Imagine That!

Can’t get your clients to comprehend certain exercises— or the quality of movement they require? The right imagery can help lead to that coveted aha moment.

- By Becky Phares

When I started teaching pilates, I was awed at how little understanding some people have within their own bodies. How could someone not understand, “Move your leg, but keep your pelvis still?” I often found myself frustrated as a new instructor because students just didn’t “get it.” It was only until later that I started to think, Maybe my clients are not the problem…maybe I am.

Once when I was really young, my father helped me study for a geography test. For some reason, I could not remember where Arkansas was on the map. After many failed attempts to get me to comprehend its location, Dad frustratingly took his own hand and made a “saw” with it (see above). He then started to “cut” into his other arm and scream “Arkan-SAW!!!” To this day I still say “Ar-kan-SAW,” and I will never forget its location on a map. That's how I started to love using relatable images to better understand unrelatable concepts.