My Path to Teaching Fletcher Pilates
From dance to Pilates, this is the story of how I found my way back to movement. It’s an honest look at my journey, the reality of teaching, and why I believe every body is beautiful.
My first Pilates class after returning from my studies in 2017. I was filled with self-doubt, and only two people showed up. Today, I no longer doubt my skill as a teacher, and that is a huge success for me.
A memory from my first job as a Pilates trainer in Mumbai. It took a lot of trial and error to learn how to teach the Indian crowd, but this is where I first felt I was good at what I did.
Another shot from my early days as a trainer. I was known as the girl who was always stretching and attempting acrobatic movements to keep my sanity alive.
Back in 2020, I turned my home into a playground to complete the Fletcher Professional program online in the middle of the night. It was challenging but so rewarding.
My first post in a "100 days of Pilates" challenge. This picture was from a collaboration during the pandemic, a time when we were all trying to survive as freelancers. It was fun because it kept us busy.
Apart from teaching, I am also a student. Learning belly dance helped me own my body with love and apply all my Pilates principles to learn consciously and precisely.
About this collection
When I first started teaching in Bangalore, I had days where only two students showed up. It was a humbling, quiet start, but it taught me that my role isn't to run a high-volume gym; it’s to help you build the same connection to your body that helped me recover from my own injuries. Whether you are a dancer or someone who spends too many hours at a desk, my goal is to help you feel strong and aware in your own skin, rather than focusing on aesthetic goals.
My path wasn't a straight line. I started as a dancer, but injuries and a lot of self-doubt forced me to re-evaluate how I move. That is when I found the Fletcher Pilates method. It wasn't just about fitness; it was about percussive breathing and high-quality movement that actually made sense for my body.
I moved from the dance studio to studying the Fletcher lineage in the USA and eventually brought that practice back to India. It took a lot of trial and error to adapt these techniques for the Indian crowd—my first clients were confused by the 'flowery' movements and the use of the Fletcher Towel. I had to learn how to bridge that gap between professional dance technique and everyday functional movement.
Today, I run my classes with that same philosophy: quality over quantity. Whether we are doing mat work in a rented studio in Koramangala or working through virtual sessions, the focus remains on spinal alignment and posture. I am not a 'fitness guru' with a perfect routine; I am a teacher who is still learning and practicing every day. If you are looking for a place where you don't have to be perfect to start moving, you are in the right place.
Akshata Joshi
I'm Akshata. I don't teach to help you lose inches; I teach to help you find strength from within. My classes are a space to move without judgment, whether you have been active your whole life or are just trying to get comfortable in your body again.
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