SCOUT INSTRUCTOR SERIES - Meet Trish

TRISHA HURCKES

How long have you been teaching Yoga & Pilates? I've been teaching yoga for about 7 to 8 years and Pilates for about 2 and a half years. And I started teaching at Scout just last year when the Marrickville studio opened.

What is your favourite class to teach at Scout? At the moment, my favorite class to teach is Reformer Essentials. I just really like the slower pace of it and you can get a variety of people in the class. I also really enjoy Yoga Open Flow. A little bit less so now being pregnant, also really enjoy Yoga Open Flow. A little bit less so now being pregnant, but yeah it's still one of my favorites.

What is your favourite Pilates position?  My favorite exercise at the moment is anything upper body in reformer. I'm loving using the straps, so a good Hug a Tree, any kind of draw sword, or any chest opening expansion really! Especially now pregnant, I'm getting really closed in my shoulders. So it's opening up and working on my posture which feels really nice.

What's your favourite thing about teaching at Scout? I love how intimate the classes are! We only have about 12 to 14 beds in Reformer classes, so as a teacher I feel like I can get to every single person that's in the class and really helping everyone out. And the studio is just beautiful. The people here are great. Staff is amazing as well. All the other instructors, I love them all!

What do you like to do when you’re not teaching? When I'm not teaching, at the moment I'm kind of just chilling out, lying down horizontally on the couch playing video games or working on getting the house ready for the baby to come. So it's lots of projects. I've been doing a bit of backyard work, been reading, been doing a bit of painting, just anything at home really.

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting Pilates? If you're just starting out, get to some beginner classes or foundation classes. Even if you've done Pilates for years, sometimes I'll go back and do those just to get a reminder of the alignment, some cueing that you might not hear in other classes. It's important to go back to the basics, the classical repertoire, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Ask your teacher, wave them down, say this doesn't feel right, this feels like this, can you help me out. I always say ask as many questions as you need, that's why we're here.