When Injury Leads to a New Path

1. Tell us a bit about yourself — where you’re based, and what you were doing before Pilates Teacher Training came into focus.

My name is Anna Garban, I’m based in Greenville, South Carolina and I’m currently in school for Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I also work full time at Clemson University as their Assistant Director of Group Fitness so, fitness has been a part of my life for quite sometime. Pilates, however peaked my interest more recently when a car accident lead me to a herniated disc spinal injury. This injury took me out of everything I knew as far as group fitness goes. Pilates came to the forefront as my basis for healing, my sense of community and feeling safe in my body again post-accident.

2. What first drew you to Pilates Teacher Training?

After this past year of supplementing physical therapy with Pilates in efforts to have the same group fitness community I love in the midst of the injury, I knew that I wanted to do more than heal my own body through this format. Pilates became my movement, my peace, my grounding in a time of struggle. I figured that it would be such a gift to get to share the depths of a true Pilates practice and what it can do for the mind and body through Pilates instruction.

The turning point

3. What made you decide to go from practicing Pilates to wanting to be an Instructor?

With my background in instructing various formats, I have never experienced such a deep connection to any kind of movement. In my most vulnerable and hopeless moments, unsure if any exercise would be possible for me again, Pilates was there. Even on the days where the simplest modifications felt difficult, Pilates taught me to trust my body and have grace for myself. The reformer is such an incredibly supportive tool that allows students to go deeper into their practice and deeper into their bodies. After uncovering this truth to the format, no other form of movement could compare. It was inevitable for me to transition into teaching.

4. Why did you choose Balanced Body Education® over other options?

There are many Pilates trainings out there so I can understand it feels overwhelming to choose. My priorities were with a Joseph Pilates-centric method and somewhere with experienced master trainers. My favorite instructors in Greenville are Balanced Body certified so once I realized that, there was no question in my decision to start this journey with Balanced Body. Patrea was absolutely incredible. Her knowledge of the human body and care for her participants is unmatched. She helped me see the strength in my body despite my injury and to see the way that my experience with this injury will one day serve me as a better instructor. I can’t wait to join her again in October for Reformer 2!

5. What was your biggest fear or hesitation before you started your teacher training?

Honestly, I was so hesitant to begin because of my injury. In the fitness industry, there is commonly so much shame and discomfort as an instructor if you aren’t able to do everything you teach. I’ve always lived by not teaching something to students that you can’t do in your own body. Yet my severe injury completely challenged this thought and everything I thought I knew about instruction. With a lot of encouragement from my studio in Greenville and people around me, I took the leap. Now, I look at my limitations in class as insight to inform my instruction and ensure my classes are inclusive. Whatever is holding you back, whether it’s an injury, being new to fitness instruction or general fear, I promise there is growth and strength on the other side.

Inside the experience

6. What’s surprised you most about your teacher training so far — anything you didn’t expect?

I didn’t expect to form such an incredible bond with the beautiful women I took the training with. To this day, my cohort of trainees and I stay in contact, support each others instruction journeys and connect via social media. I didn’t realize that joining Balanced Body wasn’t just joining a training, it was joining a family.

7. Has there been a moment where something “clicked” and you thought, “okay, I can really do this!”

The weekend I took the training, with the intentional instruction of Patrea, was the weekend I was able to safe and comfortably challenge my body the most. I left that training absolutely surprised with what my body could do despite my spine injury. It was an emotional and difficult weekend to embody the practice and feel the hesitations my body held onto from the accident. Patrea’s ability to provide a safe place to push myself and her deeply knowledgeable cueing kept me be present, focused and able to do more than I thought I could. This emphasized, to me, how important it is to show up and be the best instructors we can be no matter the day. You never know the way that your instruction can change the lives of your students. I went from unsure of myself, my bodies ability and my future with instruction to confident in all three as I walked out of my training.

8. What’s been the hardest part of teacher training so far, and how did (are) you work through it?

The hardest part of teacher training is focusing on where I am. Pilates instruction is so exciting and I know there’s a bright future of many more trainings and much more learning down the line. However, the here and now, mastering the initial Reformer 1 movements and not getting ahead of myself is key. There is so much power in taking these trainings step by step and progressing with time as we’re ready. So while I await the days of my Reformer 2 training, I will put my heart into teaching my Reformer 1 material with purpose and integrity.

Looking ahead

9. Is there a special population you see yourself teaching or a niche you are drawn toward?

With my background in Mental Health Counseling, I hope to one day integrate movement and reformer into my work with mental health clients. Movement and mental health are united by the way that our bodies hold onto things. Pilates has been such a release for me. The intersection of mental health and movement has been a long time coming but I truly believe society is ready for the intersection of mind and body on a deeper level.

10. Where do you hope Pilates takes you — in the next year, and the next five years?

It will be interesting to see the way that Pilates continues to shift my connection with my own body. I think that, career wise, there are so many incredible Pilates communities around the world (especially within the Balanced Body family). I hope to continue to work towards higher level certs and, hopefully, work towards merging mental health care and intentional movement through Pilates.

The takeaway

11. What would you say to someone who’s on the fence about starting their own Pilates teacher journey?

DO IT and do not hesitate. Invest in yourself in this way and you will truly see the difference in yourself and your practice. Whether you are ready to begin teaching or you’d like to take training to deepen your personal practice, sitting up for training will only benefit you and there is no pressure to commit to teaching after if you’re not sure yet! Take a breath and know that this training will elicit such great growth within you.

12. Finish this sentence: “Pilates has taught me…”

Pilates has taught me trust, deeply love and come home to my body.

Wrap-up

13. Anything else you’d love people to know about your journey in teacher training?

Nope 🙂 I am SO grateful for you reaching out about the feature. Pilates actually has been life changing for me since the accident and this happening felt like an affirmation that I am doing what I am meant to! Thank you.

All ideas and assertions expressed in The CORE are those of the individual contributors, offered to spark conversation, enrich understanding/inspire growth and share diverse perspectives within our community. They may not necessarily reflect the views of Balanced Body®.