Skyping Sessions

While live streaming will never replace real-life Pilates sessions, instructors are utilizing the technology to expand the reach of their business.

- Anne Marie O'Connor

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: