my god that feels so good” Pilates moments.  Identify that moment and your client retention will likely soar. It’s THAT good.

So yes, sign up for that postural assessment course on the ASIS and PSIS alignment and bony landmarks but make sure you are watching your clients’ eyes, lips and teeth too. They will always tell you the REAL story.

~Alycea