FAQs
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
At least once a year I attend a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) seminar. Certified instructors gather to practice our work, collaborate, ask questions, and learn from one another. One of the most valuable assets at every CPE is the instructor who leads the seminar. He or she is always a highly qualified, highly experienced individual who has been teaching clients and apprentices for many years. I love working out with fellow instructors because they push me to achieve my best. I also love bringing my questions because every new answer puts each topic in a new light and ads a fresh perspective.
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
I've always loved fitness. In college I worked at a gym. Then I graduated and got a job teaching English in Japan. I brought several Pilates DVDs with me to Japan. For three years I worked out to those DVDs religiously. By the time I returned to the U.S. I knew that I wanted to instruct Pilates as a career. I love my job!
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Find a Pilates instructor who served an apprenticeship at a training center. Ideally this person should have logged between 600 to 1000 documented apprenticeship hours by observing, practicing, student teaching, and taking lessons from a certified instructor. At a minimum, your instructor should attend one continuing professional education per year. Also, if you have any special or limiting physical issues or concerns, ask your instructor up front how they intend to work with you so that you stay safe and receive the full benefit of the service they provide.