Posts

"Beyond Fitness: Harnessing Pilates for Weight Loss in Your Wellness Studio"

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Introduction: Pilates has become incredibly popular recently, with a whopping 92% rise in class bookings last year alone.  Many people are now wondering, 'Is Pilates good for weight loss?' With over 23 million search results, there's a lot to sift through.  This blog post aims to demystify Pilates’ role in weight loss and guide Pilates-based wellness studios on how best to utilise Pilates to meet their clients' weight loss goals. The Current Situation: Different studies show varying results on Pilates and weight loss.  For example, a study in 2017 demonstrated that Pilates could help overweight women lose weight effectively.  However, another study from 2015 saw no significant changes in body composition among postmenopausal women.  These contrasting findings underline the importance of a tailored approach when incorporating Pilates into weight loss programmes, ensuring they meet the specific needs of your clientele. Understanding Your Clients: Are you...

Clarifying Roles and Expectations in Pilates Training at Mbodies Training Academy

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  Introduction At Mbodies Training Academy, we pride ourselves on offering a comprehensive and tailored educational experience in the areas of Pilates Apparatus Instructor qualifications and Special Populations based CPD (Continuing Professional Development). We use in our course descriptions terms like Instructor Trainer, Tutor and Mentor to mean different things and this can cause confusion to students, who may have different perceptions of these terms than we have. Therefore, this article is to help in the understanding of the different roles within our training academy and our Satellite Training Centres.     Instructor Trainers, Mentors and Tutors can be engaged or used to a greater or lesser degree by students as they decide, and an appropriate decision of how best to engage may significantly enhance the learning for our students beyond purely completing a course. Here we seek to clarify these roles and set clear expectations for everyone involved. Defini...

Upcoming Dates for Studio Instructor Education:

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Mbodies Training Academy is dedicated to providing top-tier Pilates instructor training and continuing professional development for Pilates Instructors and Medical Movement Professionals. Our comprehensive programs cover Reformer, Tower, Wunda Chair, and Pilates Barrels (Arc, Step, and Ladder). These courses can be taken separately or combined, depending on the learning needs and career goals of the individual. Course Overview All our courses offer a blend of online and practical learning components designed to equip you with the skills needed to teach effectively and securely. Each course adheres to a structured format to ensure comprehensive learning and mastery of the Pilates apparatus of your choice. Online Learning Participants gain access to our professional education portal at Mbodies Online Learning . The portal provides high-quality videos and lessons that you can engage with at your pace and on your schedule. Assessment Our courses require a video submission demonstrating y...

Modernising Pilates Instructor Education

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The modern Pilates studio has more mature clientele Over the past 25 years, notable Pilates innovators like Moira Stott and Lindsay Merrithew of Merrithew Corporation, Brent Anderson of Polestar Pilates, Rael Isacowitz of BASI Pilates, Lynne Robinson of Body Control Pilates, and the founders of Peak Pilates, Colleen Glenn and Richard Scalesse, have all contributed significantly to the development of contemporary Pilates. Despite their pioneering work and the expansion of their offerings, including rehabilitation-focused programs, the overall structure of Pilates education has not sufficiently evolved to meet the changing needs and expectations of clients.  Initially favoured by athletes, dancers, and those in rehabilitation, the clientele of Pilates now includes a much broader demographic, often referred by medical professionals to aid in managing various health conditions. This new reality necessitates a substantial transformation in how Pilates instructors are trained, ensuri...

The Value of Pilates Barrels in Your Studio: A Closer Look with Mbodies Training Academy

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Pilates barrels, such as the Ladder Barrel, Spine Corrector, and Arc Barrel, are perhaps less celebrated compared to other Pilates apparatus like the Reformer.  Yet, these pieces of Pilates Apparatus are incredibly beneficial in enhancing core strength, flexibility, and spinal alignment.  Here, we explore how each barrel can be used effectively in practice and how Mbodies Training Academy's comprehensive CPD courses can enhance your instructional skills. Understanding the Benefits of Each Barrel Ladder Barrel : Known for its utility in improving spinal flexibility, the Ladder Barrel supports dynamic back and hip stretches, aiding in the enhancement of posture and flexibility ​ . Spine Corrector : This barrel excels in aiding proper spinal and pelvic alignment.  It's invaluable for progressing exercises that target core stability and improve the overall efficiency of Pilates movements ​ . Arc Barrel : Compact and v...

How Long Do I Have Access to My Online Course Materials? Why MBodies Does Things Differently

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  One of the most common questions we receive at MBodies Training Academy is: “How long will I have access to my online course materials, and how long do I have to complete my course?” It’s an important question, and unfortunately, many students have experienced the frustration of time-limited access when studying with other training providers.  We believe that professional CPD education, especially within the Pilates, health, and fitness industries—shouldn’t come with unnecessary restrictions.  That’s why MBodies Training Academy takes a different approach to online learning. The Problem with Time-Limited Access Many training providers impose tight restrictions on course timelines and material access.  Why? ·         Instructor Costs in Live Hybrid Models : Some online courses are built around Zoom-style hybrid learning, where an instructor is employed to deliver sessions live.  Naturally, this model requires a short...

Joseph Pilates’ Internment Years: A Fresh Perspective on Pilates’ History and Relevance Today

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  Over the past few months, I’ve been captivated by a series of four articles published on Bret Miller’s Pilates Intel website, authored by Jonathan Grubb, a historian and Pilates instructor based on the Isle of Man.   These meticulously researched pieces focus on a pivotal period in Joseph Pilates’ life, from his arrest in September 1914 to his internment on the Isle of Man, and finally to his transfer to Alexandra Palace in Muswell Hill London as World War I ended. Grubb’s work offers new insights into Pilates’ time in captivity, dispelling myths and highlighting themes that are as relevant today as they were over a century ago, here’s an overview of the articles and the key lessons they hold for modern Pilates instructors. Arrest and Early Internment (Lancaster Camp) The first article sets the scene with Pilates’ arrest in Blackpool in September 1914, following Britain’s classification of Germans, Austrians, and other nationals from enemy countries as “enemy aliens.” ...