With its ability to sculpt muscles, encourage flexibility, and build strength and endurance, Pilates is an exercise enjoyed by millions of participants around the globe. When practicing a Pilates routine, most individuals attend a class taught by a certified instructor. Instructors provide guidance for students, teaching new routines and ensuring that the safety and health of the participant is respected. In order to grasp the unique concepts behind the principles of Pilates, it is important for would-be teachers to seek out training that can help them to further develop their comprehension and understanding of both human anatomy and Pilates itself.
Background of Pilates
Pilates was developed by a German national, Joseph Pilates, who originally referred to his methods as “Contrology.” Teaching others in English interment camps during World War I, Pilates developed his methods using nothing more than a mat and a few small props. He would later immigrate to New York City, where together with his wife, Pilates opened a studio and taught his methods to a varied group of individuals.
Today, the traditional methods Pilates once taught are still practiced across the globe. Many of those who studied under Pilates in New York would later go on to open studios that further helped spread the popularity of the exercise regime. There are also several new variants of Pilates, in which instructors have modified the routines and added aspects of other exercises.
Pursuing Pilates Teacher Training
Most individuals who pursue Pilates teacher training are those who have already been practicing the exercise for several years. Having seen the benefits Pilates offers, these individuals choose to seek out training that will allow them to work with others who would like to learn Pilates. Teacher training encompasses several different aspects of Pilates, including both the technical and philosophical ideas behind the practice of this diverse exercise regime.
Many of those who study to become teachers will spend time working directly with a certified instructor, gaining valuable hands-on knowledge that will allow the student to eventually teach classes alone. Students also study the human body itself, gaining a deeper understanding of the musculature and bone structure that makes up the human frame. This allows teachers to better understand how to guide students in Pilates classes, while also emphasizing the importance of safe routines. This will also allow future instructors to learn how to modify routines for those suffering from injuries, or for those who need a less intense routine due to factors such as pregnancy.
After completing a Pilates teaching training course, students will receive certification to begin teaching classes. With certification, instructors can expect to be find employment in gyms and studios that teach Pilates. Certification not only solidifies employment prospects, but is also the best way to ensure that the individual in question is informed as to how best to practice Pilates. Using that information, instructors will be equipped to work with a wide array of different individuals, helping each of them to discover how Pilates can transform their own lives.
This post was provided by Martha Smith, a new pilates instructor in BC. When getting her pilates teacher training, she found Feel Good Yoga & Pilates offered the best programs.