Imposter Syndrome? How I Finally Got Over It

Dear Pilates Teachers,

Have you ever felt… irrelevant?

Like your knowledge of Pilates or movement isn’t enough?

Do you compare yourself to other ‘brilliant’ teachers who seem totally confident and at ease in their classes?

I have a confession. I have struggled throughout my 30 years as teacher with feeling like an imposter. Like I’m not knowledgeable enough, funny enough, or charismatic enough…

If you experience anxiety too, first of all, you’re not alone (hi)—and more importantly, it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.

The journey of being a teacher is often uncomfortable. That feeling of uncertainty, of questioning yourself, of wondering whether your students think you’re just making stuff up? That’s real but the truth behind that feeling is this: your discomfort usually means you care deeply about your students experience and you want it to be worthwhile. This quality of caring is a great strength and it’s exactly what brings people back.

So my biggest tip is a little harsh but true – it’s not about you. You need to stop focusing on yourself and how your students might be judging you and pay attention to your job.

Your students aren’t expecting perfection. They’re not waiting for you to be extraordinary or entertaining. They simply want guidance. They want someone to lead them through a clear, effective workout.

Here’s an example of how I learned this: In mat classes there is often one person in the room who has a look on their face like they are unhappy. For a long time, this made me feel terrible. But when I talked to this type of person after class it was always about something they couldn’t do well – they were worried they weren’t good enough to be in the class.

The more you focus on how you’re being perceived, the harder teaching becomes. But when you shift your attention to your students—what they need, what they’re experiencing, how you can guide them clearly—everything starts to feel more grounded.

When you stay focused on serving your students rather than evaluating yourself, you create space for them to feel supported.

Preparation also plays a huge role in building confidence. The more prepared you feel, the easier it is to stay present and focused.

Here are a few practical ways to support your teaching:

∙ Print out an exercise list from a workout you did on Pilatesology (find them in the resources section of each workout).

∙ Or highlight your favorite exercises from a classical list.

∙ Repeat the same sequence regularly. Familiarity builds clarity and confidence for you and your students. Try this workout that follows the classical Intermediate order.

And don’t underestimate the value of teaching your friends. It’s one of the safest and most effective ways to grow. You can experiment, make mistakes, laugh, and try again. That ability to recover and continue—without needing to be perfect—is something your students will actually appreciate.

Because perfection isn’t what makes a great teacher.

Presence, preparation, and care do.

xx,

Alisa