| What do I look for in a Pilates studio? (and yes I | | | | student while cueing and instructing the student. So |
| own a Pilates Studio in Carlsbad, California). | | | | much for private instruction, so private not even the |
| My Experience | | | | student is in on it. |
| Would you consider a person who owns a Pilates | | | | Location & Price |
| studio to be good source about how to pick a Pilates | | | | Obviously important and perhaps how many people |
| studio? Yes, I’ve owned and operated California | | | | eventually pick a studio is the location and price. I |
| Pilates Center in Carlsbad, California since 2003. | | | | would and do travel farther to get to a store or |
| I’ve also owned a couple of Pilates Studios in | | | | restaurant that I prefer, and I do so with a Pilates |
| different areas of Los Angeles and I’ve been a | | | | studio as well. The best one is not always the |
| practitioner and Pilates Instructor for over 25 years. | | | | closest. For our Studio in North San Diego County we |
| Well obviously I know something about the subject, | | | | have people coming from surrounding areas such as |
| but in addition to owning a studio in I’ve been to | | | | Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, Encinitas, Solana Beach, |
| a lot of Pilates studios across the United States and | | | | and farther for Pilates as well as Carlsbad, which |
| Canada. I continue to visit different Pilates studios | | | | represents quite a distance. |
| often, as a matter of fact I take regular classes at a | | | | Additionally, many instructors as they become more |
| studio that is not my own. There are awesome | | | | experienced and in demand charge more than the |
| Pilates studios all over, with wonderful teachers and | | | | average instructor charges. Sometimes it’s worth |
| this is what I look for. | | | | it, other times maybe not depending on your |
| Students Bodies | | | | experience. Sometimes one of the best indicators is |
| When making a recommendation to a student one of | | | | whether or not the Studio and or the Instructor are |
| the first things to consider is where is the | | | | booked up or completely available. |
| person’s body at? Is this person a Pilates’ | | | | At our Pilates Studio in Carlsbad, California I charge a |
| beginner or a very advanced enthusiast? Are they in | | | | little more than the other instructors at the studio |
| shape or not? Does the Pilates studio in question | | | | and in the surrounding area studios. I’m not |
| offer different levels of instruction, do they offer | | | | saying I’m better than others but some people |
| beginning but not advanced classes? Do the | | | | think it’s a worthwhile investment in their health. |
| instructors have experience working with disabilities | | | | I’ve always thought it’s better to pay a |
| or pregnancy? Call first or visit the Studio’s web | | | | couple of dollars more to make my experience that |
| site and explore the offerings. | | | | much better. I know when I go to another |
| Certifications | | | | Pilates’ instructor for my own private instruction |
| Pilates grew very rapidly during the last twenty years | | | | I go to the better instructors if I have the budget |
| and the experience level of some of the instructors | | | | for it. |
| was quite frankly sometimes lacking. That there is | | | | How often should you go? |
| now a Pilates’ industry and overseers of the | | | | Ideally it’s nice to workout with a Pilate’s |
| Pilates work is a good thing. There exists a grouping | | | | program 3 times a week. For some budgets that |
| of very qualified programs that instruct | | | | might be too much, but most Studios offer different |
| “instructors” how to teach and verify the | | | | types of sessions that can be easier on funds. Mat or |
| person is qualified to teach the Pilates method. The | | | | group sessions are generally a lower cost option and |
| studios should publish on the studio’s web site or | | | | can supplement one or two private sessions for your |
| printed material the qualifications and certifications of | | | | weekly Pilates program. Semi-private sessions also |
| the instructors. If not call the Studio and ask. You can | | | | can be easier on the budget and still offer quite a bit |
| then explore those on your own. Furthermore does | | | | of individual instruction. |
| your instructor continue to update their knowledge | | | | One trick to gaining a wee bit more private |
| and experience with additional education, workshops, | | | | instruction out of a Mat or group class is find one |
| etc. | | | | that is just forming and not as full. Even in a mat or |
| Certified, but in what? | | | | group class I will offer words of instructions as most |
| First does your instructor have a Pilate’s | | | | instructors do, and I know that in a smaller group |
| certification? I was at a trade show years ago in San | | | | you as a student can benefit from less people. It is |
| Francisco and because it was at a general fitness | | | | just a physical fact that with less people in a class |
| themed event we had different types of fitness | | | | there is more opportunity for the instructor to view |
