Pilates really is one of those things where you don’t really appreciate how good it is for you until you stop doing it! As all the while someone is practicing Pilates regularly, they are often more mobile and pain free or in less pain than when they first started. Sometimes what happens is that when we stop doing these exercises our body soon reminds us of why we started doing them in the first place.
Back pain, in one way or another, effects so many of us these days and often is posture and lifestyle related. For example, if people spend long periods of time standing or sitting, it can effect their posture and subsequent muscle imbalances.
As a Pilates instructor you will learn about different posture types. Remember, our posture is often the way it is due to a habit we have formed or a movement pattern that has become habitual.
So as a Pilates instructor you will learn to recognise these faulty movement patterns and be able to give appropriate exercises to reduce stiffness, strengthen weak muscles and create more mobility in the body where needed.
There is also an element of someone coming to your class or 121 session and thinking you can fix them! (I mean I’ve even had people show me their X-rays before and asking me for an opinion!)
Be aware of that.. We can do great things to improve our client’s function, but ultimately we are not miracle workers and if it’s structural or mechanical within their body then medical intervention may be needed. Never be afraid to turn someone away or refer them to someone more qualified. Especially if you are not sure about any symptoms they have or if they display symptoms of a specific spinal pathology that you are not qualified to deal with. Don’t worry this is rare (but can still happen) as most people will come with a case of non specific undiagnosed low back pain which is often due to muscle imbalances, over training and postural issues that we as Pilates instructors can deal with.
A lot of people train in Pilates to purely specialise in that, but it’s also a great compliment for a Personal Trainer to give their clients a little bit more rather than the typical PT session they may be used to. Also, group exercise instructors love to give their participants these exercises as a compliment to the faster more movement based studio based classes. Gaining a Level 3 Pilates qualification will enable you to teach group classes and 121 sessions so the scope for employment and setting up your own Pilates business is vast and very achievable.
I have been teaching Pilates for about 15 years now and still love everything it not only gives my participants but me as an instructor too!
You will play a big part in seeing someone not only move better but look and feel better…
For information on how you can get qualified as a Pilates Instructor check out the courses on this website.
While you are there check out the video of a lady that could be just like you, who has just qualified in Pilates and hear what she has to say about the course!
Claire x
