Pilates Mat classes in a gym

K

kimroberts

Cathlete
I love Cathe videos! I just discovered this site!

My gym's owner has asked me to start teaching mat Pilates classes. I took the Initiation 101 training from the PhysicalMind Institute and enjoyed it. However, the "classes" seem very generic even though it is a great core workout.

I have a number of questions I could use help with. First, do you offer open classes? Do you limit the class size in order to be able to spot the clients better? Do you charge extra for Pilates classes? What do you charge for a one-on-one session or a one-on-two session? How long do your classes last? I can't seem to get the exercises done in less than 75 minutes. Did your clientele immediately accept this new exercise? Do you have any particular markets you targeted in your advertising?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
 
If you dont know that much about pilates, i am wondering if you are ready to teach it.

I dont say this to be rude towards your interest or efforts

but...
it takes many hours of practice to really "get" it.. to really understanding what the body is doing, or should be doing, how to protect your clients.

the Pilates name has had a trademark war......untill a few months ago no one could use the name or teach it who was not propertly certified and that took about $5,000 many hours of private private training and up to a year of regular practice under guidance with a 'teacher of teachers'. Its very intense training..... and a teacher should know alot before teaching because people can get injured.... Its not easy work...very sublte.

now that the trademark on the name has been legally overturned--- anyone can use the name Pilates and and work of Pilates can be to be used or misused by anyone. YOur gym is looking to get people to the gym by offering Pilates classe... because Pilates has a good rep.......but the rep wont hold up if the teachers are not really familiar with Pilates.

I have taken Pilates in private and in classes with physical therapist who have been trained and I have looked into the training myself...
I honestly believe you cant be a good Pilates instructor unless you do the real training......Its very challangeing.....
and its dangerous...and getting the right results requires really understanding what needs to be done......
It seems simple...but its not!!
 
Cinza, please re-read my questions. They are not about the exercises. I have studied the exercises many, many months and I truly realize how hard they are when done PROPERLY. I also realize how little benefit you get from them when done improperly as with a video because that's where I got my first Pilates information. If done improperly, you might as well flop around on the floor like a fish out of water. True Pilates training is much more intense. In addition to the exercises themselves, I had to learn all the muscles that originate or insert on the pelvis (there are 29) and all the tiny, deep muscles around the spine, and the details of the bony structure of the spine from the atlas to the coccyx. This information is something your average aerobics instructor never gets because aerobics training only gives you info on superficial muscles and large bones. It took three medical anatomy books and questions to a sports medicine doc to feel comfortable with this. I have worked hard for nearly a year on just this project. You cannot get the certificate that I have if you didn't earn it.

The general idea of asking the questions is for three reasons. (1) Safety: I have a broken L5 vertebra and hence I have become very sympathetic to folks with back injuries and have a desire to improve their quality of life, not injure it further. (2) Introduction to the clients: I have become sold on Pilates myself and I want others to see its benefits and I want to know how to instill that excitement in others. (3) Class size: Yes, my boss has $$$ in his eyes. But after my training, I'm pushing him to limit class size because the trainer is literally looking for "micro-movements" for form correction. I only have two arms and eyes. I want to be able to tell him that other clubs limit the class size or have other trainers in the room to act as spotters.

NOW, CINZA, if you have information that can help me, I would greatly appreciate it. If you feel the need to criticize my motives, talk to your momma. Mine taught me that if you can't say something good, keep your mouth shut.
 
Hi, Kim!!

Welcome to Cathe's forum!!! Isn't it a great site??

Wow, you must be in great shape for your gym owner to ask you to teach a class--very impressive :)

I don't have an answer for you about the Pilates class questions you asked. There are other people on this forum who are instructors and will be able to better help you. Your questions seem to be of a logistic nature rather than about how to actualy DO Pilates, so I assume you are well versed in the actual teaching aspect of fitness classes.

Good luck to you!
Wendy
 
KIM!

I really don't think Cinza meant to be critical. She is one to emphasize form and the need for safety--and it is hard to read tone in a post!
I too had a hard time knowing how qualified you were simply from reading your original post. You are obvioulsy well informed, but I think cinza couldn't have known that

Please don't fight! :)
Wendy
 
RE: Hi, Kim!!

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jun-16-01 AT 05:08PM (Est)[/font][p]

Sorry if i misunderstood anything ..
I hate to be a bad start for you on this forum of very wonderful people! Really, people here are very kind and supportive! And my intentions are not bad either.

