The Language of Movement: Cueing with Clarity & Compassion

Pilates is a practice of strength, resilience, and discovery. But beyond the movements themselves, the way we speak about movement plays a crucial role in shaping a client’s experience. The language we use in the studio can either foster confidence and inclusion—or unintentionally alienate and discourage.

Think about the way mainstream fitness culture often speaks about movement - how can we change our language to be more supportive and inclusive in the Pilates studio?

For many clients, walking into a movement space can feel vulnerable. They may be dealing with pain, body image struggles, or a history of feeling excluded from traditional fitness spaces. As teachers, our words can create a sense of belonging, helping people feel safe, understood, and capable. That’s why refining our cueing language is just as important as refining our movement techniques.

Why Words Matter in Movement

Cueing isn’t just about getting a client into the “right” position; it’s about guiding them toward a better movement experience. Language can empower, inspire, and educate—or it can reinforce harmful narratives about fitness, body image, and ability.

Think about the way mainstream fitness culture often speaks about movement:

🚫 “Tone your thighs.”

🚫 “Burn those calories.”

🚫 “Get ready for bikini season!”

These phrases frame movement as something we do to fix our bodies, rather than something that helps us connect with them. They reinforce unrealistic beauty standards and suggest that our worth is tied to how we look. Even seemingly neutral phrases like “flatten your belly” can send harmful messages about what Pilates is “for.”

Instead, let’s shift our focus to cues that emphasize strength, mobility, and function:

✅ “Feel your body supporting you through the movement.”

✅ “Let’s explore how your spine moves today.”

✅ “Notice the ease in your breath as you lengthen.”

This type of language reinforces that movement is about feeling good, not looking a certain way.

Building a More Inclusive Teaching Voice

So how can we refine our language to make Pilates more welcoming for all bodies and experiences?

1. Avoid Gendered or Exclusive Language

Many studios default to addressing groups as “ladies” or using phrases like “Alright, girls, let’s go!”—but that language isn’t inclusive of all clients. Not everyone in your class identifies as a woman, and even those who do may not resonate with that kind of framing. Instead, try:

✅ “Alright, everyone, let’s begin.”

✅ “Team, here’s what we’re working on today.”

✅ “Let’s find our breath together.”

2. Shift Away from Appearance-Based Cueing

Avoid comments about how a movement will make someone’s body look and instead focus on how it will make them feel or function. Instead of:

🚫 “This will sculpt your abs.”

🚫 “We’re working on getting that flat stomach.”

Try:

✅ “This will help build that central column of core support.”

✅ “Feel how your abdominals support your spine as you move.”

3. Emphasize Strength, Mobility, and Ease

Rather than talking about “fat-burning” or “getting in shape,” center your language around strength, resilience, and movement quality. Instead of:

🚫 “Banish winter weight.”

🚫 “Summer body ready.”

Try:

✅ “Build strength for the activities you love.”

✅ “Feel more ease in your body every day.”

4. Encourage, Don’t Demand

Sometimes, our language can subtly reinforce a hierarchy in movement—where some exercises are seen as the “right” way to move, and others are seen as “less than.” Instead of saying:

🚫 “If you feel like you're strong enough to do this.”

🚫 “Let’s work up to the real version of this exercise.”

Try:

✅ “Let’s explore some different options for this movement.”

✅ “Find what feels strong and stable in your body today.”

This shift fosters a sense of curiosity and adaptability rather than pressure to perform.

5. Acknowledge Individual Experience

Clients come in with different movement histories, injuries, and comfort levels. The same cue won’t resonate with everyone. Instead of assuming what a client should feel, offer space for them to notice their own sensations:

✅ “See if you can sense your ribs expanding with each breath.”

✅ “How does that feel in your body today?”

This allows clients to develop self-awareness and trust in their own experience, rather than feeling like they need to meet an external expectation.

Creating a Culture of Compassionate Cueing

Our words shape the movement space we create. They can invite people in or make them feel like they don’t belong. As movement educators, we have the opportunity to redefine what fitness language looks like—to make it more inclusive, supportive, and affirming.

When we cue with clarity and compassion, we help clients develop a healthier relationship with movement—one that’s about joy, strength, and self-discovery, rather than fixing or changing their bodies.

Let’s choose our words wisely. Movement is for everyone.