Pilates Teacher Training - Fall 2020!
When you think of a Pilates instructor what image comes to mind? Are they male or female? Tall or short? Thin or curvy? Does ethnicity or race enter your mind? If you have a preconceived notion of what he or she looks like I ask you why? Who helped you form this perception? Was it a first-hand experience? Social media? School? Your community's studio?
I can tell you that after 18 years of teaching our teacher training program I have had all body shapes, sizes, colors, and genders in our program. Are trainees primarily female and white? Yes. So again I ask why? Wasn’t Pilates designed for everyone? In fact, it was taught while Mr. Pilates was interned while in England during WW1 at the Isle of Man. His method of movement kept so many men and women, of all shapes and sizes, healthy in the worst of conditions.
So I’ve asked myself why out of the hundreds of teachers I have trained over the last 18yrs in such a diverse place as Los Angeles why more students aren’t men, POC, gay, trans, or have a build that is not reminiscent of a dancer. Don’t get me wrong I have had men, POC, gay, and those with larger builds as trainees but I can count on two hands and the other 200 are white females. I did my training in Boulder and my experience was no different. So why does Pilates end up attracting a bias type? Again this should not be the case.
I really don’t believe that a teacher should look a certain way. I don’t even believe they should teach a certain way, let alone my way. My job is to present a trainee with the Pilates repertoire and variations, a basic anatomy background and an understanding of movement patterns and rhythms. We explore bodies of all shapes and sizes with a curious eye and a sense of wonder. We laugh, we play and we get creative. We look at each body individually and address that body with the skills and exercises that will benefit the client to increase strength and flexibility, mindful engagement, and the joy of movement. So why should race, sexual gender, gender or size matter if the trainee is capable of teaching this method and yet doesn’t fit some stereotype? Is it a biased personal view or is it a biased studio view? I don’t have the answers so I am asking.
I have been asked what prerequisites are necessary for our program. This I have an answer for. In a perfect world a trainee would come to the table with some sort of movement background, maybe even a remembrance of anatomy from school. But to be honest the thing I look for most in a trainee is the determination and the drive to dive deep into the method, prior experience or not. I want trainees to be passionate about learning, about moving, and about wanting to share what they learn with others. Size, race, and gender should not play a role in learning Pilates but it should have a ripple effect in teaching Pilates and widening the experience beyond the thin white woman that it was never intended just for.
So throw away the preconceived notion of what a Pilates teacher should look like and if you have ever been interested in becoming a teacher yourself find a program that doesn’t stereotype you from the moment you step foot into their door.
I would tell anyone inquiring about a training program to do your homework! Ask if the program has the following: how diverse is your program, is it comprehensive, how many hours are involved total, are there separate charges for testing, do you allow trainees to attend on Zoom or another video platform, are classes/lessons discounted, and is there a relationship with other studios and gyms for you to find a job after completion of training. Most of all find a studio that welcomes YOU and all that you have to offer them, not the other way around. Don’t settle for being a dollar sign for a training program. Just because some studios have a big name reputation doesn’t mean you get more attention or better education or feel more welcomed.
Find your home! It should feel good for you. That doesn’t mean it won’t be hard. A well comprehensive course will take work and drive. If your studio recognizes YOU and your desire to learn then it’s safe to say you have found your school, your community, and your future profession.
Good luck and if you have any answers to my questions please feel free to email me. If you have questions concerning our teacher training program feel free to email me with your questions as well. Pisc01@yahoo.com
Stacey