All You Need to Know About International Pilates Training

While many people might think that Pilates is a modern exercise technique, that’s not the case. Pilates has been around since the 1920s. It was created by Joseph Pilates, a physical trainer who was looking for ways to help dancers and soldiers rehabilitate their bodies.

Even though Pilates has evolved over the past 100 years, the basics behind the practice stay true to its origins. If you’re looking to get into the healthcare industry, one way to do that is to complete a Pilates training course. You will be able to teach anywhere in the world by receiving international Pilates training.

This guide will discuss everything you need to know about Pilates and international Pilates training. Start your career as a fitness professional by enrolling in Pilates teacher training courses.

What’s Pilates?

Pilates is a series of exercises that incorporates a variety of equipment, to achieve your desired goals and results. There are many goals that you can achieve from Pilates, here are some of the goals but are not limited to:

• Strengthening the body
• Improving flexibility
• Improving posture
• Increase stability/balance
• Improve mobility

Pilates exercises use your transversus abdominis to gain more stability throughout your spine and lumbar spine to stabilise yourself through movements. By focusing on activating the correct muscles, you can learn to increase awareness of your body. In addition to core-focused, Pilates targes muscle groups such as:

• Lower back
• Pelvic floor
• Hips
• Glutes

Pilates isn’t only used in inpatient rehabilitation. The deep breathing techniques and focused movements are beneficial to athletes and fitness advocates.

What Are the Six Pilates Principles from Joseph Pilates?

The six Pilates principles encompass the philosophy of the method. They’re essential to ensuring you get the most out of your exercise. The Traditional principles are:

• Control: Deliberate and conscious movements to maintain muscular control
• Concentration: Focus on each movement with your total attention
• Precision: Make every movement precise with sustained awareness
• Flow: Grace, ease, and fluidity are vital to each pose
• Breath: Coordinate your breath with each exercise
• Centering: Bring your attention to your body’s center

Many of the principles of Pilates are similar to those of yoga.

Why Get an International Pilates Certification?

Whether you’ve been practicing Pilates for years or are just getting into it, you might be interested in getting certified as an instructor. There are multiple reasons you might want to explore taking Pilates courses.

Enhance Your Fitness

You’ll continually be active while you receive your Pilates training. The following features are included in Pilates courses:

• Injury recovery and prevention
• Apparatus training
• Biomechanics of movement
• Functional anatomy

Your understanding of Pilates will start to be more effective as you learn about how movements occur in different bodies, and understand the correct form to gain the most out of your own workout. You’ll also learn how to use Pilates equipment more effectively to achieve maximum results and proper form.

Begin or Advance Your Career

You’ll be surrounded by like-minded individuals when you enroll in Pilates courses. You might be looking to start your fitness career and teach classes at your local Pilates studio. You could be looking to increase your rates as a current fitness instructor.

Whatever the reason, you’ll increase your skills and confidence by becoming a certified Pilates instructor. Being a fitness instructor allows you to do what you love while having a flexible working schedule.

Help Your Clients Rehabilitate

As we mentioned earlier, Pilates is ideal for those needed to heal and recover. Some of the ways Pilates can aid with rehabilitation include:

• Increased core strength
• Improved flexibility
• Recovery after knee and hip surgeries
• Increased blood circulation
• Bone strengthening

You can get certified in Pilates to further understand how movement helps in recovery, and there are also rehab certifications for healthcare professionals. Use the knowledge you gain in your courses to help others improve their bodies and mind.

Pilates certification courses focus on the body’s biomechanics and anatomical functions. You’ll receive additional insight on how to use Pilates for recovery. You will be able to understand how to cater different exercises for certain health conditions.

Improved Personal Development

You might’ve been practicing Pilates for years but feel like you’ve hit a roadblock with your progress. Maybe you’re looking for ways to advance your skillset but are unsure of how to do so.

Heading down the path of Pilates certification gives you a goal to work toward. Experience fulfillment and a sense of accomplishment once you receive your certification.

Personalize Your Teaching Methods

Knowing the ins and outs of Pilates enables you to set yourself apart from different instructors. While the core mechanics of Pilates are the same, you can add your unique spin to your classes. Tailor your classes to help you and your students achieve specific goals.

How Do I Choose a Pilates Certification Program?

There are countless Pilates certification programs available for you to choose from. Let’s go over some of the factors you should take into consideration when deciding what certification program to enroll in.

Why Do You Want to Teach Pilates?

Knowing why you want to get certified in Pilates will help narrow down your choices. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you want to teach internationally?
• Are you looking to start a fitness business?
• Do you want to learn more about Pilates for personal development?

Your motivation behind getting a Pilates certification will help you choose which program to enroll in. If you are looking to teach at your local fitness center, a comprehensive certificate may not be required as it may only require a reformer certification.

How Much Money Can You Invest?

It’s an investment to become a Pilates instructor. It requires passion and hard work.

Avoid courses that allow you to get certified after one weekend as there may not be enough hands-on learning and also content for you to fully understand the movements and biomechanics of Pilates.

A reputable school will include the cost of its programs on its website. You should expect to pay additional fees for some of the following items:

• Certification or examination fees
• Books or manuals
• Equipment

Make sure you take into account other costs, like taking time off of work or transportation costs.

What Type of Pilates Are You Interested in?

