Understanding motor learning and skill acquisition

Unlock the science behind how people learn movement—and transform the way you teach.

In this practical, easy-to-apply workshop, you’ll dive into the essential principles of motor learning and skill acquisition that directly impact how clients understand, retain, and refine Pilates techniques. Whether you’re helping a brand-new beginner find their footing or guiding an advanced mover toward mastery, the strategies you’ll learn will elevate every cue, exercise progression, and movement sequence you teach.

What You’ll Learn

• How the brain learns movement
  Get clear on the cognitive, associative, and autonomous stages of learning so you can meet clients exactly where they are.

• The role of feedback
  Learn when to cue, how much to cue, and why less is often more. Discover how internal vs. external focus can drastically change motor performance.

• Practice structure that accelerates progress
  Explore blocked vs. random practice, variable practice, and how to design sessions that build genuine skill—not just repetition.

• Error as information
  Understand how mistakes help shape the nervous system and why a “perfect rep” mindset can slow learning.

• Building durable, transferable movement skills
  Use evidence-backed strategies to help clients retain what they learn and apply it across different exercises and environments.

Why It Matters

When you understand how people truly learn to move, you teach more effectively. You’ll create sessions that are engaging, efficient, and tailored to the learning needs of each client. Most importantly, you’ll help clients develop confidence, autonomy, and lasting skill—all while deepening the mind–body connection that makes Pilates so powerful.

Perfect for Pilates teachers, movement educators, and anyone who wants to elevate their instruction through the science of learning.