Teaching VS Instructing

Walk into any movement class—Barre, Pilates, Yoga, Spin, Strength—and you’re likely to encounter a range of leadership styles. Some instructors shout out reps and count down transitions. Others quietly guide form, layer in anatomy, and somehow know exactly where your hip should be even before you do. These are two ends of a spectrum: instructing and teaching. And while both are valuable, the difference between them has a real impact on how students move, improve, and stick with movement long term.

I’ve spent over two decades in the fitness world, and I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve played both roles. There have been days I’ve walked out of class and thought, “Well, that could have been better.” And every single time I’ve felt that way, it’s because I shifted too far into instructing—calling out moves and switching it up—rather than actually teaching the why, the how, and the form behind it.

Let’s dig into the difference, not just by feel, but from its very roots—dictionary definitions and all.

Dictionary Definitions

Instruct (verb): to direct or command someone to do something; to give detailed information on how something should be done.
Teach (verb): to impart knowledge; to cause someone to learn by example, experience, or explanation.

There it is: instruction is about action, and teaching is about understanding. One delivers; the other develops. And both, at different times and for different people, serve a purpose.

What Instruction Looks Like in Fitness

Instruction is often loud, energetic, and efficient. It’s the go-go-go of movement. Think:

“Step touch, right, left!”
“Hold it for 8, 7, 6…”
“Change to plié pulses, now go!”

This style is often seen in group classes with fast-paced transitions or in settings where time is limited. It's not always about teaching you something new—it’s about getting you moving. And in a world where many people spend most of their day sitting at desks or in cars, that’s not a bad thing.

In fact, for someone who doesn't move a lot throughout their day, this kind of instruction can be the perfect entry point. The barrier to entry is low. They don’t have to overthink. They can just show up, follow along, and walk out feeling sweaty and successful. For many, just getting their ass to class is the biggest win.

Instruction offers clarity. It offers confidence through repetition. And for people who want to feel their body but maybe not engage deeply with every joint, muscle, or mental cue—it’s ideal. The mind-body connection might not fully activate, but the body does move. And that’s always better than not moving at all.

What Teaching Looks Like in Fitness

Now let’s talk about teaching. Teaching takes longer. It requires observation, feedback, and often, a bit of trial and error. It’s not always flashy. Sometimes it's slow. But it is rich with depth and intention.

Teaching sounds like:

“Notice how your right hip is higher than the left—can you bring it level?”
“Instead of gripping in your lower back, can you think about lifting from the low abdominals?”
“You might feel this more if you slow it down and stop using momentum.”

Teaching invites the student into the experience. It doesn't just demand action—it asks for awareness. And when a client understands why they’re doing something, or how to do it better, they not only gain physical strength—they gain ownership.

Teaching is especially valuable for people who already move. The runners, the cyclists, the tennis players, the dancers—people who already have a connection to their body. For them, movement isn’t the challenge. The challenge is often in unlearning habits that may be limiting or even harmful over time.

For these clients, instruction without teaching can leave them plateaued. They’ll keep moving, yes, but possibly in the same patterns that have held them back for years. Teaching helps them level up. It calls them out—kindly—on the ways they’re cheating themselves. And it gives them the tools and the confidence to change that.

The Best (and Worst) of Each

Instruction at Its Best:

Keeps energy high
Lowers mental load for new movers
Delivers quick wins
Builds momentum
Offers structure and routine

Instruction at Its Worst:

Misses form cues that prevent injury
Skims over important alignment details
Leaves some students feeling unseen or confused
Creates plateaus in progress
Treats all bodies like they move the same

Teaching at Its Best:

Builds long-term understanding and independence
Prevents injury by refining form
Honors individuality and adapts to different bodies
Challenges the experienced mover
Deepens the mind-body connection

Teaching at Its Worst:

Can be slow or overwhelming for beginners
Risks over-coaching and stopping momentum
May frustrate students who just want to sweat
Requires more attention and responsiveness from the teacher
Can feel “less fun” if not balanced with dynamic flow

My Personal Approach: Teaching First, Always

I teach. That’s what I do. Even when I’m moving fast or leading a high-energy class, I’m still watching, queuing, and thinking “what are they missing, and how can I help them feel it better?”

Because every class I’ve ever walked out of feeling “off” has had one thing in common: I got too caught up in being clever. I wanted to mix it up, change the choreography, keep it fresh—and in doing that, I lost connection to the form and intention. I fell into instructing. And that’s when I know I’ve let myself (and my clients) down.

