Pictured: Me and Meghan Cameron, she is the owner of http://www.hpbodyworks.com/index.html and also the reason I teach Pilates.

Just so you know, when you experience someone teaching a Pilates class in a gym (or club or anywhere that is not specifically a Pilates studio) it is not always a forgone conclusion that they are a certified Pilates teacher. Chances are they are a certified fitness instructor teaching a Pilates class. I think that’s part of the reason why there is so much confusion out there as to what Pilates is exactly. I’ve touched on what to expect from a Pilates class in my previous blog: https://alignrochester.wordpress.com/2018/05/09/so-you-signed-up-for-a-pilates-session-now-what but I can tell you from experience that just because a class has Pilates somewhere in the title it does not necessarily mean there are Pilates exercises or methodology involved in any of it in any way.

For example, during my mat apprenticeship (more on that momentarily) where I was learning about the Pilates method and exercises I attended a class called The Pilates Challenge (or some such nonsense) at a fitness club and there was NOT ONE Pilates exercise involved in the whole grueling hour class. In fact this class was so tough half of the students bailed because it proved too much of a challenge. I stuck it out but my delayed onset muscle soreness was the gift that kept reminding me that it had been a TERRIBLE decision. This was a class at a very upscale club that should have known better, might I add. So how do you identify a teacher who is well qualified to teach Pilates? Answer: you can ask them about their fitness education. This goes for Pilates taught anywhere including a Pilates studio. In fact it’s ESPECIALLY beneficial to ask about a teacher’s fitness education in a Pilates studio because it is amazingly edifying. The teacher will be more than happy to explain the training they are receiving (and in a Pilates studio they will ALWAYS be training because it never ends), who they are receiving it from, the hours involved, the workshops they’re attending; they will nerd- right-out.

You may be wondering what a thorough Pilates education involves. I will regale you with the tale of my personal thorough (exhaustive) Pilates education. In fact it’s going to require two blogs so consider this Pilates Education Part 1: Origin Story. I first came to Pilates when I ran into an old friend at a party. At the time I was working on my personal training certification (in fact, still am) and I struck up a conversation with his wife about physical fitness. She told me that she just happened to own a Pilates studio and that she did teacher training in the Pilates mat repertoire. I knew very little about Pilates at the time, in fact here was my Pilates experience at that point; I had inherited a Pilates book from a friend which I did workouts from twice but the instant I felt my back muscles I freaked out and stopped. I also had friends that took Pilates classes at our local gym and loved it and always invited me to join them but I never did. So suffice it to say my experience was quite limited.

So, my friend’s wife told me I could come audit a class and I did and I was hooked. My Pilates mat certification was 95 hours total and included (but was not limited to) hours of taking mat classes, teaching mat classes, observing mat classes, practicing mat class exercises, teaching individuals private mat sessions and attending workshops about teaching mat classes and private mat sessions. I was an Apprentice to a Pilates teacher in a Pilates studio. I observed her classes over a long period of time with many different students so I had a deep understanding of her teaching method. I also taught classes and clients under her supervision so she could monitor and shape my teaching method. That’s what it means to be an Apprentice to a Teacher. Now, you can also do Pilates teacher training and get certified in the mat repertoire in a few hours, a day, or a weekend, usually for a ridiculously high price. Both the teacher that goes through an apprenticeship program and the teacher who attends a limited Pilates Teacher training emerge as Certified Pilates Teachers.

So do yourself a favor and petition the teacher of whatever Pilates class you attend specifically about their education. I can promise you that no matter what the response it will be good for you to know! The sequel to this blog will consider the second leg of my Pilates Educational journey and will be titled Pilates Education Part 2: Apparatus Apprenticeship.