FAQ

Q. Do Pilates Practitioner need to be physiotherapists?

No. A properly trained and experienced Pilates Practitioner can help clients deal with many conditions and pathologies. We do different things, working with the entire body in a session; generally, a physiotherapy treatment program is useful to help a client with relief of pain at particular body locations.

Pilates Practitioners are also fortunate because we get to work with clients for +1 hour at a session and normally a couple times a week. Because of cost constraints, a physiotherapist budgets a much shorter time.

Pilates Practitioner work closely with a variety of Allied Health Professionals (ex movement therapists, physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, accupuncturists to name a few), particularly when the need of the client exceeds our ability to help. We are trained to recognize when it's time to refer a client to the appropriate health professional.

Our education is also quite extensive. Entry level Pilates Instructor training (ex. APMA Level 1 Pilates Instructor Membership and courses) takes +500 hours of course work, personal practice, apprenticeship and third-party examination.

There are many AHP's who have found within the Method the ability to enhance their previous education and have become properly trained Pilates Practitioners. These individuals, like all of us, bring their own training, experience and appreciation of the Method to their clients. As an Association, we're glad to see the Pilates Method being re-examined and evolving.

Q. How long should I do Pilates before I can see results?

This all depends on you. As with any exercise program to make a difference a program should be practiced more than once a week and ideally three to four times a week for optimum results. If you can't make it to the studio more than once a week then it may be possible for you to be given homework exercises to augment your studio sessions.

Q. What type of professional training do APMA instructors have?

An accredited APMA instructor has undergone rigorous and comprehensive training. Becoming a teaching member of our organisation, instructors must undertake hours of study including history and principles of the Pilates technique, theory in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and pathology, and the extensive exercise repertoire, as well as face to face instruction of clients under apprenticeship. This ensures the highest quality of instruction.

Q. Why do I need to undergo an initial consultation?

Even though you may have participated in group Pilates matwork, it is important to review and allow your instructor to identify your strengths and weakness. This will enable your instructor to provide you with the best and most appropriate exercises to help you reach your ultimate goals. During your initial consultation you will be introduced to fundamental Pilates principles and breathing techniques to ensure you get the very best out of your Pilates sessions.

Q. In terms of physical benefits, can someone please explain to me what my expectations should be if I am going 3-4 sessions per week?

From the commitment of 3 to 4 sessions a week you would see a remarkable change in the shape of your body, both posturally and in terms of the definition and tone of your musculature. Pilates is unique in it's ability to develop strong yet long and lean muscle tissues. So in terms of your ulitmate goal - it could be achieved.

The combination of moderate cardiovascular exercise in the form of walking/jogging 3 to 4 times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes duration combined with the 3 to 4 Pilates sessions will certainly change your body shape but without necessarily reducing your weight. Muscle tissue is more dense and therefore heavier than fat tissue.

Having said all that however, you will need to source out a reputable studio which deals with you as an individual, not as a group member. Pilates taught in mat classes are generally non-specific and in most cases do not include client assessments or goal setting. For the most part group classes do not include workouts conducted on equipment either.

Q. I would like to ask, what is the salary range for Pilates Instructors in Australia for recently certified. I teach Pilates in India and I would like to get a recognized certification in Pilates and move to Australia.

Your income as a Pilates instructor in Australia is influenced by a few factors. Some studios pay the instructors a flat fee per class or they are paid per client. Pilates is taught in a few different environments here, either in gyms as group mat classes (8-20 participants), in studios with smaller individualised sessions (3 or 4 clients per instructor) or in allied health businesses (physiotherapy, personal training - often 1:1 tuition). Classes usually run 60-90 min. Fees for clients vary too around the country slightly, according to the length of class time and location of the studio. In Melbourne where I work, clients pay approximately $35 for a studio 4:1 75-90min session, and instructors earn upward of $50 per session if they see 4 clients in that session.

That is a messy answer to your question and I can only give you accurate information for Melbourne. Maybe someone else can help out for another part of Australia. At present, the pay rates are not regulated by the government or anyother organisation. The APMA is working on establishing guidelines for pay rates for instructors who are APMA trained.