Finding the best Pilates classes often depends on your instructor. The quality of instruction will depend on the instruction your teacher has had. The type of Pilates instructor certification that your teacher has will determine this besides their own natural talent for Pilates. Finding the right Pilates classes for you means that you might have to do a little looking around.
It will also entail asking a lot of questions to determine who can teach Pilates classes best in your area. Besides experience there are a number of things that you should look for in an instructor. The type of class you take is also important, different types of classes will give you different things in terms of fitness benefits.
Question to Ask
It might seem rude or intrusive to ask a potential instructor these things but it is totally necessary. The first thing you should ask is where your instructor obtained certification. You should also ask how long your instructor has been a certified instructor and how long they have been practising Pilates.
Not all certified instructors have been studying Pilates for a length of time. This is because prerequisites for training vary from one board to another. Some boards require that a potential instructor study the movement for a certain length of time while others will allow someone to sign up for a course right away without much experience.
Another important question you should ask before signing up for Pilates classes is if your instructor will not teach certain people. Not all instructors feel comfortable teaching everyone, for example some instructors will not feel comfortable teaching pregnant women, and others might not be able to teach someone who has certain health complications.
Observing Classes
The best way to tell if you will like Pilates classes is by observing one. Watch the instructor and how they interact with students. Do they wipe down the equipment after each client has used it? Most importantly you should feel comfortable with an instructor’s teaching style.
Everyone works out for different lengths of times. You might not be ready to do a full hour of Pilates. Check if all sessions are the same length and if there are any that might better suit you. Although certification does not always guarantee that someone is a good instructor is does mean that your instructor has had some training.
If your instructor has had comprehensive training then they will have studied anatomy, physiology, and possibly may have had some sports science training. Training like this is important to make sure that students are not pushing themselves too much.