As fitness instructors, we have one-tenth of a second before our clients start making judgements about our credibility and trustworthiness. Even if you have an opportunity to recover from an unfavorable first impression, chances are that the other person will choose their initial opinion of you anyway (Association for Psychological Science, 2006).
This means we always need to be prepared for our first interactions with potential clients in advance. It’s kind of like being perpetually ready for a job interview that can happen at any time. You never know which client could be your most successful story, but you do know you have a nanosecond to turn a positive experience into a loyal client.
The fitness experience has changed significantly over the last few decades. My first fitness experience was in a high-end women’s only gym. As an instructor, I was given guidance on criteria to turn clients away. I remember the owner being adamant that anyone who misses more than half of the warm-up should be instructed to arrive on time in the future or risk being rejected from class. That reeks of bad business now, but it was very common practice in the early 2000s. And guess what happened? Those clients never came back. What was once considered a legal safety measure resulted in dissatisfied customers who I’m sure loved to share their negative opinions with their family and friends…and probably the staff at their new gym.
As Pilates instructors, our role extends far beyond the fitness class. Pilates instructor responsibilities include creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all clients. It does not matter how amazing our class is if our clients don’t feel the love.
Preparing for Your First Pilates Class Introduction
Before your client puts one foot through your door, remember that they’ve already done their research on you. You don’t know anything but this potential client, but chances are they’ve already asked their friends for referrals, they found you online and they’ve probably read all of your posts from the last 3 months.
This is yet another reminder to make sure you have a separate business presence in social media. A good standard is to post positive, engaging posts revolving around fitness, nutrition and related hobbies. Divisive posts about religion or politics are more likely to deter potential clients from even coming to your class in the first place.
In line with your posts, make sure you are engaging with DMs. Set reminders on your phone if needed, to remind you to check your business accounts DMs. Remember, clients are researching other opportunities while they are waiting to hear from you. A friendly and welcoming response will go far.
The Importance of First Impressions in Pilates Classes
As fitness instructors, it’s easier for us to forgive a poor first impression when we are looking for our own fitness needs. We are less likely to care if the instructor is gruff or if the building isn’t impeccable. We are judging the new instructor on methodologies and results. But our clients are not us. They may have grown up with negative fitness experiences that impair their abilities to enjoy working out in the first place. This should be where we shine.
Imagine these two scenarios:
- A new client walks in the door. The studio is clean, the staff member at the front desk is kind and smiling. It’s easy to tell who works there as all the staff member’s uniforms are clean and crisp.
- A new client walks in the door. There’s plenty of time to see the overlooked dust, as the front desk team member ignores you because they are on their phone or chatting with their friends. You wait to be the priority, and every second you wait is another reminder that they don’t care if you work out or not.
As you can see, your potential client is going to have a very different perception of your studio or gym before they even speak with you. This is why it’s so important to work as a team. So let’s imagine your client has a great moment at the front desk and is escorted to your class.
Let’s see how our first impressions can impact our clients:
- Your upbeat pre-class music is playing and your station is set up, so it’s easy for everyone to know how to set up their area. You are smiling and greeting each client authentically. “Thanks for making time to work out today,” you say kindly. “I’ve got a great full body workout planned for us today. Are there any areas in particular you’d like to focus on a little more?”
- Your pre-class music is playing and it’s your favorite Ricky Martin song. You’re so in the moment, dancing to your favorite part of the song, that you don’t really notice each client coming in. But you do recognize your favorite client, so you walk past the other participants to go talk with your friend. Other clients slowly walk toward you, trying to find a good time to interrupt your conversation to ask about what equipment they’ll need for class.
Even if the quality of the class is the same, which instructor’s class do you think will be more popular? When asked for recommendations, which instructor will clients praise?
Before your class starts, it’s good practice to have your own checklist. It only takes a few moments to build credibility and rapport with your client. AFAA recommends the following steps before class begins (AFAA 2025):
- Introduce yourself and share your name
- Ask for their name
- Explain the equipment needed for class
- Help them set up and locate the necessary equipment
- Share a general outline of the class format
- Provide one to two things they should focus on for their first workout
- Remind them that they do not need to get everything right today
Unplanned or Negative Introductions Can Ruin Your Credibility
You may have heard some of these before:
“Hey guys, thanks for coming, you know what to do, so let’s get to it”
“Alright we are doing legs today, let’s go”
“Hi, umm… thanks for coming today….yeah we are gonna do legs today…and uhhhh let’s go”
“Summer is coming, let’s burn some calories so we can look good at the beach”
The silent introduction where the class starts before everyone realizes it.
These are some great ways to offend and alienate your clients from the get-go. In the above examples, your clients don’t know what to expect. Even worse, the last two examples can leave clients unsure if they are even in the right class to begin with.
