Profession Pilates teacher

Pilates teachers plan, teach, and adapt exercises based on the work and principles of Joseph Pilates. They collect and analyse information for each client to ensure that programmes are safe, appropriate and effective. They apply the principles of Pilates through the planning and teaching of supportive, non-competitive lesson. They motivate and encourage clients to ensure their adherence to regular sessions.

Personality Type

• Social / Artistic
• Social / Realistic
• Enterprising / Conventional

Skills

• Integrate exercise science to the design of the programme

  Design movements and exercises according to the functions of the musculoskeletal system and biomechanical concepts. Develop programme according to physiological concepts, the cardio-respiratory and energy systems.  

• Collect client fitness information

  Collect fitness information relating to individual clients; Identify client information which is to be collected and advise clients of correct procedures, protocols and risks prior to commencing physical assessment and exercising.

• Ensure safety of exercise environment

  Select the correct training environment and assess risks to ensure it provides a safe, clean and friendly fitness environment and that it will be the best use of the environment in which clients are exercising.

• Analyse personal fitness information

  Carry out fitness assessments to establish fitness and skill level and analyse information relating to individual clients.

• Adapt Pilates exercises

  Suggest relevant Pilates matwork exercise adaptations or options to allow for individual client differences or needs and provide participants with advice on intensity and how to progress their individual performance and results.

• Motivate fitness clients

  Positively interact with and motivate fitness clients to participate in regular physical activity and promote fitness exercise as a part of a healthy lifestyle.

• Prescribe exercises

  Provide a range of exercise programmes in accordance with the needs of the clients by applying principles of exercise programming.

• Attend to fitness clients under controlled health conditions

  Recognise the standards and professional limitations when working with vulnerable clients. Monitor industry trends.

• Manage fitness communication

  Ensure proper communication with fitness instructors, medical professionals and keep record of administrative files

• Safely instruct about fitness

  Provide safe and effective fitness instruction.

• Demonstrate professional Pilates attitude

  Demonstrate responsibility and professional duty of care to clients, in conformance with the principles of Joseph Pilates and which will include communication skills and a focus of customer care orientation.

• Show professional responsibility

  Ensure that other workers and clients are treated with respect and that appropriate civil liability insurance is in place at all times of instructing.

• Deliver Pilates exercises

  Deliver Pilates exercise sessions to individuals or groups; adapt sessions according to individual and collective abilities and needs.

• Identify customer objectives

  Identify individual motives resulting in short, medium and long term fitness goals.

• Integrate principles of Pilates training

  Apply the principles of Pilates matwork training and components of health related fitness to the design of an individual programme to meet client’s abilities, needs, and lifestyle and exercise preferences.

• Prepare Pilates exercise session

  Plan and prepare the exercise environment for a pilates session. Arrange the environment to be non-competitive and supportive of the principles of Joseph Pilates.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB