Emerging Instructor in Focus: Teresa Schroder

Emerging Instructor in Focus

Instructor Name: Teresa Schroder
Studio(s) you study or work at: Emerald Pilates, GoodForm Fitness
Location: Emerald & Monbulk, VIC
Instructor training: Diploma in Contemporary Pilates, Tensegrity Training
PAA Level: Professional Level 1

What originally motivated you to try Pilates and then go on to train as an instructor?

The full body workout originally drew me into Pilates and the focus on functional movement, mobility and breathing properly. I love the holistic approach and having a dancer background, I felt the move from dancing at 36 to teaching Pilates was the only carrier choice for me after being a stay at home mum for 20 years. I started with matwork and reformer training and then onto Diploma in Contemporary Pilates with Tensegrity Training.

What did you eat for breakfast?

I ate 2 poached eggs on sourdough rye bread with sautéed mushrooms and cherry tomatoes in thyme & uncultured butter with an oat milk late. (I made it myself)

In one word, describe your first Pilates teaching/apprentice teaching experience?

Exhilarating

What impact has the recent COVID-19 virus had on your world?

COVID-19 impacted the lives of everyone in some way especially mental health.
This meant reaching out to people more, being gentle with people, it also caused me to knuckle down and really research & explore Pilates in body, mind and breath.
I have become more proactive about Pilates is for everyone, and to impart to everyone I come in contact with the importance of movement and the contribution I can make to the health and wellbeing of the community.
For me Pilates and Barre movement was my medicine to a healthy way out of the Pandemic.

How have you handled your Pilates teaching or training with COVID-19?

I was able to do Barre Body training and became an accredited Barre instructor with the assistance of Zoom.
During the in and out of lockdowns I also completed my Diploma of Contemporary Pilates face to face and online….YAY….
With the assistance of willing bodies/friends via zoom as well as colleagues I taught classes sometimes during the day and evenings. I also did online classes also with Pilates Anytime and anything I could use on Youtube.

What was the most unexpected part of your training?

The most unexpected part was as I became knowledgeable about the apparatus and repertoire, I found I was able to explore the basics with Joseph Pilates matwork and expand on the foundational moves with apparatus, on the mat and off, on the reformer, as well as with equipment and the best of all I can entwine Pilates teaching into my bootcamp workouts and strength training to give a blend and holistic approach.

Your ‘go to’ website for all things Pilates (other than PAA)?

Pilates Anytime and Doc Jen Esquer (physical Therapist) as well as my fabulous knowledgeable guru Boss at Emerald Pilates Di!
I also have some Pilates colleagues Wendy, Laura, Viv & Beth who are a wealth of wisdom and we love exploring new exercises to benefit clients with pathologies!

The best advice you’ve ever had?

Bruce Hildebrand (also a BIG Pilates GURU!)
Suck the life out of every opportunity….

An indulgence you can’t live without?

My Green Smoothie!!

How long have you been a member of PAA and how did you hear about PAA?

I learnt about PAA through my Boss at Emerald Pilates, Di, when certain courses were offered and I came on board with PAA as a student.

Do you have a motto?

Just keep swimming – Thanks Dory!

What’s the most challenging aspect of learning to teach?

Teaching people that have multiple pathologies is tricky and I absolutely love it when you get the client to feel good about the body they have been given, to be able to move, feel and get excited. It’s also challenging working with clients who want to move into an exercise at a fast pace and throw the set up out the window. Slow and steady means toning and lengthening!

How do you use PAA?

I use PAA as my insurance, a platform to learn from doing seminars if I can manage them with my work schedule.

Who is your Pilates idol or would love to meet, and why?

I look up to Bruce Hildebrand because he is a passionate Pilates instructor and he allows you to have many layers to an exercise to extend you beyond what you thought was the last phase of the exercise.
Miriam Jones who taught me anatomy and physiology and a thirst for learning more and more about the body.
Jen Esquer – as a physical therapist on the other side of the world she has an amazing wealth understanding movement modality of the human body, insight into problems via podcasts and her learning platform etc etc etc. Another GURU in her field
Tracy Mallett – inspiring, Incredibly fit and has the biggest library of exercise I have ever seen in my short pilates life.

What do you appreciate most about your body?

It lets me know when I need to move, stretch and it lets me know when I have gone too far.

The book you’re currently reading?

I have just started a book called This one wild and precious life by Sarah Wilson – a hopeful path forward in a fractured world.

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Every month we highlight a PAA member who has recently begun their teaching journey as our Emerging Instructor in Focus. We’d love to hear your story, just answer a few questions and submit a photo of yourself (min. 600px wide).

We look forward to getting to know more about our PAA community!