Studying in a Pilates Facility- Why is studying in a professional environment under an instructor’s guidance so important? First, a teacher’s trained and watchful eye can ensure that you develop only good habits as you learn the Pilates method of body conditioning. Also, working in a professional environment is a stimulating and educational experience. You learn by observing other people working out-seeing and hearing the teachers and other students in the process of learning and practicing Pilates.
Watching and listening as the instructor guides another student through a Pilates movement will give you insights and inspirations that help improve your own technique. A correction given to another client might be just the thing to turn on that proverbial light bulb for you. And this instructional environment isn’t just helpful for beginners, either; no matter how advanced your Pilates training and experience might be, you’ll always find that an instructor’s guidance is valuable.
Your Pilates workouts will change your body; and your instructor will make sure your Pilates exercises continue to benefit your development. Choosing a Pilates Place- Depending upon where you live, you may have many different types of Pilates facilities to choose from. Your personal preferences and lifestyle might determine what environment works best for you. Pilates studios are facilities that are devoted primarily to the instruction of Pilates and little else. Because these businesses focus solely on Pilates, they can tailor your Pilates sessions to your special fitness or rehabilitation needs.
A good studio has a number of teachers from which to choose and a full complement of all the Pilates equipment. A fully equipped and staffed studio can offer a large range of appointment and class times, and many types of sessions, including private, small groups, and slightly larger classes (but not too large!). Studios are typically set up on a pay-by-session or -class basis, not by membership. Health clubs and recreation centers offer Pilates along with many other fitness activities, such as yoga and aerobics. Health clubs usually require a membership, and for that fee, most clubs provide additional services, including swimming pools, racket courts, aerobic equipment, and saunas.
Pilates classes at these centers typically stress mat work, because they rarely have equipment, and the mat-work classes can be quite large and very mixed in level, which may not address your needs. Many clubs and recreation centers consider Pilates to be an extra and charge an added fee, so ask for details Points to Consider- You can decide which Pilates environment best suits your needs, based on convenience, pricing, location, and personal preference. Like any fitness facility or program, your perfect Pilates place will need to meet a number of requirements. Think about these: – Location.
Will you be going to your Pilates session from home, work, or both? How far is too far to discourage regular attendance? Is the facility near other important destinations? Can you combine your Pilates with essential errands such as grocery shopping or stopping by the dry cleaners? Don’t discount the importance of convenience. No matter how much you want to be committed to your Pilates program, if getting to your session takes too much time, you’ll be prone to skipping-and that’s no good for you or your Pilates program. – Cost. Pilates isn’t the lowest-cost fitness program out there, but it’s worth every penny.
That said, high price doesn’t always mean best quality. Some of the best facilities have very reasonable prices and some of the worst overcharge. Don’t choose a facility by finding the one that provides the cheapest sessions in your area, but make sure you’re realistic in determining how much you can afford to spend on your Pilates program. “It’s too expensive” can become a reason to drop out. Ask for a full schedule of all costs-membership fees, individual sessions, package deals, equipment use, parking, and so on. – Support staff. In addition to your instructor, are support personnel available to help you?
Can you easily contact someone to change appointments or discuss your billing? Are the people helpful, friendly, and willing to assist you when necessary? Many facilities are too small to offer support staff, so the teacher may also handle reception, class scheduling, cleaning, and so on. Is that okay with you? – Class structure. If you intend to study in group classes, find out how those classes are organized. Will you be able to work with a group of others that share your fitness/experience level? If you’re just starting your gyrotonic training, you don’t want to be the lone beginner in a class of advanced students; as you advance, you don’t want to be hindered by newcomers. Ask about class sizes, too; you can get lost in classes of more than ten students. – Other programs and services.