Cueing
A summary of the different types of cueing you have in your arsenal!
1. Verbal Cueing
Clear spoken instructions about what to do.
Examples:
“Draw your ribs gently down.”
“Lengthen through the back of your neck.”
“Press evenly through both feet.”
2. Visual Cueing
Demonstrating the movement or using visual references.
Examples:
Demonstrating spinal positioning
Showing hand placement for movement
Using mirrors to highlight alignment.
3. Tactile Cueing (Hands-On Cueing)
Using touch to guide alignment, activation, or awareness.
Examples:
Lightly tapping the lower abdominals to encourage engagement.
Using hands to help client extend legs longer
Touching the mid-back to encourage thoracic extension.
4. Imagery Cueing
Using metaphors to create better movement quality.
Examples:
“Imagine balancing a glass of water on your pelvis.”
“Grow tall like a piece of string is pulling you upward.”
5. Anatomical Cueing
Using specific muscle or joint terminology.
Examples:
“Actively squeeze your bottom/glutes”
“Posteriorly tilt your pelvis.”
“Depress your shoulder blade.”
6. Functional Cueing
Relating movement to real-life actions.
Examples:
“Send bottom backwards like your sitting on a chair”
“Stack your ribs over your pelvis like good standing posture.”
“Reach hands forward like your handing someone a plate”
7. Breath Cueing
Directing breath to support movements and exertion
Examples:
“Inhale and feel rib cage/tummy expand”
“Exhale during the hardest part of the movement”
“Blow the air out slowly as you curl up.”
Make sure clients are not holding breath
Teaching Tip for Pilates Instructors
Great cueing usually:
Is simple and concise
Uses one or two cues at a time
Matches the client’s learning style
Progresses from external → internal refinement
Avoids over-cueing
8. Internal Cueing
Focusing on what is happening inside the body (muscle activation).
Examples:
“Feel your shoulder blades drawing down and back”
“Squeeze your glutes before you lift.”
“Soften the upper traps and shoulders.”
9. External Cueing
Focusing on the outcome or movement effect rather than muscles.
Examples:
“Push the carriage away.”
“Reach your fingertips to the wall.”
“Press the floor away.”
10. Alignment Cueing
Directing joint positioning and posture.
Examples:
“Knees over second toes.”
“Stack shoulders over wrists.”
“Keep your low back level.”
11. Sensory / Proprioceptive Cueing
Encouraging awareness of pressure, weight, or contact.
Examples:
“Feel equal weight through both sit bones.”
“Notice the back of your ribs on the mat.”
“Balance evenly across your foot and toes”
12. Rhythm & Tempo Cueing
Guiding pacing and control.
Examples:
“Two counts up, three counts down.”
“Slow and controlled.”
“Pause at the top.”
13. Motivational / Encouragement Cueing
Supporting effort and confidence.
Examples:
“Beautiful control.”
“Stay with it.”
“You’ve got this.”