I've been thinking a lot lately about how social media has changed the way we teach Pilates. In many ways it's been really positive. We're exposed to more creativity and more ideas than ever before, and there's so much inspiration out there if you go looking for it. However, has it actually made us better teachers, or just busier ones?

I think it's quietly shifted what many of us prioritise when we sit down to plan a class. There's a stronger pull now toward the things that look good on camera, like exercises that flow seamlessly into each other, combinations that feel new or different, and the kind of thing people save and share. I understand why. We all see it every day, and it would be strange if it didn't shape how we think about sequencing. But somewhere in there, a quieter question gets lost: are we sequencing for the people in the room, or because it looked good on someone else's feed?

The longer I teach, though, the more I come back to the same idea. Real progression rarely looks impressive. It never has. Most of the time it's quieter and a bit repetitive, and it's built deliberately over weeks rather than in a single class. There's a real joy in that too, watching someone progress in a way only you and they notice, week after week, creates a connection that teaching a flow just never will.

In practice it often means repeating one skill across several exercises, or even simplifying when the urge is to add more choreography. It can mean changing just one variable instead of introducing something brand new, and only increasing the challenge to reach a specific outcome. Now, let's be honest - none of that is likely to go viral, but it's what actually creates change in the body, confidence in the mind, and a connection that keeps people coming back. Isn't that the whole point of teaching?

I came into the industry nearly 25 years ago, before smartphones and well before online classes or social media were part of anyone's teaching. We learnt movement by practising it, repeating it and studying the principles behind it. Progression came from understanding things like load, tempo, speed, breath and control.

It was an incredible time to be in the industry. There was a lot less noise back then. Less pressure to perform. More time to actually understand what you were teaching.

I'm not saying we should go backwards. I really do love how connected this online world makes us as an industry. I just think it's worth asking ourselves, when we plan a class, whether we're choosing something because it will help the people in front of us get stronger, or because it would look good on camera. So next time you sit down to plan a class, ask yourself honestly: am I choosing this because it will make these humans stronger, or because it looks good? Only one of those truly enhances your teaching.