By Laurette Ryan

www.balancepointpilates.com

Pilates has been for a while one of the hottest workouts around. I remember WHEN…before the media hype, before the celebrity endorsements, before it was a multi-million dollar industry. I remember when there were not 50 zillion “Pilates” “Certifications” out there. I remember getting a paper pattern and detailed instructions on how to “build” the wunda chair. Now there are a ton of equipment companies and as many chair designs as that! I remember feeling lucky when Pilates started to get popular, more people were interested in class.

In 1993, I taught a mat class that had 2 students, until the health club owner took it off the schedule in favor of a Step n Body Blast class. Then in 1999 I had a mat class that went from 4 regulars to 25 people jammed into a little aerobics studio in the span of about 2 weeks after Madonna said-she did Pilates-I was excited. 12 years later my excitement is turning to an overwhelming nervousness and apprehension about the future of “Pilates”.

I put Pilates in quotations because I would like to say true Pilates, but at my age, there may not be enough time to fully resolve that issue. So let’s just say that there is “Pilates” and then there is Core conditioning, Ab toning group exercise, stretch and lay there , dare I say unsafe, ineffective group and private sessions, on and off equipment masquerading as “Pilates”.

A lot of this fake Pilates comes out of the group exercise and Personal training realms, however due to the immense popularity of this industry we now have a new problem. “Pilates” teacher training programs taught by those with limited actual experience- teaching there own version of Pilates to student teachers who go and teach it to other students. Additionally there is little or no mentoring of these new teachers. They are told (lied to) that they are teaching “real” “true” “classical””authentic” “Pilates”. They believe it. They believe it with all their well-meaning little hearts …but in fact they know so little of “Pilates” it would be comical if it were not so tragic. There is a scam being perpetrated on these teachers and on the public. A multi-billion-dollar scam, it’s horrible.

My issue is this, those who are adequately and exceptionally trained in the art of teaching “Pilates” suffer a deep injustice. 1. They are often criticized undermined and slandered by false teachers who know not of what they speak, 2. They lose income to such teachers, 3.Potential students are turned off,injured and leery of Pilates, because of their experiences with poorly trained teachers.

Let me interject I believe there are a few good ways to skin a cat and I’m not advocating any particular lineage of “Pilates”, however when the “cat” is not in fact a “cat” but is instead a skunk!, there is a difference.

I have had the privilege of teaching to a diverse group of Pilates teachers recently, all wonderful lovely people. What I most noticed was the number of Pilates teachers who were unfortunately ill-informed and educated about “Pilates”. I was so thrilled that at least they were there, seeking out expanded educational opportunities- that is huge. I was a little worried though, that these particular teachers are the ones teaching large groups in the public arena about Pilates.

Pilates professionals, we are losing the battle, and the public IS suffering, and “Pilates” is being maligned, there is no doubt about it. Noting the amazing growth the Pilates industry has seen in the past ten years, I can see why the need for teachers has grown. That is why group exercise organizations have jumped in to fill the gap. They Don’t KNOW “Pilates”-FACT-!!! I could be more polite….but I’ll turn 50 next year- that’s what happens! Teacher Training is a great revenue stream for them, can you blame them?

So now what do we do? So many, are adverse to having one governing body? What would they do?

If we stay as it is, more of the corrupting of the “Pilates” method will continue until Joe becomes some eccentric old white haired guy in bathing trunks who did sit-ups and “Pilates” as in Contrology exists no more. We need a democratic governing body, we need an entry level foundational test, we need required continuing education. In a perfect world only those who were mentored and nurtured by wonderful experienced “Pilates” teachers could one day, hang out a shingle declaring themselves, “Pilates Teachers”, but this ain’t no perfect world, in case you haven’t noticed.

We need to stand together -I truly believe that- and it will be hard. The reason I have, for 10 years supported the idea of the PMA is just for all of these reasons, and it’s not always perfect either, but I have felt, it’s a malleable enough organization to be guided by the will of it’s members. Does the PMA have to be IT? No, but is there another democratic international organization out there with a third party exam? If you want to start one go ahead, more power to you….or you could work with the one we have that exists not in some utopian fantasy- but in real-life, flaws and all, but striving to be better all the time. This is not an ad for the PMA, this is a wake-up call to those of you who think you can go on forever teaching “Pilates” -the good stuff and not be affected by the marauding hoards of ill-trained Pilates instructors out there.(okay -marauding hoards-is a little over the top)

Bottom line is the public is being duped—every single day, and the reputation of my profession is suffering. I’m getting a little mad..(if you ask anyone about me-that takes a whole lot!)

I am passionate about what I do- this is my life, it’s what colors the tapestry of my spirit .

We can’t lose “Pilates” we have to stand together. ……now I’ve got to go breathe……

Pilates & Peace

Laurette

for more info on PMA  go to : www.pilatesmethodalliance.org

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