Pilates Workout SystemAll over toning for mind and body

Sure, you can get a wonderful Pilates workout by using DVD’s, books, and free resources on youtube. However, sometimes you really just need the one on one attention. Instead of booking a personal Pilates trainer, why not start by taking a Pilates class at your local Pilates studio or gym?

However, finding a class is one thing… finding a good class is quite another. We all know how to actually locate a class to take (look in the phone book, search online directories, look at the schedule at your local gym and show up…) But it could be a little bit more complicated actually finding a class where the instructor is properly trained, has the right certifications, and is someone whom you can easily learn from.

Proper Certification…

With that said, your number one concern is to check up on the instructor’s certifications. In my experience, I see a real difference between someone who is Stott certified and someone who isn’t. This may be changing as more and more people are available to teach the technique properly. However, Stott certification still reins as king of Pilates instruction.

That doesn’t mean that an instructor who isn’t Stott certified won’t be very good. Some people just have a natural instinct for learning a method and telling people how to execute it properly. And just because someone is Stott certified doesn’t automatically make them a better instructor. But it does help – trust me. The program is intensive (and expensive) so it helps whip the instructors into shape so they can teach Pilates properly.

Your Comfort Level

Your comfort level with your instructor is perhaps even more important than the actual certification. You need to feel at ease with the person who is teaching you Pilates and leading the class otherwise you won’t get much out of the workout. The Pilates method relies on proper technique and proper breathing and it is worth your while to find a good instructor with a nice personality who can teach you the proper way to do it.

So if you feel like you need extra instruction or you just want to do Pilates in a group setting, spend some time to find a class in your local area that you feel comfortable with.

Tags: Pilates, Pilates Classes, Pilates Method

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 at 5:10 pm and is filed under Pilates, Pilates Tips. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.