Where to Earn Your Certification in Pilates Teacher Training

More and more American's are choosing Pilates as their favorite way to stay in shape. Although Pilates has been around for a long time, it's popularity has grown steadily over the past decade.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, over the next few years the demand for employees in the fitness field will increase more than for any other job.

Facilities and studios in cities all across America are now offering Pilates teacher training. The course for Pilates certification is usually offered in two separate parts - comprehensive instruction and mat instruction.

Classes to become certified in mat instruction are often given at health clubs. The classes are usually completed over the period of two weekends, but more intensive classes will be done in one weekend. The fees for these courses will vary, but normally run from $100 to several hundred dollars.

To achieve certification in Pilates, comprehensive teacher training will require a lot more time, anywhere from twelve to eighteen months. During that period you will need to work around 900 hours as a teacher apprentice and have to complete basic psychology and anatomy classes.

For some schools you will need a minimum of one year of prior Pilates training and will have to have attended a set number of private lessons. The basic rates charged for comprehensive training will be between $2,000 and $4,000.

A career in Pilates can also be targeted towards specialized areas such as injuries, spinal care and osteoporosis. Teacher training is also included in the comprehensive course.

If for some reason you don't have a place nearby where you can take Pilates teacher training, or don't have the time needed you can do it online. The rates usually run from $50 up to a few hundred and can be done at a slower pace than at a studio.

The Importance of Pilates Instructors

The importance of Pilates instructors cannot be underscored enough as to the importance of providing proper Pilates instruction. A certified Pilates instructor is charged with maintaining the integrity of Pilates instruction.

This integrity allows for the Pilates instruction to be taught the way that it was intended to benefit those who derive value from this exercise program. The proper instruction will minimize potential injuries to the student and will optimize the results gained from the proper performance of the exercises techniques.

The History of Pilates Instruction

From the early beginnings of Pilates, the founder Joseph H. Pilates saw the need for requiring the proper instruction and certification of Pilates instructor. In fact, early certification began with the founder himself as he saw the need to maintain the integrity of this beneficial exercise program.

Because the movements of the Pilates are deeply seeded within dance movements, the early day instructors were dance teachers. In addition to the roots being grounded in dance motions, the early day recipients of Pilates instruction were dancers who were undergoing physical rehabilitation.

Todays Pilates Instructors

Pilates instruction is a serious physical rehabilitation exercise program. So much so that in the country of Great Britain there are government standards in place for its instruction.  There are no such licenses or standards required outside of Great Britain. However, there are several centers available that provide instruction for a Pilates instructor. In addition, there are movements that are calling for Pilates instructor accreditation.

One of the moving forces behind this movement is the PMA. The Pilates Method Alliance is a United Kingdom nonprofit agency that has been charged with providing accreditation for the Pilates instructors. Their movement is sincere in their approach in that they want to maintain the integrity of the Pilates instruction.

Today, there are many schools who have added variations to the Pilates instruction. The new instruction facilities use the basics of the Pilates movement, but have added modern movements to the instructional routines.

On the other hand, there are certain movements afoot that assert the notion that strict adherence to the original Pilates exercise program would negate the integration of new medical findings. The incorporation of these new medical findings into a modified Pilates exercise program would provide enhancement benefits to the person utilizing the Pilates method.

One such example of a modification would be the position of the spine when utilizing Pilates. Originally, Joseph Pilates taught that the spine should remain straight when performing the routines. Subsequently, medical research conducted around the use of exercise and its impact on the spine has suggested that flexing the spine is needed. These new studies have indicated that flexing of the spine is important for physical and nervous system reasons. In fact, they assert, that keeping the spine straight may be detrimental.