March 14, 2012 at 5:05 pm 12 comments
“In 10 sessions, you feel better, 20 sessions you look better, 30 sessions you have a completely new body.”
You’ve heard and read this quote over and over again. What’s it about and is this so?
You know that the more often you do Pilates, the more quickly and intensely you see and feel a difference in your body. The more you do anything, the more you learn and change. That’s how change happens…through repetition…and not repeating just once a month, but often. When we study anything, if we practice at least three (3) times a week, we learn and reinforce. Every other day. Between practice sessions, do you stop working? No, no…you are processing and evaluation and adjusting subconsciously and even consciously between sessions. Then the next day you practice again. This is how we study a language, a musical instrument, a form of dance, etc…same thing with exercise and Pilates.
Now, what about this 10, 20, 30 thing?
When I’ve spoken to former clients of Mr. Pilates, I am reminded that this statement was 10, 20, 30 sessions with Mr. Pilates himself…and 3 times a week! Can you imagine how much you would change working with him?
So, it’s not 30 sessions over 4 months. It’s 12 sessions, at least, a month…that’s just over 2 months of sessions with the master of masters…change will happen.
Does this mean that your clients can’t see results with us/we who are not Mr. Pilates? Of course they will see results…and do!
With that, should you use this fun 10, 20, 30 statement…please use it well. Ensure that your clients commit to 3 times a week and work with the best teacher to get those results! It won’t happen with less. 10 sessions with 3 per week means that in just over 3 weeks they will likely feel better…and feeling is where it all begins. We feel results before we see them. 3 weeks at 3 times a week of continuous focused and strong (appropriate for the individual client) movement for 55 minutes to feel a difference. Let’s not lure our clients to believe anything other. Then 20 sessions with 3 per week means that in just over 6 weeks they will likely see a difference and look better. That’s a month and a half of sincere commitment. Then we’ve got 30 sessions with 3 per week. That’s 10 weeks. 10 weeks is 2 and a half months. That’s a serious commitment to have a completely new body.
Now…when you talk 10, 20, 30 in your marketing, are you sure your clients are taking 3 private sessions with the highest level teacher?
And…
When Mr. Pilates was alive, he was also encouraging his clients to do the mat work on their own at home. He wanted people to do Pilates at least 4 times a week to really make a difference. He wrote the seminal home Pilates workout book “Return to Life Through Contrology” before our modern colleagues wrote their books and taped their videos. Then man had a plan for fitness. If we use this phrase…we must use it correctly.
Now, does that mean that our clients cannot benefit with less than 3 times a week for months and hopefully always? Of course not! People can achieve a lot with 1 or 2 times a week if they apply the actions they learn in Pilates (not the exercises, but the actions for stability and opposition) to their other activities, workouts and life! Some people might only need 1 session a month to made tremendous changes.
Is appropriate to encourage our clients to do 3 sessions. If their schedules and bank accounts don’t allow that, then 2 or 1 or supplement with group classes or take with multiple levels of teachers and practice at home…let’s help them get the most out of the time and money they spend.
That brings me to homework. Why not give your clients homework. I remember it being very effective for me when I first started. I was told to do 5 repetitions of each of the Abdominal Series of Five every day. At first, I was a little shocked that I had homework…then excited! I did it and, no surprise, I got stronger! I tell my clients at the end of the session on Day 1 that they have homework. They do look shocked until I tell them what it is: during the day, as often as you can recall, lift your abdominals in and up and lift your lower back bones. Maybe you’ll remember 1 time a day, maybe more…but anything is more than you’ve been doing since this is a new set of actions…so that’s what you can do for yourself until we meet again. In time, I give them more and more of the work until they start asking for lists and such to use while on vacation, etc. Doing Pilates outside of the session becomes the norm.
Back to 10, 20, 30….clearly it is a great marketing tool! It really works when done as intended: 3 times a week in private sessions with the top teacher. It will even work with the least senior teacher. But 3 times a week in privates. Less than that will work, too. Classes instead of privates will work, too…but make sure you know what you’re saying when you state “In 10 sessions, you feel better, 20 sessions you look better, 30 sessions you have a completely new body.” Know what was meant by it…the context when Mr. Pilates said it and consider how you will ensure that you’re giving what you’re saying.
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