Pilates training programs are broken down into two main types of Pilates. They include:

• Classical: The original method of Pilates
• Contemporary: New programs that include a wide variety of exercises

You’ll want to learn as much as you can about the type of training program you’re interested in. Some internationally recognized Pilates training programs include:

• STOTT Pilates
• BASI Pilates
• Polestar Pilates
• Body Control Pilates

Take where you live into account when choosing a Pilates school. There are many globally recognized schools you can register in that enable you to travel the world.

All Pilates training programs include practical class hours where you learn and practice the exercises. You’ll also have additional hours for:

• Self-practice
• Observation
• Practice teaching
• Practical and written examinations

Are You Interested in Continued Education?

An excellent Pilates instructor will never want to stop learning. You’ll want to continue learning new information and methodologies even after you complete your certification. Continued education includes various activities, such as:

• Online or in-person workshops
• Attending conferences
• Informal or formal mentorships with experienced instructors

You might decide to explore another type of Pilates after you receive certification in another one. You could decide to increase your marketability and knowledge by getting trained in a similar modality, like barre or yoga.

Do You Have to Take Prerequisites?

Even if you’ve been practicing Pilates for years, there are certain prerequisites you might have to fulfill before you can get accepted into a certification program. The prerequisites can vary. The most common ones include:

• Previous Pilates experience
• Movement experience in dance or yoga
• A certain number of private sessions

If you’re interested in pursuing rehabilitation Pilates, you might have to be a licensed healthcare professional to apply.

What Type of Teacher Do You Want to Be?

You might be inspired by an instructor with that you’ve previously taken classes in your city. Reach out to them and ask them where they received their certification. They can provide you with recommendations based on their experiences.

Consider if you want to get certified along with a large number of students. You can use these relationships to grow your Pilates community and network.

You might prefer smaller class sizes where your instructor serves like a mentor. Your learning style and personality play a part in choosing a program.

If you want to teach Pilates in a gym or group fitness center, they might be affiliated with a specific Pilates program. Getting certified in their preferred type of Pilates could give you an advantage when applying for a position.

What’s STOTT Pilates?

Pilatique is a STOTT PILATES licensed training center. We’re the premier destination for learning Pilates in Singapore.

STOTT Pilates is a contemporary type of yoga. It was developed by Moira and Lindsay Merrithew. It’s considered to be one of the top-tier types of Pilates available to learn.

The main difference between Classical/Traditional Pilates and the STOTT method is that Contemporary Pilates focuses on bringing your spine into a neutral position. There are five main principles to this type of Pilates. They are:

• Pelvic Placement: Imprinted and neutral positions stabilize your lumbar spine and pelvis
• Breathing: Breathing enhances focus and ensures circulation
• Scapula Stability and Mobility: Avoid putting strain on the upper shoulders and neck
• Ribcage Placement: Improve the thoracic spine alignment
• Head and Cervical Placement: Ensure the natural curvature of your spine

Traditional Pilates is focused on keeping a flat back during workouts. This method follows your back’s natural curvature.

What Are the Program Options?

There are multiple program options if you’d like to get certified in STOTT Pilates. Show potential employers and clients that you’re well-qualified to teach this type of Pilates by getting certified.

Level One

The Level One/Intensive Progam is designed for the following types of people:

• Those who love Pilates
• Those working in the movement or fitness fields

There are a few prerequisites you need to complete before starting your journey of certification. These include:

• Meet Pilates class requirements (at least 30 classes)
• Postural Analysis Review and Anatomy Review Workshop

The goal of completing these prerequisites before you get started is so you can get the maximum benefit from the intensive program. You won’t have to spend time learning about different postures and anatomy during the intensive training. Level One is a fast-paced and intense program designed to expand your knowledge.

Level Two

Our Level Two/Advanced Program begins by reviewing essential and intermediate-level materials. Students will then discover how to apply the biomechanical principles of STOTT Pilates to various exercises. You can start this program right after you finish Level One.

Rehab Pilates

The Rehabilitation Program of STOTT Pilates is designed for healthcare professionals. You can do the following with the knowledge you gain from this program:

• Prescribe
• Treat
• Diagnose
• Assess

You’ll know what exercises your client should do to prevent or rehabilitate injuries. During this program, students will learn the biomechanical principles of this form of Pilates. They will understand how to apply principles to exercises through a variety of equipment.

Different equipment will get introduced during this program. Some of the accessories you’ll learn how to use include:

• Foam Rollers
• Flex Bands
• Stability and Weighted Balls

These items are utilized to improve shoulder and pelvic stabilization. You’ll learn how to implement them into your practice to better serve your clients.

Certified and licensed healthcare professionals are the only people that can apply for this program. Some examples of suitable individuals include:

• Chiropractors
• Occupational therapists
• Physical or physiotherapists
• Osteopaths
• Sports medicine or medical doctors

Pilates Workshops

Our team stays up to date on the latest information in the Pilates industry. We offer various STOTT Pilates workshops to ensure our students have up-to-date information. Our workshops are open to regular Pilates practitioners and certified instructors.

These workshops serve as a great opportunity for students to get a good workout. It’s also a way for prospective students to learn more about the STOTT methods.

Register for International Pilates Training With Pilatique

International Pilates training is a wonderful way to learn more about Pilates. You can hone your skills as an instructor, receiving the certification you need to grow your Pilates business. Discover how you can help others improve their bodies with our Pilates courses.

Pilatique is the leading destination for Pilates in Singapore. We offer Pilates training courses and classes. Contact us to learn more.