small group Pilates and Yoga Classes Archives - Page 4 of 8

Nine things to look for when researching Pilates Teacher Training Programs

Motivation and Inspiration, Teacher Training

If you want to become a Pilates instructor, you know how overwhelming it can be when you start looking at all of the different instructor training programs out there. Learning to instruct the Pilates method is a journey and it is important to find a training program that will best fit your needs and life. We encourage you to do your research and look at three or four different programs to find the best fit for you! Here are some tips to think about:

1. Get to know the instructors who will be teaching the training program and the instructors at the studio where you will be training. You are going to spend a lot of your time at workshops, taking lessons, and observing. Make sure that you enjoy the instructors’ teaching and are comfortable in the studio where you will be doing your training.

2. Many programs have a mentoring portion of their program. This simply means a particular person will guide you throughout the process. Your mentor will be there to answer questions and check in periodically on your progress. Ask who your mentor will be, how you can contact this person, and what the mentoring portion of the program entails.

3. Talk to other instructors who have completed the program. Firsthand experience is priceless and talking to instructors who have gone through the program will give you a good feel for what to expect.

4. Know what the program prerequisites are. Some programs require that you be at a certain level in your own Pilates practice before starting the program, while others may require previous movement or teaching experience.

5. Learn how many hours are required to complete the program. Depending on the type of program you are doing, you will be required to log in your hours and complete them in a timely fashion. Figure out how many hours you will need to dedicate to your training weekly and make sure this is reasonable and that you are able to schedule these hours. Many programs have a time limit. Ask how long you have to complete the program and what happens if you do not complete it in that time frame. If not completed within a certain time frame you may need to retake workshops or pay an extra fee to extend your time to finish the program.

6. Ask about the program costs. Be very specific and make sure you know what is included in the program price and what is not included. Sometimes training manuals and books are included in the pricing, but often times they are not. Ask if any of the required lessons are included in the price and if not, whether there are discounts on sessions while in the program. Some programs will include the use of the studio for your practice teaching in the program price, while others may charge you to use their space and equipment. Are tests included in the program price or will you have to pay extra?

7. If you are interested in teaching at the studio you will train at, be sure to ask about apprentice teaching opportunities as well as future employment opportunities after you finish your training. Many studios offer apprentice teaching positions. This is a great way to gain experience, get your required hours in, and make a little money to offset your costs.

8. Many Pilates programs offer a Certificate of Completion instead of a Certificate of Certification. The Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) has encouraged training programs to do this in order to encourage instructors to take the Pilates Method Alliance international professional exam, and as a way to create an international standard of Pilates instruction. Different studios, gyms, and fitness centers have different requirements for their Pilates instructors. If you are planning on teaching in a particular setting it, make sure you know which education requirements are necessary.

9. Most Pilates programs require some sort of continuing education to keep their certificate of completion current, and PMA certified instructors must complete sixteen hours every two years. Ask about continuing education requirements and inquire about continuing education opportunities offered at the training studio.

SHhhhh…….I have a Pilates training secret…

Motivation and Inspiration

I have a secret that you may not know if you don’t know me that well. If you are a regular client of mine you may have figured this out already. I think it’s OK and actually encourage my clients to not always give 100% in their workouts!!

Let me explain. First let me just say that I know how challenging Pilates can be. When you are giving 100% and paying attention to every little detail of your alignment, engaging your core and staying balanced….it can be intense! When I’m teaching you and you’re giving it everything …I can feel that work! If you work with me on a regular basis you know there are times I’ll “ask” for that effort more often than not and you always do your best.

BUT…if you work with me on a regular basis you’ll also find there are times when I specifically don’t ask for it. There are days when I really believe that the most important thing you did for yourself that day was to show up! Not because I don’t think that you can do the work, but because I truly believe that not every movement experience needs to be an all out 110% effort kind of movement session to be an effective part of your movement practice. There are some days when a little extra stretching and breath work will allow you to reconnect with your body, de-stress and just plain feel better than if we did your most challenging Pilates Mat workout. (And even if you are not working at 110%…I guarantee you are still working! You are still strengthening, gaining flexibility and working on maintaining a strong balanced body!)

When I say some days, I’m talking about the days when it would have been so much easier just to shut the alarm clock off and go back to sleep instead of coming to the studio, the days when you had a really stressful day at work and would much rather have a glass of wine than go to your Pilates session, or maybe the day when you are feeling a little sore and would love to just take another few days off. Even on those days I truly believe that doing something movement wise (even if it’s at 75% instead of 100%) will make you feel better and keep you and your body much happier in the long run!

As an instructor I really try check in with my clients and tailor their workouts to what their body and their life needs on any given day. You might wonder does this mean clients aren’t getting the most out of their workouts? Absolutely not! The way I see it, by tailoring workouts to the person(and their life on any given day) I’m encouraging clients to show up more often, listen to their body more often and create a more regular movement practice in their life. I call it balance!

Life is about balance and that includes your movement and workout sessions. I hope that next time you’re considering skipping your movement time you’ll think about this and maybe decide to just do something….. Listen to your body, move it in a way that feels good to you and be proud of yourself for making movement a part of your life!!