Clever doesn’t always mean better. Teaching does.

And here’s the thing: the class where someone finally feels their glute fire correctly in Fold Over, or stops overusing their hip flexors during core work, or learns that their back shouldn’t hurt during ab curls—that’s the class they’ll never forget. That’s what makes it stick. That’s the kind of teaching I strive for.

So Which Is Better?

It depends on the client. It depends on the day. It even depends on the season of life someone is in.

For someone brand new to movement? Instruction may be the safest and most motivating entry point. They need clarity, simplicity, repetition.
For someone who’s burned out from high-impact sports or rehabbing from injury? Teaching offers a way back in—safely, sustainably, and with insight.
For someone who’s moved their body a million ways but still doesn’t feel connected to it? Teaching might finally light that spark.
And for someone who just wants to feel something and not think too much? Instruction could be the perfect mental break.

Teaching and instructing are not enemies. They’re partners. They can coexist, and often, the best classes weave both together seamlessly.

But personally? I’m always going to lead with teaching. Because it lasts longer. It empowers. And it ensures that when you walk out of my class, you not only moved—you learned something about your body.

Whether you’re a teacher, an instructor, or a student reading this: start paying attention to what’s happening in the room. Are you just doing? Or are you understanding? Both are valid—but when you know the difference, you start to see your movement, and your progress, in a whole new light.

Keep moving. Keep learning. You got this.

Interested in teaching? Check out BarSculpt Certifications online!

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Clarity before Creativity

By Leslie Guerin • February 4, 2026

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Behind the Cue: Hold Still

By Leslie Guerin • February 2, 2026

Stability Is Not Stillness — It’s Organized Effort “Hold still.” If you’ve ever taken one of my classes, you’ve heard me say it. And if you’ve ever felt it, you know it isn’t about freezing. Most of the time when a teacher says “hold still,” it’s because something else is happening. Maybe bouncing, gripping, bracing, or compensating of some kind. Something is moving that shouldn’t be. But “hold still” does not mean “be still.” Those two cues might sound similar, but in Pilates they mean very different things. Be Still vs Hold Still Be still is a pause. It’s a full stop. It’s often used so you can feel one specific thing: “Be still… feel your ribs.” “Be still… notice your pelvis.” “Be still… now breathe.” It’s about attention. Hold still is something else entirely. Hold still means: Stay organized Stay lifted Stay connected Stay breathing You are not passive. You are not collapsed. You are actively maintaining shape while something else moves. It is one of the most advanced skills in Pilates. Why Teachers Say “Hold Still” We say it when we see: The pelvis shifting The ribs popping The shoulders helping Momentum sneaking in The body is trying to get the job done by recruiting the wrong helpers. So “hold still” is really a request for clean movement : Let only the part that is supposed to move… move. Everything else must work just as hard, just not by changing position. Side-Lying Leg Lifts: The Perfect Example Let’s take one of the most deceptively simple exercises in mat Pilates: Side-lying leg lifts. On the surface, it looks like this: You lie on your side You lift the top leg You lower it But what is really happening is far more complex. This exercise is designed to balance one side of the body on the other . The top leg moves. The rest of the body holds still. Not rigid. Not collapsed. Not gripping. Holding. What “Hold Still” Actually Means Here While the top leg lifts and lowers: The bottom side of the body is working. The bottom rib cage is lifted off the mat, creating space The waist is long, not sagging The spine is stacked, not rolled back The top hand in front of the body is not there to lean on, it is there to quiet the rocking forward and backward. The pelvis stays level. No tipping. No hiking. No rolling. Everything that is not the leg is holding still... but nothing is relaxed. This Is Why Breathing Matters If you stop breathing, you are not holding still. You are bracing. Holding still means you can: Maintain the shape Keep the effort And still let the breath move That’s where the deep stabilizers do their job: The abdominals The muscles along the spine The lateral hip The inner thighs The breath becomes the test: Can you stay organized even while something else is moving? That’s real control. Why This Cue Changes Everything “Hold still” teaches the nervous system something incredibly important: You don’t create strength by moving more. You create strength by controlling what doesn’t move . That’s how: Hips become more stable Backs become more supported Movement becomes quieter and more powerful It’s also how injuries are prevented, especially in people who are flexible, mobile, or used to muscling through. So Next Time You Hear It… When I say “hold still,” I’m not asking you to freeze. I’m asking you to: Stay lifted Stay connected Stay breathing Stay honest Let the right thing move. Let everything else do its job. That’s Pilates.

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