I think its really the use of the word "Pilates" that i am writing about not your or your efforts .. You got caught in the crossfire of an ongoing debate as to how the name is being used...and what it is supposed to represent.

i read that you had taken a 101 level Pilates training and were going to teach Pilates:
Did i get that wrong?
That made me jump ...
Not at you personally, i believe you want to do your best ..but i think your gym is taking advantage of the name Pilates.

By the way, I work at a Pilates studio with a trainer who was trained by the woman who Joseph Pilates chose as his successor to carry his work on when he retired ..... and I am actually building a professional Pilates studio of my own.. Cadillac, reformer, barrels etc..... You can see Pilates is close to my heart as i chat with you.

Untill now, in Pilates training to be a qualified instructor, there is a "requirement of 60 hours of Private lessons with a cerified Pilates trainer" before you can be accepted for 600-1000 hours of rigorous training which does Not including a ongoing series of weekend workshops ... There is also alot of testing of written and practical knowledge and skill.
It takes a passion to do this training...
Students often 12 hours a day under supervision in their training in New York or Seattle at Pilates training centers...

Untill the trademark for the name Pilates was overturned, being trained in Pilates with a Pilates Instructor meant the instructor had THAT kind of training .... No one who did not have such rigorous and responsible training was allowed to use the name "Pilates". It takes a lot of work and supervision before a Pilates trainer is prepared to teach the work of Joseph Pilates as he designed it to be done and taught.

You asked what private lessons cost..

Private Pilates lessons cost from 40-70 an hour and use a lot of very expensive equiptment, typically they are unlike the mat classes often used for rehab, used to strengthen the client before doing mat too. ..... Many trainers are also physical therapist who use Pilates adjunct to their rehab work .. ... When a client spends that much an hour it's for a certified Pilates trainer.


Since the trademark on the name was overturned the meaning and use of the word 'Pilates' is changing .
BUT
.. For 70 years the name Pilates has meant something very very particular to dancers and athletes and gymnists....its been valued for exactly what it has been with very little change over the years.
This is changing because with the trademark on the name lifted, anyone can use the name and do anything under the name...
it will be hard for people to know if they are actually doing Pilates or something else.

I am glad the trademark on the name has been lifted so more people can be involved and teach......
but I will be discouraged when gyms offer 'Pilates' that is not 'Pilates' anymore...using the name just for profit...


the term "Core training" seems more a appropriate term for Pilates based work if its not actually same stuff to the same specification that Joseph and Clara Pilates had in mind when they developed, taught and passed on the rights to teach "Pilates".
 
RE: Hi, Kim!!

Cinza, I have a bad case of PMS happening this week so forgive me if I sounded harsh to you. I have been in the fitness industry for 12 years, longer if you count my time as a participant only. My husband is a Baptist minister. I don't have any skills relevant to work in the church service itself except for piano, so I try to use my knowledge of fitness to help folks as my own personal ministry. If anyone has ever read the book called "The Prayer of Jabez" you will completely understand that I Pray for the Lord to send me "fat women" as the means to "enlarge my coast" as Jabez prayed. Often times that means doing classes and personal training sessions for free to anyone who cannot afford or who are too embarrased to attend a gym. This week alone I've given away 8 hours of personal training and my boss graciously allows me to bring those folks into the gym at no charge, however they cannot use the gym without me.

My motives are pure. Pilates is a good thing. When I find a good thing, I try to share it. It would be selfish and wrong of me to hide it and keep it for myself. I had to spend many hours searching on the internet for any training information on Pilates. It was almost as if it was a secret club. Then when I did find the information, I would have to practically rent an apartment in another state for six months to take the whole course. That just isn't possible for me. I don't understand the mindset of keeping a good thing secret or making it so hard to get.

The lady who trained me was taught by Romana K----- (I can't even begin to spell her last name). She is supposed to be the niece of Joe. My teacher commuted to New York from Kentucky to complete her training. She was very strict on form and I learned a lot from her. However, the actual class was boring--same exercises over and over. I understand why, I don't have to be convinced. But my clients will, they don't go for boredom. I need to learn ways of making such a repetitive style more exciting. I am asking for your help.

I would like someone to explain this. All the pictures in the manual I received are of Joseph Pilates himself performing the exercises. These are exercises that bear his name that he invented. The teacher told us HE had poor form! So from Joe to Romana to Natalie who taught me (just 3 people), "Pilates" has already mutated so much that they say Joe himself isn't doing it correctly. How can I preserve the integrity of something that mutates so quickly among it's own?