My Introduction to Pilates

Pilates Puppy!

Hi! My name is Max. One week ago, my new Mom and Dad picked me up and drove a long ways in the car to North Liberty. I wasn’t sure about these people, but after hours and hours in the car, we got to North Liberty and I met my new brothers and my sister. They only have 2 legs, but they seemed to like me a lot. I think I have a pretty cool family. My human Mom is a certified Pilates Instructor. I’m not sure what that is but it must be a big deal because she goes to work every day and stays a long time. My human brothers and sister go to school every day, but my Dad has been home with me most every day since I got here.

On Friday, my Mom told me that she would teach me what she does, and that I could be a Pilates Puppy. I’m not sure I want to be a Pilates Puppy but I love my Mom and she gives good snuggles so I decided to go. When I found out what time we had to leave to go to Mom’s studio (Rivercity Pilates) I wasn’t sure I wanted to go anymore. Mom goes to work just after light comes thru the windows. Usually she throws me back in bed with someone in my family when she goes to work, but today, I got in the car with her. I’m not sure if I like the car either. It makes my stomach do flip flops.

We didn’t have to go very far, and then we got to the studio. What a place!! First I saw the retail space. There was a couch and a beanbag chair, I could learn to like them.

Mom had to turn on all the lights so we went in another room. My feet slid all over the place in that room. Mom told me to be careful, but my feet kept sliding out from under me. I’m not sure I like wood floors. Mom put my bed in that room. There were a bunch of black things on the floor — Mom called them mats. I jumped on one to see what would happen. It was really soft. I liked it. I posed really pretty and Mom took my picture. Maybe this won’t be so bad.

Then the door started opening and people started coming in. They stared at me, and some of them petted me a little. When they got on the things my Mom called reformers, I decided to take a little nap. What they were doing didn’t look that fun to me. On and on my day went. It seemed like I would just get into a good sleep, and then people were moving around the studio and some would leave, and more would come in. People who do Pilates seem to come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them scared me when they wanted to hold me. Don’t they understand that I’m like 9 inches tall and they are like giants? Sometimes I’m scared. No two sessions were the same though, so I really haven’t figured out any of the Pilates exercises yet. There were never more than 4-5 people there at a time, but they were doing some things that I have never seen humans do! Mom had a few minutes of breaks to snuggle and take me outside, but since she was busy, I tried to catch up on sleep so I could go out in the back yard when we went home.

I try to have my naps taken by the time my human brothers and sister get home from school. I started waking up, but Mom said we had one more student. Really Mom??? I’ve been good all day! Pretty soon the person came. She talked with me before she got on the Pilates machine, and I thought she seemed ok. I had to stretch my legs, so I ran around the studio a bit. I fell down a few times, and those black mats tripped me a couple of times too. Mom put me on the mat with her student. Wow, this lady lets me try to chew her hair! She was laying on the mat, so I had to get a better look. I walked around her, and on top of her and she sneaked some petting in. I might learn to like Pilates.

I walked back to the end of the mat, and when I did I saw another dog in the mirror. I have to find out about this dog. I jumped down — and when I did, the dog went away! I stood on the black mat, and if I jumped a little I could see the dog. I woofed and woofed, but it looked right back at me. I grrrrrrrd. The dog wasn’t scared. Mom came and got me and put me in my bed. Doesn’t she know I slept all day? I jumped around some more, and the lady on that mat figured out I wanted to go home! She told my Mom that she’d have to leave so Mom could take me home. In my next blog, I’ll show you my favorite Pilates exercises!

I don’t like to talk about what Yoga is…

Yoga at Rivercity Pilates

We offer many Yoga classes at Rivercity Pilates.

I often get asked about difference between Pilates and Yoga. I can tell you I feel very comfortable talking about what Pilates is, the benefits, the order, the anatomy of exercises, the breath,and what it can do for your life, etc. I’m not so comfortable talking about the Yoga in the same way.

I have practiced Yoga off and on throughout the years but I’ve never studied it the way I’ve studied and practiced Pilates over the years. The amount of time, effort and constant digging into the Pilates method I do makes me more and more uncomfortable trying to share credible information about Yoga. Yoga has been around much longer than Pilates and I know that even though I’ve taken classes and practice on my own I’m a newbie to the juice of Yoga. I don’t have a good deep understanding of the poses and why we do them, the order we do them or how changing something small in the alignment or positioning could change the whole pose. I know too much about movement and it’s complexities to realize I’m not giving it the credit it deserves.

So if you’ve asked me a question about Yoga and I don’t answer it as thoroughly as you might like, I apologize and I’ll gladly refer you to one of our amazing Yoga instructors at the studio who can answer your questions in much more detail!! For those who are curious about both Pilates and Yoga I often recommend people trying both with a qualified instructor and see if one clicks with them more than the other. Movement practices like Pilates, Yoga, Tai Chi, and others can be life changing and I really believe it’s worth taking some time to explore these practices in depth to find one that fits into your life!

What should I wear to Pilates/Yoga?

