The first pilates teacher training was offered by founder Joseph Pilates in the 1930s. He shortly attracted a group of interested students, now known as The Elders. Most of them came from a dance background. The art as understood today is a combination of the original founder's techniques and the innovations of The Elders. In 2000 a lawsuit resulted in a court decision that the name "Pilates" can't be copyrighted. This makes the issue of how to certify oneself at once a more complicated problem and a more urgent one.
The art consists of very precise movements, including controlled breathing. Mental focus is of key importance, as it is necessary to be completely aware of each small movement of the body. Each movement begins in the central trunk of the body, known in the terminology of the art as the "powerhouse". It is made up of the back, abdomen, hips, and inner thighs. The limbs follow or flow from motions initiated here.
Students who gain proficiency over time have the opportunity to move up to the level of Mat Instructor Certification. This is generally offered over two weekends in an intensive program. Generally, the student can expect to pay between $100 and $300 for this certification. The program teaches what is necessary to lead a class without going very much into depth.
This includes all the mat exercises, but because the student is being prepared to teach, it also includes ways to adjust the exercises so that they're appropriate for any body type. The student will be tested through a demonstration class. There is also a written test at the end of the program.
Those who have completed Mat Certification may apply for the Comprehensive Pilates Certification. This is the true professional degree for the art, which one would hope anyone running a studio would possess. Those who apply can expect to spend at least a year in training. This will include many hours of both student teaching leading classes and private instruction.
Here is where one learns the "inner game", or the art behind the art. The student learns both human anatomy and physiology in order to understand why the system and its movements have the effect they have on the human body. This includes the nature of the "powerhouse", basic breathing techniques, and more. Further, there will be comprehensive training in all the training equipment used.
Here too is where the student learns the history of the art, stretching back to Joseph Pilates himself, and something of its variations. Through these lessons, the student, ready to become an instructor, establishes herself or himself in the lineage of this young, but very well-established tradition. For this privilege, the student can expect to spend approximately $3000 over the course of her or his training.
There is an effort to consolidate under a common, industry-wide Method Association, but this has yet to fully become accepted. Until then, it's probably for the best to research well before joining any class. It's going to be even more important to research as thoroughly as possible before entering into a particular studio's program for pilates teacher training.
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