| professionals in attendance. Two ladies who had | | | | and comment on the students who are there. |
| taken a 20- minute demonstration joked that they | | | | Why is private instruction important? |
| were now qualified to teach Pilates. The most basic | | | | I know how to do all the Pilates’ exercises but I |
| question should be are they qualified to teach Pilates | | | | still do my private sessions with another instructor |
| and by whom? | | | | because they keep you honest. As human being we |
| How do you know what is a good certification | | | | sometimes want the easy way and if you don’t |
| program? Not all Pilates’ programs are created | | | | have anyone watching you sometimes we cut |
| equal, or even have the same basic philosophy. There | | | | corners and don’t really do all we can. But even |
| exist different schools of thought about what to do | | | | more importantly we might not be doing the |
| with the volume of information Joseph Pilates left to | | | | exercises correctly even if we think we know how |
| the world. It seems most fall into either a Classical | | | | and this can lead to injury. You get the most out of |
| approach (follow the Pilates method as they | | | | the program if you’re push to be the best you |
| understand Joseph Pilates taught), a more | | | | can be and to make sure you are doing it correctly |
| Contemporary approach (honoring what Joseph | | | | maximizing your workouts. |
| Pilates created and building on that with modern | | | | You should feel good after your sessions although |
| understandings of the body), or what I call a | | | | you might be tried or even a little sore, (I tell my |
| “Fad” approach (creations capitalizing on the | | | | students they might be experiencing “new |
| recent popularity of Pilates, but not necessarily the | | | | awareness’’ of their body). But overall you |
| whole of the Pilates Method). | | | | should feel good, the best barometer of how your |
| My personal bias is towards the Contemporary | | | | class was. |
| approach building upon what Joseph Pilates started | | | | Style & personality |
| and adding new discoveries and growing with the | | | | Assuming you have found a studio that does good |
| work as I think Joseph Pilates would. I feel it is | | | | work still a comfortable setting is important and |
| important to offer the full body of work that Joseph | | | | personalities that agree with you. If you come to the |
| Pilates taught because the work itself is very | | | | California Pilates Center in Carlsbad a very friendly |
| balanced. Adherents to the Classical approach might | | | | Golden Retriever named Buddy might greet you. |
| feel that the original work becomes diluted or polluted | | | | While some might not like dogs most of my clients |
| when compromised with other things or when only | | | | love Buddy and miss him when he doesn’t come |
| one aspect is emphasized. I certainly understand not | | | | to the Studio. But this might be for you. |
| wanting to pollute the original teachings with silly fad | | | | Another thing to consider is sometimes (especially |
| like practices. | | | | during peak hours) we have multiple sessions going |
| Some of the better known and accepted | | | | on. When I operated the original Studio in Carlsbad it |
| Contemporary Certification Programs would include | | | | was smaller and did not accommodate additional |
| Body Arts & Sciences, Intl. (BASI), Stott Pilates, | | | | instructors at the same time. Well we grew and have |
| Balanced Body, Physical Mind, Ron Fletcher, and | | | | several instructors at the same time often, and it |
| Polestar. Classical Certification Programs would include | | | | took a session or two for some of my clients who |
| Core Pilates, Power Pilates, Romana Pilates to name a | | | | were use to secluded private sessions. They soon |
| few. Graduates of these programs stand the best | | | | understood the private was in instruction and not the |
| chance of offering better Pilates classes. | | | | Studio. But overall they all grew to love the |
| Some of these programs offer the teaching of what | | | | interaction with everyone including the dog! We have |
| has become know as the ‘Pilates Elders’, | | | | a fun time and we work hard. |
| people like Romana of Romana Pilates who were | | | | Best to experience it yourself. |
| actual students of Joseph Pilates. | | | | Let’s face it some of these questions can not |
| Specialties | | | | be answered until you’ve taken a class or |
| Does the Pilates studio in question have a specialty? | | | | several, but you can ask yourself these questions |
| Do they work with pregnancy, or rehab? Is the | | | | after you’ve seen the instructor and make the |
| emphasis on fitness and toning? Make sure to inform | | | | determination to continue or not. But hopefully the |
| your instructor of your body’s needs, and then | | | | ideas listed above can help guide you in making a |
| note how your instructor reacts to them? | | | | great decision. You have already made one great |
| I have heard stories of instructors not looking at the | | | | decision to practice Pilates. |