Good things should be made available to all people. I have made the best attempt I can to do what my employer has asked me to do in the purest possible way. Pilates is a good thing and should be out there. Reputable Group Fitness Instructors and Personal Trainers have studied the anatomy of the human body for a long time and many would make great Pilates instructors. Folks who are concerned that we're just in it for the money aren't entirely correct. No matter what new style or gadget comes along, there will be copycats that aren't quite the quality of the original thing. The general public can't afford to go to studios that have huge investments in Pilates equipment and charge $50+ per hour. THOSE are the people I want to reach. I'm not trying to take business away from a Pilates studio. So, if what I have learned from a genuine Pilates studio isn't good enough to teach a mat-based class, I would like to know how I go about getting correctly trained to do the mat portion (the affordable portion) of the Pilates workout without moving my family to another city.

Please don't give me another lesson on how I can't be teaching Pilates exercises correctly, I've done everything that is available to me to learn. Instead, offer me some assistance. I welcome anyone with more Pilates training than I have to become my big sister and help me spread this method. It's great and it works. Let's share it. Don't keep it a secret!
 
RE: Hi, Kim!!

forgiven!
i am going to chat here just casually...

It sounds like you are flying on your own.... so..
while , I am not the person to really prepare you it sounds like you could use someone to talk with.. and untill someone better comes along i will try to be helpful.

check out Moira Stott... www.stottconditioning.com

she teaches an updated Pilates in toronto..... she puts out excellent tapes and books...
I think she is the very best of anyone you could study with.

She incorporates new medical information for a safer workout but keeps very close to the traditional form at the same time.

They are selling Stott tapes at Borders and Barnes and Noble these days.... check them out!

You had a very well trained teacher from the traditional school of pilates... Same place my teachers came from... Stott will bring you up to date from the old school folks...(who i personally think really do need some updating)

On Pilates being boring....
I suppose either you love the work or you dont.

I love it..... because i am into perfecting each movement and there is always more i can aim for in the movements.. i always try to get deeper..rounder...smoother... more in oposition.

....its challenging no matter how long you do it.
I know it's really smart stuff to do too...
and its a good place to learn how to be honest and do your best of what you can do... you cant progress in Pilates unless you are honest and work at your own ability....but then it works..and thats a great lesson in life as well as exercise.

.. Some of your clients will love it no matter how bored you are with it! some would hate it even if you loved it.
Its not for everyone...but i know alot of people like it.

of course your love of the work will be contagious... your passion to go the extra centimeter (not mile in pilates!) deeper will inspire your students.

You know, Pilates is considered superior ab work because is really aims to strenghten the core all the way around the torso from ribs to pelvic floor... this is really functional in everyday living......( crunches for the 6 pack abs are not near as useful to sitting straight in a chair and saving back pain)


its great for women because it incorportates the pelvic floor (but you have to keep reminding clients to start the movement with the pelvic floor or it wont happen )... this should sell some clients all by itself...


anyhow my advice is :
check out
Stott
www.stottconditioning.com..
she has training books and tapes... get the tapes at the bookstore near you and save shipping...
also you can
go to collagevideo.com and watch stott tape video clips
And...
for a different approach try karen voight's new tapes you can find them at collagevideo.com too. Her 3 newer tapes are the ones to look at... one is called Body Reform... i cant remember the others...but they all have very simple covers with only her on it.

you might check out jennifer kries pilates inspired workouts...
you can look her up at collagevideo too.

i think you can find Jennifer Kries tapes at barnes and noble also.

then.. there are some sort of pilates tapes at costco.

I suggest tapes because you can get routines and how to instruct at the same time while seeing good form....form is everything.

a basic mat class can be over 20 people
but you need to be on aware of each person for current injuries and abilities and be prepared for useful adaptations .... people can get hurt in there. You have to know what a person with any spinal condition can handle .. osteoporosis too...

I think a very important thing is for you to be able to look around the room and easily see if people are using the correct form....
navel to spine, ribs down, etc ..... so its safe...so its effective.... can you look at someone and tell which muscles they are using as they do a roll up, roll down ? are they rolling too far in roll like a ball?
..... can you see the "C" shape as they roll ?... We have new students use a resistance band to help them with the roll ups....
can you tell who can do a teaser safely?
I imagine for any teacher in a group class making sure someone doesnt injure their back is going to be the number a priority.

if you watch moira stott tapes you will become aware of what kind of cuing will keep your students on track...

anyhow... i dont even know if i am being helpful or just tedious...
but if i had your assignment to teach a pilates class with out alot of background or support, I would study form on good videos.....
a good book is "the Pilates Body" brooke siler...... excellent drawings that show you where to concentrate the focus while you move.....
try that too
you might try looking all these things up on ebay or half.com..
get them cheap!
 
Hi Kim,

I took mat classes at a gym for about 6 months. The club allowed non-members to take mat classes for $10. Members were charged $5. This club has several extra fee classes including spinning & tai chi so charging a fee for Pilates wasn't unique. But I think it reduced class size too much. They never limited the number of students but the max was probably 25.