Motivation and Inspiration, New Client Info, Pilates in Your Life

While you will see some classmates wearing colorful workout pants at RCP – by far the most common color is black!

When it comes to workout clothes there are a TON of options out there. There are a lot of companies making very expensive Yoga, Pilates and workout wear and you may wonder do I need special clothing to take a Pilates class? At Rivercity Pilates, labels and logos are not important. You might see someone wearing exercise pants from Costco or Target or you might see someone wearing a logo some people recognize! What is important, is that you are comfortable.

There are some things you may want to consider when deciding what you wear to class and they really have nothing to do with the price tag or the company who makes your pants. Here are some quick tips to finding an appropriate pair of pants for your next Pilates class:

1. No Zippers!

In Pilates we articulate (aka roll) through the spine in many exercises so you’ll want to avoid pants that have zippers, buttons or even uncomfortable seams. Those cute running tights with the zippered key pocket on your back side just might hurt you when you roll down to your mat!

2. Consider your classmates/instructor! Avoid Loose Shorts!

There are many exercises that involve you laying on your back with your legs reaching up to the ceiling and away from your body. Avoid wearing loose fitting shorts or skirts or make sure you wear a biking short underneath so you are not exposing yourself to your classmates & instructor!

3. Consider a higher waisted workout pant!

For me, higher is better. Hip bones or higher is a good rule of thumb. Because of all of the rolling, twisting and just plain moving we do in Pilates most people find a higher waisted pant keeps them covered better through out movements. It can be really distracting if you are seeing the underwear of the people next to you, and there is no need to share your back side with the rest of class!! Pants with an internal drawstring are a great feature in a Pilates Pant! While this blog concentrates on pants, a longer shirt can also help with this coverage issue!

4. Sweat Pants or Fleece will likely be too hot!

Pick a lightweight breathable fabric. A bulky sweat pant material can make it hard to move in and will be just plain hot!

5. Choose a comfortable functional length.

If you get hot easy -a shorter capri style pant might be best. Avoid overly long or wide legged pants that might hinder your movement or may even get caught in your springs if you are attending a Pilates Equipment class. I have found the pants labeled yoga pants make great pajamas, but not such great pilates pants. They are generally longer and looser than other exercise pants.

6. Thoughts on Spandex!

Wearing a pair of fitted pants will allow your instructor to see your alignment and help you do the exercises. However, they don’t have to be extra tight, or “girdle-like”. There’s a difference between fitted and too much spandex! Breathing is important in Pilates, and you don’t want to be fighting your pants when you take a deep breath! My best advice is to try the pants on in the store before you buy them, to make sure they are comfortable. I buy pants that say slimming, but the difference is they go up higher, not that they pull in more or hide my curves! Sometimes I go up a size, simply because of the style or fabric. No one will check the label for a size at Rivercity Pilates!

7. Most important find a pair of pants that is not only functional but something you are comfortable in and feel good wearing!

Feeling good in your workout clothes is important! You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a great functional pair of Pilates pants.

I can’t believe I pay people to make me sweat!

Motivation and Inspiration

“I can’t believe I pay people to make me sweat!” says a student after a Cardio Funk class. Another student answers,” I can! I know I could do it myself, but I wouldn’t and this is much more fun!” The first time I bought a 6 month class package, I almost had a panic attack, because it’s a big investment. The difference it’s made in how I feel, the new friends I’ve made, and how I deal with stress has made it well worth the investment. I pay people to make me sweat, and it has made a positive change in my life. When I say I feel better, it means I’m not creaky or stiff when I wake up, I am so much more flexible, and I rarely get sick! Knock on wood!

I know, if you really want to, you can stay healthy and fit by working out on your own….but most people don’t! There’s no reason to feel bad about the fact that you have a hard time motivating yourself to workout on your own or you just don’t enjoy it. There are worst things in the world then paying to experience a workout you enjoy and one that is effective. Your health and happiness are important!!

Need some justification for paying for your exercise? Here’s just a few:

The act of going into a space where you can purely focus on yourself and your body will decrease your overall stress, improve your overall health and decrease your chances getting sick (saving you money and and misery in the long run!)
You are much more likely to create a habit of exercise when you have instructors and fellow classmates that you enjoy being around and by creating that habit you’ll start seeing and feeling results!
You will likely work harder. I don’t know about you, but when I work out at home I take breaks to go get water, to go to the bathroom, and I rarely stretch that extra inch that really cinches in my belly!
You feel more accountable because you made an investment! With me, my dedication goes up in relation to how much money I have spent. When I belonged to a gym that cost $38 a month, I had no problem not going to the gym more than once a week. But when I pay $16 per session, and I have to sign up ahead of time, and pay if I don’t cancel early, suddenly I am much more self disciplined. I make it a priority, and I go to class.

All these things being said, I truly appreciate all the things Carey has put in place in the studio to let me save money. If I stop and add the money I’ve saved with Schedule Ahead Rewards, Referral Bonuses, VIP packages, and the longer term class packages, it would pay for another pack of private sessions!

Check out Carey’s blog about Budgeting for your Health here!

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