Getting on the Right Pilates Wagon
When I first trained under the legendary Pilates Master Ron Fletcher back in 1975, there were no manuals and no comprehensive program by which to measure ones competence to teach. You had to work hard, spend hours at the studio under the foot of the Master, take mental notes, feel in your body the right way to move, and instruct from instinct. That instinct takes years and years to develop and a true Master has it.
Before the Pilates revolution developed around the year 2000, few people were teaching the Pilates method. Most people had never heard of Pilates. We called it Body Contrology. The training program was mostly by apprentice based devotees that simply loved the work. They craved it, and studied with him for decades passing on his knowledge.
After the trademark lawsuit when a judge ruled that the term Pilates would not be a trademark and could be used generically to describe any exercise using Pilates movements, thousands of people began teaching Pilates, or versions of what they considered Pilates. Today it is so widespread and watered down without any resemblance of what Joseph Pilates intended some 100 years ago. Some good and some not so good. How do you decide which is the right one for you? It is a great career choice and one that will keep you employed and healthy into advanced age. With so many “certification programs” out there, how do you decide?
Enter the PMA, Pilates Method Alliance. The PMA was established in October of 2000 as a nonprofit organization to maintain a standard of education for Pilates teachers.
“When we started there were many different teacher training programs ranging from six to 900 hours”, says PMA director Kevin Bowen. After much research they came up with the following requirements. I suggest you follow these requirements when researching an accredited program.
*The director of a Pilates teacher certification program must have at least ten years Pilates teaching experience.
*A facilitator must have a minimum of five years.
*The program should be a minimum of 400 hours, including lectures, observations, student teaching and self-study.
*The program should cover all Pilate apparatus and Mat work.
*It should include written and practical tests.
It is also my feeling that the classic Method of Pilates gives the most satisfaction to the hungry student. It is a way of life that goes beyond the classroom. It is to be used in everyday life in everyday situations. It is the way we carry ourselves through life that keep us strong and healthy. Joe Pilates was ahead of his time. Let us honor his legacy by passing on his philosophy.
Risa received her formal training in the early 70s under master instructor Ron Fletcher. She is the author of the book, “Risa Sheppard’s Fitness Formula for a Firm and Flat Stomach” and conducts seminars and workshops on the Pilates method.
To learn more about Risa please visit www.sheppardmethod.com
Tags: pilates certification, pilates method alliance, risa sheppard, sheppard method