Teaching Pilates With Shoulder Pain: What Needs to Change (Not Stop)
- Sophie Compton Carr
- Jun 29
- 1 min read
This article is written with Pilates instructors in mind, but if you have shoulder issues, see if you can make adjustments to the movements that you're repeatedly making, whether they're in your hobby, or a job.
One of the most difficult challenges for Pilates instructors is managing shoulder discomfort while continuing to teach.
The instinct is often to either push through or stop completely.
But there is usually a third option: adaptation.
The Real Issue: Repetition, Not Single Movements
Shoulder irritation in instructors is often not caused by one exercise.
It develops from:
repetition across multiple classes
cumulative overhead positioning
demonstration load across the day
lack of recovery between sessions
This means small changes in teaching strategy can have a significant impact.
What to Reduce (Temporarily)
During sensitive phases, it can help to reduce:
repeated overhead demonstration
long static arm positions
unnecessary repetition of upper limb cues
high-volume shoulder-focused sequences
What to Do Instead
You do not need to stop demonstrating altogether.
Instead:
demonstrate once, then coach verbally
use students for repetition examples
break sequences to give shoulders rest
vary your demonstration side where possible
These adjustments reduce load without compromising teaching quality.
Why This Works
The goal is not to avoid using the shoulder
It is to ensure:
load stays within the shoulder’s current capacity while it rebuilds tolerance
This allows you to continue working while supporting recovery.
The Bigger Picture
Shoulder issues in instructors are rarely about weakness.
They are usually about:
accumulation
repetition
and insufficient recovery time between loads
With the right adjustments, most people can continue teaching safely while gradually rebuilding capacity.
Comments