It was the fall of 2019 when I got tired of writing unsatisfying responses to the questions of, “I love your videos, do you have a manual I can study?” and, “When are you going to create a teacher training program?”
Variations of these questions had become a weekly and sometimes daily occurrence. But, I didn’t want to create a training program, and I didn’t want to write a manual. I did, however, want to have something to offer people around the world who wanted to learn more about Pilates.
Everything I do connects with my mission of “more bodies taking Pilates.” I knew that having some sort of study material would help with that goal, but I wanted to create something that everyone could use.
So, one day I looked at Brad (my husband) and said, let’s make flashcards! It would become a Pilates studio/class in the palm of people’s hand. Trainees could use them to study and people who want to practice Pilates could use them to teach themselves. Brad loved the idea and we started doing research.
In Feb of 2020 I wrote the cards, Brad helped design them, and we got them off to a printer. I thought that would be the hardest part, but truthfully the biggest challenge was the effects of COVID. You thought it was hard to find toilet paper? Well, our printer’s supply chain was suddenly way behind. Between that and some other concerns it took until February 2021 to finally hit the print button and get the cards shipped. A whole year!
After the photoshoots and copywriting was done, Brad added QR codes connecting the cards to our free Pilates tutorial videos, making it easier to see the exercises in motion. In early 2020 not many people were using QR codes, but now everyone knows how to use them! All you have to do is use your camera app to scan the code and the video of the exercise pictured on the card appears! You can watch the whole tutorial for free. This was important to me because I know everyone learns differently. And, this allows you to use the cards online or offline.
My biggest goal was to empower people using the cards to create their own Pilates workout wherever they are. Use the picture to jog your memory, use the instructions to learn the transitions, set up, action and more… It’s been really fun to see the different ways people use the cards!
How do you use yours?
