In the world of fitness, trainers often focus on sets, reps, and programming. While these are essential, one of the most powerful tools in a trainer’s arsenal is cuing—the ability to communicate movement in a way that resonates with the client’s mind and body. If there’s one group of fitness professionals who have mastered this art, it’s Pilates instructors.
Pilates isn’t just about movement—it’s about awareness, control, and connection. Instructors guide clients through an experience that transforms the way they move and feel. Personal trainers and strength coaches can take a page from this book, making their sessions more than just workouts—but guided experiences that create a deeper mind-body connection and long-term results.
The Power of Cuing: Making Movement Come Alive
Pilates instructors don’t just tell clients what to do—they tell them how to do it, why it matters, and what they should feel. Their verbal cues shape the experience, allowing clients to engage muscles more effectively, move with precision, and understand their own biomechanics.
Here’s how personal trainers can elevate their coaching by adopting Pilates-style cuing:
1. Use Imagery to Create Deeper EngagementPilates instructors are masters of imagery-based cuing, helping clients visualize the movement in a way that creates an immediate physical response.
• Instead of saying “Engage your core,” try “Imagine you’re zipping up a tight jacket from your lower belly to your ribs.”
• Instead of “Keep your spine neutral,” say “Think of your spine as a long string of pearls, evenly stacked.”Imagery helps clients connect movement to sensation, leading to better form and engagement.2. Focus on Internal Awareness, Not Just External OutcomesTraditional personal training often focuses on external goals: lifting heavier, running faster, burning more calories. But Pilates instructors train awareness first—teaching clients to notice how their bodies move and feel.Trainers can adopt this by incorporating sensory cues:
• Instead of “Squat lower,” try “Feel your weight evenly distributed through your heels and the ball of your foot, like a tripod.”
• Instead of “Pull your shoulders back,” say “Imagine sliding your shoulder blades into your back pockets.”This type of cuing fosters better movement mechanics and injury prevention—because clients start to move with intention, not just effort.3. Slow Down to Build ControlPilates is all about slow, controlled movement, emphasizing quality over quantity. Many strength trainers focus on getting through reps rather than feeling each rep.To make strength training more experiential:
• Incorporate tempo work, encouraging clients to slow down and feel each phase of the movement.
• Cue breath patterns that sync with movement, just like in Pilates. (Example: Exhale on exertion, inhale on reset.)
• Teach pause holds to help clients connect with stabilizing muscles they may not normally activate.By slowing down, clients learn to control their bodies, which translates to better movement patterns and long-term strength.4. Create a Mind-Body ConnectionPilates instructors emphasize that movement is a conversation between the brain and the body. Many gym-goers go through the motions, but Pilates teaches clients to truly feel the movement.
Trainers can bring this into their sessions by:
• Asking questions: “Where do you feel this movement the most?”
• Bringing attention to muscle activation: “Can you feel your glutes engaging, or is your lower back taking over?”
• Encouraging mindfulness: “Let’s focus on the quality of each rep, not just getting to 10.”By shifting focus inward, trainers help clients build stronger neuromuscular connections, leading to greater control and efficiency in all movements.5. Set the Scene for an Experience, Not Just a WorkoutPilates instructors know that environment affects experience. The tone of voice, music, and even the trainer’s energy all contribute to the effectiveness of a session.
Trainers can apply this by:
• Using a calm but authoritative voice to guide clients through movements.
• Setting an intentional mood—whether it’s focused and meditative for mobility work or high-energy and motivating for strength sessions.
• Creating a ritualistic element to training—starting and ending with breath work or mindful movement to bookend the experience.
When a training session feels like an experience rather than a checklist, clients become more engaged, present, and consistent in their workouts.
Bridging the Gap Between Fitness and Movement Mastery
Pilates instructors are more than teachers—they are guides. They lead clients through a movement journey that goes beyond reps and sets, focusing on the deeper connection between mind, body, and breath. Personal trainers and strength coaches who adopt this mindset will not only improve their clients’ results and retention, but they will also create a training experience that feels meaningful, educational, and transformative.Whether you’re coaching a deadlift, a squat, or a mobility drill, consider this: Are you just instructing, or are you guiding an experience? When you start thinking like a Pilates instructor—like a Sha-Person—you elevate your role from trainer to movement guide, and that’s where true transformation happens.
