If You’re Serious About Being A Certified Teacher Than You Better Get Ready To Do Your Homework
Pilates Certification has become a benchmark for all Pilates instructors and for all people looking for a qualified instructor.
Does having a certificate equal good instructing? Not necessarily.
There are many programs available for those wanting to take a certification exam and they differ in depth, time, money and credibility. While most are with reputable entities, some are not.
Sifting through the list of possibilities may seem daunting, but if you are serious about obtaining a Pilates certification, then get ready to do your homework.
Look first for what is available in your area. Are you near a big city? Chances for finding a good program increase twofold if you live near New York City. However, there are programs everywhere. Do a quick search on the Internet to see what’s around.
When looking for a good certification program, there is one absolute requirement that you should demand. You cannot learn to teach Pilates in a weekend. Repeat after me: You cannot learn to teach Pilates in a weekend! So don’t even consider a weekend course even if you have had some experience.
That’s not to say that you must devote years and years to the training. That is, to learning the exercises. Perfecting how you teach and really getting your sea legs requires years of experience.
There is a difference in knowing the choreography of the Pilates exercises and understanding the essence, functionality, and nuances of the exercises. And that is what you can’t get in a weekend.
Some of the big names in Pilates certification are STOTT PILATES©, Physical Mind Institute, Polestar, Peak Pilates and Power Pilates to name just a few. There are literally hundreds. Until recently, there was little regulation in the Pilates industry.
The Pilates Method Alliance has tried, with good success, to institute a national exam for Pilates instructors. Many in the industry applaud this and many, for political reasons or personal beliefs, don’t agree.
I have been teaching for eleven years now and I still learn something new every day. Am I a good instructor? You bet I am. But I wasn’t always.
It takes years to develop a rhythm and confidence in Pilates. Choose a program or teacher instructor who has experience.
Remember, there are many good instructors who are not certified and many certified instructors who are not good. It is necessary to have experience, and experience only comes with time.
Getting your Pilates certification is an important step to becoming a talented instructor, but it does not guarantee success and satisfaction.