The Pelvic Floor: What Every Pilates Teacher Should Understand

It’s about more than Kegels—and it’s definitely about more than simply telling a client to “engage their core.”

The pelvic floor has become a much bigger topic in Pilates, fitness and wellness—and we think that’s a good thing.

But with greater awareness also comes a responsibility for instructors to understand what we’re actually talking about before we start cueing it.

At Precision Pilates Training, one of the things we continually remind our trainees is this:

Knowing what to cue is important. Understanding WHY you’re cueing it is even more important.

And the pelvic floor is a perfect example.

First: What Is the Pelvic Floor?

Think of the pelvic floor not as one single muscle, but as a layered group of muscles and connective tissues located at the base of the pelvis.

These muscles do a lot.

They help support our pelvic organs. They play a role in bowel and bladder function. They contribute to sexual function. They work with our abdominals, diaphragm, spine and hips. And they are an important part of how we manage pressure and create stability during movement.

In other words, the pelvic floor doesn’t work alone.

Neither should we teach it that way.

Stronger Isn’t Always Better

For years, pelvic-floor health has often been simplified into one word:

Kegels.

Need a stronger pelvic floor? Do Kegels.

Postpartum? Do Kegels.

Experiencing leaking? Do Kegels.

But pelvic-floor function is much more complicated than simply squeezing harder.

Muscles need to be able to contract, release and lengthen.

Imagine walking around all day with your shoulders shrugged toward your ears. Eventually, telling you to strengthen those muscles more probably isn’t the first thing you need.

You may need to learn how to let them go.

The pelvic floor is no different.

Someone can have a pelvic floor that is weak or underactive, but someone can also experience excessive tension, poor coordination or difficulty allowing those muscles to release.

That’s an important distinction for Pilates teachers.

Your Breath Matters

Here’s where Pilates gets especially interesting.

The diaphragm and pelvic floor work together as part of an integrated system.

As we naturally inhale, the rib cage expands and the diaphragm moves downward. The pelvic floor responds by lengthening and yielding.

As we exhale, the system recoils.

It is a dynamic relationship—not simply a permanent “pull everything in and hold it” strategy.

This is why we spend so much time teaching our trainees about breathing.

It’s also why instructors need to think carefully about the cues they give.

If we’re constantly saying:

Pull in. Hold. Tighten. Engage. Squeeze.

What are we actually teaching the client’s body to do?

There may absolutely be exercises where we intentionally use a particular breathing or activation strategy.

But there is a difference between an intentional exercise strategy and teaching someone to grip their body all day long.

Good cueing requires understanding that difference.

The Pelvic Floor Is Part of the Whole Body

One of our favorite principles to teach at Precision is that the body isn’t a collection of independent parts.

Everything affects something else.

The pelvic floor has relationships with the deep abdominals, diaphragm, adductors, hips, spine and surrounding connective tissue.

That means squatting matters.

Hip movement matters.

Spinal mobility matters.

Breathing matters.

Alignment matters.

And yes—your Pilates practice matters.

Sometimes one of the best things we can do as instructors is stop trying to micromanage every muscle and instead create an environment where the body can move well.

Pregnancy & Postpartum: Give the Body Time

This becomes particularly important when working with pregnant and postpartum clients.

Pregnancy asks an extraordinary amount of the body.

The abdominal wall changes. The pelvic floor adapts. Posture changes. Pressure changes. Tissue length changes.

Then after birth, everything doesn’t simply snap back into place.

Recovery takes time.

Our role as instructors isn’t to rush someone toward their “pre-baby body.”

Our job is to meet the body that’s standing in front of us today.

Start with breath.

Restore connection.

Build movement.

Progress appropriately.

And understand when something requires the expertise of a pelvic-health professional.

Know Your Scope

This might be the most important lesson of all.

A Pilates instructor is not a pelvic-floor physical therapist.

Understanding anatomy doesn’t mean diagnosing dysfunction.

If a client is experiencing pelvic pain, persistent leaking, significant pressure or heaviness, pain with intercourse or other symptoms concerning them, those conversations may warrant referral to an appropriately qualified healthcare professional, such as a pelvic-health physical therapist.

Being a great instructor doesn’t mean having every answer.

Sometimes great teaching means knowing when to say:

“I’d like you to have this evaluated by someone who specializes in it.”

Teacher Training Should Be the Beginning of Your Education

This topic also highlights something Kristen and I strongly believe.

Your Pilates certification isn’t the finish line.

It’s the beginning.

We are both NCPT-certified instructors, and continuing education is part of maintaining our credentials—but more importantly, it’s part of being responsible teachers.

We continue to study.

We listen to physical therapists and other qualified professionals.

We take workshops.

We revisit anatomy.

We question old cues.

We learn new research.

And when we learn something valuable, we bring it back to our trainees.

Because the Pilates industry continues to evolve—and good teachers should evolve with it.

At Precision Pilates Training, we want our graduates to know the exercises.

But we also want them asking:

Why am I teaching this?

What am I seeing in the body in front of me?

Why am I giving this particular cue?

Is my cue helping—or am I simply repeating something someone once told me?

And is this within my scope, or does my client need another professional on their team?

Those questions are part of becoming a thoughtful, confident and educated Pilates instructor.

Because teaching Pilates isn’t about memorizing a list of exercises.

It’s about learning how to teach people.

Keep learning. Keep asking questions. Keep observing. And never stop being curious about the incredible body in front of you.

Precision Pilates Training
Training teachers. Building confidence. Creating instructors who understand the WHY behind the movement.