How to Arrive + Thrive at PCS

Keira Cumberland ·

How to Arrive + Thrive at PCS

Your guide to feeling prepared, grounded, and empowered in the studio

At Pilates Collective SLO, we’re proud to cultivate more than just strong bodies — we’re building a culture rooted in respect, presence, and purposeful movement. As our community continues to grow, we want everyone — new clients, longtime students, and teacher trainees alike — to feel informed, supported, and aligned with the values that make PCS a truly special place to practice.

This guide will help you:

  • Arrive with confidence

  • Understand our studio etiquette

  • Care for the equipment

  • And embody the PCS ethos both on and off the apparatus

🌿 How to Arrive + Thrive in Class

1. Dress Mindfully for Movement

Wear fitted, functional clothing that stays in place and allows your instructor to clearly see your form. Avoid loose shorts or overly low pants, especially in exercises like mermaid, short spine, or feet-in-straps.

💡 Grip socks are encouraged. They improve traction, enhance hygiene, and prevent toenail polish from transferring to the upholstery.

2. Hair Up, Feet Clean, Accessories Minimal

Help us keep the space clear and clean:

  • Tie long hair up and out of the way

  • Arrive with clean feet

  • Avoid jewelry, sharp nails, zippers, or embellishments that can scratch, snag, or tear the equipment

3. Shoes Off, Phones Away

Please leave your shoes at the front bench to protect our floors and equipment. Phones should be silenced and stored — this is your time to unplug, breathe, and be fully present.

4. Respect the Method, the Instructor, and the Room

PCS operates with the quiet discipline of a martial art. That means:

  • Be open to learning and correction

  • Trust the expertise of your instructor

  • Stay focused on your own experience

  • Support a calm, non-competitive environment

We do not tolerate big egos or disruptive energy. Our studio is a space for healing, clarity, and growth — we ask that everyone who enters upholds that energy with care.

5. Care for the Equipment Like It’s Sacred (Because It Is)

Our handcrafted apparatus is central to your practice. Please:

  • Wipe down your station after class

  • Avoid wearing anything that could scratch or tear the upholstery

  • Tell your instructor immediately if something feels off or broken

🧭 Progress With Purpose: The PCS Level System

We believe in earned progression, not one-size-fits-all workouts. Our PCS Level System ensures that you’re building skills safely and systematically — with just the right amount of challenge.

Each level supports you in mastering movement with clarity, control, and confidence. Your instructor will guide you when it’s time to move up, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

🌀 Not sure what level you're in or where you’re headed? Just ask — we love helping clients navigate their growth path with purpose.

💬 Let’s Keep Growing Together

Have questions? Feedback? Something we missed? We welcome your input and your voice in our evolving community. 📩 Email us anytime at info@pilatescollectiveslo.com, or talk to your instructor before or after class, we’re always happy to connect.

✨ PCS Is More Than a Studio

It’s a place to:

  • Move with integrity

  • Honor the lineage of the method

  • Support and be supported

  • And reconnect with your own depth

Thank you for being part of what makes PCS a studio of excellence, humility, and care.