The class was an hour & even with a mix of abilities, it quickly got to a solid workout equivilent to Precision Toning, but not quite Stott's intermediate level. The club needed to add intermediate classes for those of us who had been around awhile. The problem wasn't so much the movements but the pacing. Beginners just need more time to execute & more breaks. Plus the instructor had to spend more time showing modifications.

Here are some problems with the mat class that maybe you can avoid. A spinning class was scheduled at the same time in the next room & their bass heavy music literally overwhelmed us. The club's employee break room which is also their meeting room was only accessible through the classroom. That was a distraction.

The instructor found that many beginners would have benefited from private sessions on the equipment before they began mat work. But it's a tough sell at $70 hour. Fit beginners did fine leaping right into mat classes even if they were Pilates virgins.

Hope this helps & I wish you luck. I searched for years before I found somewhat affordable mat classes. I admit that I shared Cinza's impression from your initial post - that you got a quickie certification. The popularity of Pilates has spawned a lot of new certification programs that aren't as rigourous as they should be. You're right that Pilates has been elitist but now there's a big variance in quality.
Debra
 
RE: Hi, Kim!!

Thanks for the info. The Stott videos were my first exposure to Pilates over a year ago when I had circled a bunch of videos in the Collage catalog just before my wedding anniversary. My husband caught the hint as usual. They are essentially the same as the PhysicalMind's video except for the one about "Back Health" that I bought after my aching back was finally diagnosed as a broken vertebra. I own one Jennifer Kreis video which is clearly titled Pilates, however it is well over half devoted to Ashtanga yoga. There is no mention of yoga in the title. Another friend has a different video of Jennifer, but she says it is not like any Pilates we learned either.

I buy tons of videos.

The most helpful ones that are the same exercises taught in Initiation 101 are put out by Living Arts. I forget the name of the instructor on the tape, but I found her to be the most like my personality of all that I've bought.

My boss just bought "Contrology" off Amazon. I'll be reading that soon.

Can anyone recommend a good mat? The ones that I use for floor work are too slippery and the ones we use for yoga aren't cushy enough. I've tried putting the yoga mat on top of the floor work mat, but that doesn't work either.
 
Cinza, or anyone else who'll read!

Cinza,
Well, now my boss has decided he HATES Pilates. I went through the exercises with him and he could do hardly any of them even with modifications. He's a very proud "he-man" power lifter who doesn't do any exercise but powerlift. He has an enourmous torso and couldn't begin to lift it off the mat. So, since HE can't do it well, it's a terrible thing. Now I'm supposed to create some pseudo-pilates kind of class that would be more "palatable." I guess you can tell I'm really stressed out over this because of all the postings. The straw that broke the camel's back is when he asked me to do a "quickie" private session of about 10-12 exercises with any gym member who requests one to increase "awareness" of what Pilates is. That could be up to 600 people. And he has no intention of paying me for that. He's well aware that I do some of my PT for free and little by little he's asking me to do more for HIM free.

My question is this: Do you really think Pilates will be the lateste rage in gyms? My best friend in the gym seems to think so and that I could go to many gyms and teach classes. She has encouraged me to give him back the checks where he reimbursed my training and travel expenses so I could "own" my own certificate. I just have never gotten around to cashing the checks. My body is starting to rebel from all the years of hi-impact and step aerobics and I was hoping to make this my main source of earning money for those trivial things like pedicures and such. This is WAAAAAY too much stress at this gym if I could just walk into others and say, "Okay, we're starting Pilates today."

What's a girl to do?
 
RE: Cinza, or anyone else who'll read!

Hi Kim! At the Executive Fitness Center in NY they have a certified Pilates trainer. She wasn't always a Pilates instructor. She started at the gym as a personal trainer. Many of the students were yoga enthusiasts that came into her class and many also were just beginners. The room isn't very big so the class was very controllable for her. She used me as her model to demonstrate how the muscles were being used and to show how to properly use the body. It was a mat floor class only utilizing a few exercises at a time. Once she felt that everyone was comfortable to move on then she would. She was also starting to get some of the machines into the gym. She wanted me to spread the word because I knew a lot of the members there for years and to try to get her the work. Her clients are wealthy people with high professional jobs that can well afford her price. She was charging $750-$800 for I believe it was 15 sessions at 1 - 1 1/2 hours for each session. Way too pricey for me! It's just a crying shame that you don't have an open-minded boss. It is the latest rage and will definitely stay in the mainstream but only if you persevere and keep at it! I'm rooting for you. PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP! Kathy
 
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