Picking your Pilates Instructor

When deciding to join a gym or take a new workout class, most people never consider the background and education of the instructor, it's more about how fun or how fit you can get or what the latest marketing on Instagram or Facebook is pushing. Instagram influencers post carefully choreographed complex exercises on the floor or reformer to entice you into classes that may be too advanced for you. Remember these people have practiced those moves and have a knowledge of their bodies and machines that takes years to develop. True mat Pilates is very hard, and reformer Pilates can be very dangerous.

Many gyms hire instructors that took a weekend course and got a certificate and are now certified to teach the class, other gyms seek out highly qualified Pilates Teachers that will ensure quality and prevent injury. There are some courses that are better than others. Cheap and fast courses don't require months and years of study to perfect and instructors aren't generally considered to be highly specialized professionals, and aren’t internationally recognized. Consider the basics for most gyms (this is the bare minimum requirement)....

Barre: 8 hour course, and you can teach.

Yoga: 200 hour yoga teacher training - then you can teach.

Weightlifting/Body building Coaching/Weightless: you look good on stage/the internet.

Instagram coaching: you look good in your pictures.

Crossfit: a level 1 course you did over the weekend (16 hours).

Personal Training: online courses that vary from a few weeks to a few months - self study and a test.

Aerobics: 8-16 hours over a weekend

Pilates is something of a unicorn when it comes to the workout world. When you go to a Pilates studio, their credentials are on the wall. Each course 16/hours - requires additional hours of observation, participation, and teaching. Each course costs a minimum of $400, and instructors spend thousands becoming certified and taking the required hours of observation. For example,

Balanced Body requires 520 hours of coursework & time in the studio teaching and taking classes. Peak Pilates requires 500 hours. Power Pilates requires between 500-600 hours of in-person instruction and online coursework.

BASI over 500 hours in-person, online, and observation/participation.

PHI over 500 hours in-person, online, and observation/participation with a focus on rehabilitation.

These are just a few certification courses an aspiring Pilates Teacher could earn and have thorough knowledge and experience to start teaching. At Unlimited Performance, our instructors go through a rigorous in-house training program through PHI with local and out of state Pilates experts, regardless of previous certifications, before they start teaching on their own. This program involves hundreds of hours of study from in-person classes, to in-person observation and instruction, on-line study, individual on-line class exams, and a final National Exam to be internationally certified. These courses cover extensive anatomy study, pathology education, and integrative movement education to ensure safe and effective classes that prevent injury.

There are also in-house certifications that franchises like Club Pilates, KX Pilates, and others will have for their instructors, but the instructors are bound to those locations and training is specific to the company you work for.

One of the best determining factors for whether a Pilates instructor will be great is their years of experience and other complementary degrees/trainings. It is possible for an instructor to have not received the best certification when they first started, but have a vast knowledge of the practice due to many many years of teaching it and practicing it themselves. Experience is often the best teacher of them all, and when a Pilates instructor has worked with people of various ages, body types, and injuries, they can better tailor their instruction to your needs.

Be wary of cheap classes!

When you consider the amount of time, money, and effort a Pilates teacher has invested in gaining one of these internationally recognized certifications (basically a degrees in Pilates) you will pay more per class than you expect compared to basic fitness classes and definitely more if you’re doing privates. Think personal training at a gym. The money is well worth it to get the most out of your classes, your body, and to avoid injuries. If you have back, knee or shoulder problems, recently post-partum, a total joint replacement, or any other medical issue - not having an assessment prior to your class and not having a knowledgeable teacher can lead to further injury whether on the mat or on the reformer. If you know you have some problems, please do a few privates/treatments at a Pilates Physical Therapy Clinic to get your body prepared for the things you will be doing and to ensure you're using the correct muscles, breathing techniques, and posture.

At Unlimited Performance PT and Pilates we want a safe and healthy community and welcome people to come before, during, or after you try your first Pilates class to help you either continue with your program at our studio, or to go to the studio of your choice pain free.

Work Smarter Not Harder!