APMA – Mentor Program Guidelines
The aim of this program is to offer guidance for APMA members who have recently qualified, or those who work by themselves and are looking for help and support within the Pilates Industry.
It can be incredibly daunting when you start teaching by yourself. You may be lucky to work in a large Pilates studio where there is great peer and management support, but we know from feedback that many Pilates Teachers work by themselves with little or no support.
To help we have the APMA Mentor Program which connects a more experienced (mentor) Pilates Teacher Level 3 or Level 4 and a Mentee Level 2 and above.
Reasons for seeking a mentor may be varied and include:
- advise on a particular pathology,
- managing professional relationships,
- pay rates,
- marketing and self-promotion,
- managing work hours,
- how to handle working as a sole teacher,
- where to purchase props
- or just have a chat about anything to do with Pilates.
How it works for Mentees:
- The Mentees should have an APMA Level 2 membership or above.
- The APMA recommends you search for a suitable mentor using the Mentor List below.
- Once you choose your mentor, let them know a bit about you, such as - When you qualified? What type of studio do you work in? Are you working by yourself? Do you teach large group or smaller studio teaching? What type of work did you do prior to teaching Pilates? Other interests, e.g. ballet, gymnastics? Do you have healthy or complex clients?
- As a mentee you must be an active learner and demonstrate initiative, it is not the mentor’s job to do all the giving!
- Be prepared for your meetings and respectful of their time.
- Once you have established a meaningful connection document how you intend to work together. For instance – how you make connection, by phone, email, skype or in person; the duration and frequency of each meeting.
- Please use the APMA Mentor Program Record sheet to document topics and times for your CEC’s
- As a Mentee you can gain APMA CEC’s. Mentor meetings will be eligible for 0.5 CEC’c per hour, maximum 3 CEC’s per year.
How it works for Mentors:
- The Mentor is to be an APMA Level 3 or Level 4 member.
- It is a volunteer role
- Co-ordinate with the Mentee the frequency and duration of each meeting.
- Each meeting can be in person at a convenient location, by phone or by skype. This is to be mutually agreed with you and the mentee.
- If you have been selected by a Mentee, they should send you some information about themselves. You are not required to take them on as a Mentee if there is a potential conflict of interest or you feel there is no connection.
- This Mentor Program partnership can be ceased at any time. Please contact the APMA administration to co-ordinate this if the Mentee wishes to select another Mentor.
- Please use the APMA Mentor Program Record sheet to document topics and times for your CEC’s
- As a Mentor you can gain CEC’s. Mentor meetings will be eligible for 0.5 CEC’c, maximum 3 CEC’s per year.
Registered list APMA Mentors
VIC
Rosemary Baker, Level 4 Professional Practitioner - click here for more information about Rosemary
Lindy Ferguson, Level 4 Professional Practitioner - click here for more information about Lindy
Natalie Watson, Level 3 Professional Practitioner - click here for more information about Natalie
NSW
Melanie Trapman - Level 4 Professional Practitioner Member - click here for more information about Melanie