What stage of learning is a new student in during their first lesson?

A new student in their first lesson is in the cognitive stage of learning. This stage is characterized by the initial understanding and exploration of new concepts or skills. During this phase, individuals are often trying to absorb information, comprehend instructions, and develop a foundational understanding of the techniques involved in Pilates. This is when students are likely to feel more conscious of their movements as they learn the basic principles, alignments, and sequences of the exercises.

In contrast, the associative stage, which is the next step in the learning process, involves practicing the skills learned and refining them through repetition and feedback. The automatic stage refers to a level of proficiency where the learner performs the skills effectively with little conscious thought or effort. Autonomic is not a commonly recognized term in the context of learning stages in Pilates, making it less relevant in this scenario. Therefore, the cognitive stage is where new learners predominantly find themselves as they begin their journey in Pilates.