Key Elements to Include in Your Pilates Class Introduction
Introductions don’t need to be longer than 10 seconds. A short, concise introduction establishes you as a reliable instructor, sets the tone for class and gives your clients realistics expectations (AFAA, 2025). A solid introduction should contain 6 key components:
- Your name
- The name of the class and a quick description
- The class vision or objectives
- Required or optional equipment
- Overview of what participants can expect
- How to get your attention if needed during class
Tips for Making Your Pilates Class Introduction Engaging
Remember, we have less than one-second to give our clients enough information to make a first impression of us. So the way we deliver our introduction is going to impact their experience greatly. Once you know the content of your introduction, try practicing it in a mirror or record yourself on your phone.
- Take note of your posture. Are you taking up space, lifting your chest and projecting your voice?
- Are you giving your class your full attention or are you looking down at your phone during your introduction?
- Are you smiling and engaging with your clients or are you distracted, thinking about something else?
- Where are you standing when you give your introduction?
- If the lighting changes for your class, are you giving your class the opportunity to see you or is it dark already when they enter?
Another way to individualize your introduction is to consider your personal brand. Every instructor has a personal brand, whether you created it intentionally or not. Some things to consider when developing or evaluating your brand are your specific fitness niche, your personal motivations to teach and what sets you apart from other instructors. Your branding shows itself in the words you choose and the way you demonstrate inclusivity to your clients.
As a Pilates instructor, your personal brand is most likely to be very different from a bootcamp or dance fitness instructor and that is okay.
Creating a Welcoming Atmosphere in Pilates Classes
This is where a few moments of planning can go a long way. Depending on your specific core fitness format and class size or workshop goals, you have latitude in your choices here.
- Word Choice: You want to make sure your choice of words fit your demographic. “Ya’ll” or “you guys” may be more appropriate in different settings. If you’re not sure, use inclusive words like “party people” or “movers and shakers”. Match your words to your fitness format for a more authentic tone.
- Lighting: Planning a sensual yoga cool-down? Bring some small wireless touch lights or candles. For more of a party vibe, a portable disco ball works wonders! If you teach kids or if the lighting is too bright, you can also think about adding rope lights around mirrors to soften the experience.
- Share Your Why and Define Yourself As a Subject Matter Expert: You might look like you’ve always had it together, but some clients may relate to you more if you share more about why you started in fitness or why you teach this format now. Pilates specific examples may include transformational weight loss, improved posture or even improving postpartum or perimenopause symptoms through targeted exercises. Sharing this information can help your clients feel at home in your class.
Essential Class Details to Communicate in Pilates Sessions
Class Structure
Even if you’ve taught the same format to the same clients, setting the expectations about the class structure and flow is vital. You can do this in a variety of ways. It can be as simple as “After our warmup, we are going to flow through a sequence of exercises targeted on your core and glutes. You can expect the intensity to vary during class today”. Or you can take a more detailed approach and explain the length and purpose of each segment. Regardless of your approach, make sure you cover the basics in your introduction as you can always add more information as you flow through each segment of your class.
Student Expectations
As you plan each class, consider specific expectations to communicate to your students. For example, based on the exercises you choose, maybe you’ll need more room in between yoga mats. Before class starts, you can ask everyone to extend their arms out and turn in a circle, telling them that if they come close to another student, they need to create more space. This is also a great way for them to gently interact with each other, making eye contact and smiling or saying hello as they turn around. Expectations will change with each class.
Safety Expectations
It is no secret we live in a litigious society. Placing the emphasis on personal safety in the beginning of class is key. There are endless creative ways to do this. Your personal branding, the class format and the class location are important considerations for your approach to safety discussions.
Having Pilates liability insurance is another great way to show your dedication to maintaining high professional standards. With coverage at just $0.52 cents a day, the safest path you can take is with us. Insure Fitness Group has got your back while you focus on your clients’ core!
As a Pilates instructor myself, I always find a way to address neck strain, especially with my beginners or new clients. I address it with humor, which is on point with my brand. “Hey everyone, just a friendly reminder that this is a core fitness class, not a neck class. If you’re feeling pain in your neck, please let me know and we’ll work together to find a way for you to complete the exercise for the targeted muscles without placing strain on your neck.”
Addressing Common Client Concerns and Questions
A great social media or internet presence will address most of these ahead of time for you. Think about the questions you find yourself answering often and create posts or reels with more in depth answers. This practice will serve two purposes: it will help define you as a subject matter expert and help your potential clients feel more prepared for their first class.
To address common concerns and questions during your class, one of the best dual-minded approaches is to start each exercise at a basic level. As you demonstrate additional variations, you can build in the answers to common questions before students even raise their hand. This practice is also helpful because it will cue you to give more education during the class. Most clients want to leave class feeling more empowered, and this is an easy way to give them that added bonus.
When and How to Offer Demonstrations in Pilates
This answer is going to change based on your format, specialty and location. If you do choose to demonstrate a move, start with just the basics and give a concise explanation. Talking too much or going straight into advanced details may overwhelm beginners and frustrate your advanced exercisers by cutting down on their workout time. Remember, they are there to work out, not to watch you work out. If you do provide demonstrations, make sure it is an efficient use of class time and adds value to their workout.
Read more about how to teach pilates to different fitness levels.
