6 Nov 2019

Quick guide for beginner Pilates Teacher

Pilates House Hanoi

How to make a proper choice on teacher training and continuing education

Healthy lifestyle and self-development are becoming more and more in demand, and so is a Pilates teacher profession. And it’s great, since being a Pilates teacher involves a lot of positive moments, including great opportunity to become aware of healthy training, holistic approach to life and ability to improve the lives of many people around.

My professional activity of about last 10 years is connected with teaching professionals in Pilates Method. I regularly deal with the people, who have just recently started their professional development, answering all of their questions regarding the choice of school, seminars, workshops, how to plan a personal development, schedule, taking into account financial opportunities and timeframes.

So, what is the best way to start in this field?

1. Become a client of the studio.

There is no better way to go deep into the profession, than to fall in love with Pilates as a client. Teaching Pilates is not only a great pleasure, but a big responsibility as well – your personal responsibility, of course. If you enjoy what you do - certainly, you will be happy in a profession.Make a plan for a few months which will include visiting different Pilates studios in your neighbourhood, try attending different teachers for a few times - this way you may get a variety of styles, approaches and schools to choose from which appeals to you personally.

2. Learn in-depth history of the Method.

When something is becoming popular there is a multitude of proposals, appearing on the market. Same with Pilates technique. Market boom has resulted in many offers proposing to teach you in the shortest time and at real bargain price. To avoid making your choice with blinded eyes – learn the history. It will give you the ability to understand the real value of all offers. Pilates - it is a surname of the methods creator, he lived not so long ago - so we can easily follow the connection between the Joseph Pilates and a different school. Joseph had direct students (now so-called Elders) who continued teaching his method. They have their students, too - people who usually dedicate their entire lives to continuing and developing the method. Following the continuity makes it real to have your opinion on how much one or the other company is experienced in teaching the professionals. (You’d probably agree that a surgeon will never train a prima-ballerina). If you still decide not to go with the “lineage” school - no problem, but at least you have made your choice consciously. But if you are choosing traditional and trusted way – you again have options. Also, apart from having possibility to navigate in existing options, knowledge on Pilates history will help you fall in love with Pilates more, better to understand philosophy and respect your work.You should definitely read: “Your health” and “Return to life through Contrology” since it’s the only two books left by Joseph himself.

3. Choose the school.

Teaching Pilates - it’s also a profession, which requires systematic approach. Therefore, choosing the school does matter. There is quite a few of them and each one is good in its own way. Therefore, to determine who will lead you through the process is important.

4. Choose a person you will learn from

Ask about their background, where they studied the method and check if this institution still exists. In most cases schools present their teacher on their web-site. But even if it is not the case - it’s possible to write, call and ask about the person you’ll be working with.

Since being a nice person is not a profession, apart from personal charisma the teacher must have a proper teaching skills and experience. Diplomas from conventions and of graduating from different schools sometimes is not a guarantee of a having such skills. Teaching the clients is not same as teaching professionals.

Maybe your potential teacher is already 2 weeks from creating his school or 4 days ago finished a workshop he is going to teach you now. Learn the history, make your choice consciously!

Test-drive: get to know your teacher. The simplest way is to take a lesson with him or participate in a workshop. Remember, learning is not only a process of obtaining knowledge, it’s a long-term close relationship with a teacher, often in stressful conditions – receiving a feedback during the exam, corrections, discussing not only your successes but also difficulties in a learning process.

5. Ask about the program.

Normally, learning Pilates method takes at least 1 year, more often – two (for beginning). If you see the option to master the profession in 2 days and on top of it on-line, please recheck your source. Of course, it’s possible to blame me in pursuing my own interests, but in this article I’m not mentioning the name of the school I’m representing trying to be as much objective as possible.

So beware – promises to learn method in 2 days – are definitely lying. You will never learn anything in this way, even if you will get a beautiful piece of hard paper called “Diploma”.

To master the profession is necessary:

- to have profound theory;

- practice;

- possibility to internship;

- possibility to be in touch with your teacher in a professional studio environment;

- pass an exam to an independent expert.

6. Don’t rush!

Give yourself time to learn calmly and with patience, allowing to make mistakes and be not perfect one. Jay Grims quote – “Pilates method is not about perfection. Joe was not perfect, we all are not perfect. We should just go and improve what we do with persistence and patience every day. This is the goal”.

7. Give it time to grow and bring results

Sometimes we are getting too excited about new things, so that we are not even noticing that chasing some new stuff (seminars, topics, methods, innovations) just lead us to emasculation of the essence and loss of the quality.The “fruit” should be ripened. The efforts nested into the self will result in a while. Give yourself a pause to digest the material.

8. Don’t allow yourself to be “brainwashed”

Of course, all the schools think they are the best, that’s how all present themselves - and that’s normal. But if you meet the term “unique” – think again and read the history.Joe had many students and we call them Elders and because they have all contributed to the saving and developing of the method. Thanks to all of them we are lucky to experience now what we call Pilates. So again, I strongly advice to learn the method and look widely and respect your colleagues, who were trained not in the place as you.

9. Don’t expect so much money in the beginning.

If you are yet not a professional, don’t expect that you’ll be able to teach at the same level as your favorite teacher around the corner. Everything requires time and experience. You can first invite your friends and relatives to train with you - they will tolerate your mistakes while you are getting the necessary experience in teaching.

10. Like your exams (and maybe critics)

It may sound weird, especially in the beginning – nobody like to be evaluated and criticized. Just try to change your attitude to it:

- Are not trying to please the teacher, but rather changing yourself and discovering - what more you can do if there is any gaps in your knowledges.

- You are not evaluated and judged- they are trying to find your weak and strong sides.

- You are not criticized – they are trying to tell how to be stronger in a field you want to thrive in.

Text by: Katya SmirnovaTranslation by: Nadia Radionycheva