THIS CLASS DIDN’T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT

Hi, it’s Maria — And if you have ever wondered what happens before an instructor walks into the studio, puts on a mic, and welcomes you into the space, here is the honest answer: a lot more than people realize.

At BARE, every instructor has their own method of teaching. Different voices, different styles, different ways of building and guiding a class. That intentional. There is no single routine that everyone follows and no one size fits all approach to teaching.

That said, here are my personal top three things I do before I teach a class.

They

are the anchors of my process and the reason my classes feel the way they do. The first thing I do is look at the roster. Not just how many people are coming, but who is coming. I want to know which clients are newer, who has been consistent, who might be rebuilding strength, and who is ready for a little more challenge that day. Every class has a different mix of bodies, experience levels, and energy, and the routine should reflect that.This is something I care deeply about across our team as well. Teaching is not about delivering a generic workout. It is about meeting people where they are.

From there, I write the class. Not something random or recycled. I think about balance, progression, and purpose. What muscles are we asking to work and in what order. Where does the class need intensity and where does it need control. The goal is always a full body experience that feels challenging but thoughtful, never chaotic. One of the most intentional decisions I made as a studio owner was to give our instructors the space to create. BARE does not run on one routine taught on repeat. Our instructors are trained, trusted, and encouraged to build their own classes because bodies are not identical and great teaching is responsive.

When instructors are allowed to create, they can adapt to the room. They can bring their intelligence, awareness, and personality into the class. That is what keeps the experience personal instead of robotic and that is something I am very proud of.

The second thing I do is try the routine myself. Every time. Because something can look great on paper and still feel wrong in the body. I want to feel the transitions, notice where fatigue builds, and make sure the muscle engagement happens in the order I want clients to experience it. If something feels rushed, awkward, or unnecessarily aggressive, it gets adjusted. Trying the class first also sharpens my cueing. When I know exactly what something feels like, I can coach it more clearly and confidently. It allows me to guide people instead of guessing.

The third thing I do is listen to the playlist. In the car. Loud. Probably louder than it needs to be. Music sets the tone for everything. It controls the rhythm, the energy, and the emotional arc of the class. If it does not make me want to move, it is not making it into the studio. The music should support the work and carry people through the harder moments, not distract from them.

Before I walk into the studio, I also check in with myself. Am I grounded? Am I focused? Am I walking into this class calm and clear, or do I need a moment to reset? The energy an instructor brings into the room matters and it is something I take seriously.

By the time I walk onto the floor, everything has been thought through. The

routine. The flow. The pacing. The energy.

Because when clients show up, they are trusting us with their bodies, their time,

and their effort. That trust deserves more than an autopilot approach. So yes,

class starts when the music comes on. But the real work starts long before

anyone ever steps on the X Former.

And that care, creativity, and intention is what quietly sets BARE apart.

From my core to yours,

Maria Stege

Founder & CEO, BARE Pilates Studio

…and that’s The Naked Truth.