Effective Use of Visual and Verbal Cues in Pilates
When planning your class, ask yourself how you would cue this move if someone in your class did not understand your language. How can you visually cue the goal movement? Where should your participants be ‘feeling’ the exercise? What are postural cues to look for that would indicate that they aren’t completing the exercise as intended? Considering these pivotal points in advance will prepare you to give through cues that add value to the class experience.
Building Ongoing Communication and Gathering Feedback
It doesn’t matter if it is positive or negative, feedback is a gift.
In my practice, I like to ask my students what they would like to get out of class immediately after greeting them. As a health coach, I know that if I am able to integrate even a small part of their personal goals into the overall class plan, they are more likely to feel successful. But remember, when you ask for feedback, you are then responsible for responding to it and implementing it. The message contained in the feedback may be different than how it’s delivered to you.
Another approach for feedback is to ask your participants to evaluate their effort. Depending on your clientele, you can ask for a number (1-10 works well) or even “easy, medium, difficult” If clients don’t feel comfortable expressing their exertion verbally, you can also ask for a thumbs up. As long as you base the method on your client’s comfort level, you can’t go wrong asking for feedback.
An important thing to remember with feedback is to not take it too personal. Going back to my ladies gym in the early 2000s, I often received the feedback that my classes were ‘too easy’. As a new instructor, I interpreted that negatively, so I worked hard to include the most difficult exercise progressions. Looking back, the culture of that specific gym was very competitive, and I think sharing this feedback was more of an ego boost than genuine constructive criticism. It’s important to evaluate the source and validity of feedback before you make too many changes to the way you teach.
The reason I share this story with you is because not too long ago, I received the exact opposite feedback from a loyal client. She said, “Kelly, you always give us so many variations to choose from and you know we aren’t going to do all of them. It’s almost like you show us the most advanced moves just for you.”
What a humbling moment. I thanked her for her feedback. She’s been a loyal client for years so I took a moment to consider this feedback rationally without adding my own emotions. And I laughed. I told her, “Maureen, thank you so much for sharing this with me. I am so worried you’ll think my class is too easy, I just want you to have a lot of choices, so you can choose the best workout intensity every day.”
I shared the above story with her. She laughed. And the rest of the class laughed too. Feedback can stay with us if we don’t take a moment to evaluate its validity. I didn’t even realize I was carrying that negative experience with me over 20 years later! Is there anything from the past that you don’t need to carry with you anymore?
How to End Your Classes
Successful Pilates instructors can include this information in our class outtros:
- Mention what the class accomplished
- Remind them of the benefits of today’s class
- Give positive feedback on one successful thing they did today
- Identify a challenge and one way they succeeded
- Direct your class on how to clean up their space and equipment
- Share other classes and events at the facility
- Tell them how to find you after class, online or in person (AFAA, 2025)
One way to ensure a positive experience is to make sure participants walk out from your class happier than when they arrived. The simplest way to do this is to ask them what they are looking forward to in their upcoming week. They get a moment of positive self-reflection and you learn a little more about them too.
Another way to end class on a positive note is to talk about the benefits of your class for daily life. Ending class with a quiet introspective moment can be a short, but powerful segment to highlight the inner peace and clarity gained from a concluding deep breathing meditation.
The end of class is another opportunity to highlight your personal brand. Invite participants to follow your social media and remind them of additional upcoming events at the studio. Thank them for taking the time to show up for themselves. It’s a subtle word change but it shows a different intention than just thanking them for taking your class. You may not know if this moment is the only positive part of their day. Give them this moment to celebrate themselves and everybody wins.
Conclusion
Creating a solid, positive introduction to the class and to you as their instructor can be a powerful way to build a loyal clientele. Learning more about your clients through these approaches can help you build classes that clients look forward to time and time again. Building your personal brand into your class intros and outros is a small intention that can yield many positive results. Highlighting your niche sets you apart as a subject matter expert.
Take time to listen to your clients’ questions and feedback as gifts instead of criticism. It only takes a few minutes of advance planning to build rapport and give your clients moments of success. As Pilates instructors, we can plan for moments of success to help our clients feel good about themselves and relate to their bodies positively.
Before you are able to consider how to welcome and start your classes in a positive way like Kelly, you need to have an operational business. Learn how to start your own Pilates business with Insure Fitness Group.
In addition to her fitness certifications, Kelly Bus is an award-winning belly dancer and the proud creator of 4play fitness, the sensual dance fitness program for every woman. She holds additional fitness certifications in Raq the Barre and Sexify.
An experienced health coach herself, Kelly is uniquely poised to help midlife women in their weight loss journeys. As a personal trainer, her area of expertise is bariatric weight loss and she has lost 100 lbs three times herself.
Kelly also has 10 years of corporate wellness experience, developing award winning programs and speaking for the American Heart Association and Cerner Wellness. Connect with Kelly at www.4play.fitness or follow her on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@4playfitness
How Many Seconds to a First Impression? – Association for Psychological Science – APS
Athletics and Fitness Association of America (2025). Principles of Group Fitness Instruction, third edition.
