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How to Become a Truly Client-Centred Pilates Teacher

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 And why so few instructors today are equipped to do so Becoming a client-centred Pilates teacher means moving beyond choreography to understand real clients’ needs.  Current training often fails to prepare instructors for today’s diverse population.  Through Pilates education reform , Mbodies offers a new approach focused on assessment, empathy, and Pilates for real people . In an ideal world, every Pilates teacher would leave their initial qualification with the ability to confidently assess, understand, and adapt movement to serve real clients; not just theoretical ones.  Yet in today’s industry, many instructors, through no fault of their own, are simply not prepared for the very people they meet in class: older, stiffer, post-rehab, pre-surgical, arthritic, uncoordinated, and often anxious. It’s time we admit something uncomfortable:  Much of today’s Pilates education is robotic, reductive, and removed from reality. From Overcorrection to Under deliv...

Pilates Matwork: Out of Fashion or Just Ready for Its Comeback?

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  Why Mat-Based Teaching Might Be the Clogs and Flares of the Pilates World Fashion is famously cyclical.  What’s “out” today is often “in” again tomorrow.  We’ve watched flared jeans swing back into style after decades in the wilderness.  Clogs vanished from the high street only to return to catwalks and boutique studios alike.  The chunky trainer?  Once mocked.  Now mainstream. And so it is with Pilates... Matwork, the original, accessible, no-equipment format that introduced millions to the method has, in recent years, been quietly pushed aside.  In its place Reformer classes and Studio towers.  High-end equipment with sleek finishes and even sleeker price tags. But just like vintage denim and oversized blazers, Matwork is ready for a comeback: and it’s more than just a trend.  At Mbodies, we believe Matwork deserves a second debut this time, on your own terms, and in a way that reflects the clients you actually serve. Matwork I...

Re-Educating the 'Qualified' Instructor: A Second Chance at First-Class Training

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Beyond the Certificate: Why So Many Pilates Teachers Are Going Back to Learn What Really Matters There is a quiet but growing movement among Pilates instructors: a realisation that, despite holding a Level 3 Matwork qualification, something fundamental is missing in their teaching.  The confidence isn’t there.  The depth isn’t there.  And perhaps most importantly, the connection to clients and to “The Method” itself feels paper-thin. If you trained through a fitness-led provider or completed a course that was heavily assessment-focused and light on philosophy or real-world teaching tools, you are not alone.  And more importantly, it’s not your fault. It’s time to talk about re-education: not as a step backwards, but as a chance to reconnect with why you came to Pilates in the first place. The Problem with 'Qualified' But Not Equipped Since the introduction of the Level 3 Matwork Pilates standard in 2017, the UK has made strides in regulating entry-level tra...

"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...