How To Avoid Getting Injured At Pilates

You may have noticed that the number of Pilates studios in your area is multiplying rapidly.  There seems to be new ones opening up weekly, with most of these studios offering Reformer Pilates classes only.. Pilates is an unregulated industry in Australia, which means anyone can open up a Pilates studio without any qualifications whatsoever. Therefore, the risk of people becoming injured has never been greater than it is today, as so many Pilates teachers have little or no training in teaching Pilates.

As a Pilates Practitioner who has dedicated the last 20-plus years to assisting clients in becoming pain-free through Pilates, the current wave of unqualified, inexperienced teachers is giving my profession and that of my highly trained colleagues a bad reputation. So, how can you protect yourself against injury during a Pilates class?  You need to find an appropriate class for your needs with a qualified teacher so you can experience all the benefits of Pilates without the risks. In this post, I'll show you what to look out for so you can avoid becoming another statistic by becoming injured in dangerous classes.

Ensure Your Teacher Is Qualified

Just because someone is teaching Pilates in a studio or online doesn't automatically mean they are qualified.  Many have only basic fitness qualifications. You need to ensure your teacher has completed government accredited Pilates training or is a member of a regulatory body, such as the PAA - Pilates Association Australia, of which I'm a member.  A training course must be a minimum of 500 hours and weekend courses are not sufficient. PAA members must hold first aid qualifications, insurance, and complete Continuing Education Courses each year to retain their membership. This means members are continually learning and updating their qualifications and staying current with the latest research. I studied Anatomy & Physiology for 1 year intensively at Nature Care College, Sydney, in preparation for my 1 year Post Graduate Certificate in the Pilates Method at the University of Technology, Sydney in 2004. It was 2 very intense years as I continued to run my dance school as I studied. During this time, I also completed 200 apprenticeship hours in a studio where I was mentored by an experienced Pilates teacher, one half day per week. I also completed my own Pilates practice hours of around 6-8 hours per week and spent the rest of my time with my nose in a book studying. It was necessary to pass rigorous exams twice per year, which involved written papers and demonstrating exercises chosen at random on the equipment.  Like anything, there are good Pilates teachers and not so good ones, but when it comes to your health and fitness, you deserve the best, so don't be afraid to ask about your teacher's qualifications before committing to classes

Find A Class Or Teacher That Suits Your Needs

If you have chronic pain or are recovering from an injury, a large group Pilates class, either on a mat or reformer, is not for you. You need small group sessions in a group of 3 or 4 in a studio with your own individual program or 1 on 1 sessions either in person or virtually. In both cases you need a Pilates teacher who specialises in rehabilitation. I can't tell you how many new clients I've had over the years who have heard Pilates is good for rehabilitation and gone to a mat class of 30 people in their local gym and injured themselves further. It's sadly, far too common. Recently, one of my clients with osteoporosis attended a large mat class as a social outing with a group of friends. The teacher said she had run out of forms to fill in, so she was unaware that my client had osteoporosis. She told me what exercises she did, and like the picture above, they were largely traditional mat exercises, which are dangerous for people with osteoporosis and can cause bones to fracture. My client got carried away with the social side of the class and didn't think about the risks involved until I pointed it out. Needless to say, she won't be going back, but what about the others in the class with health issues or injuries? The teacher clearly isn't qualified to deal with this. Find a Pilates teacher who has the skills to help you overcome pain or injury, not make your situation worse.

Pilates Is So Much More Than A Reformer

A reformer is a spring-loaded moving platform and just one of the many pieces of equipment Joseph Pilates invented. He invented his mat exercises first and then developed the equipment to help his clients improve their matwork. A reformer is one of the tools available in Pilates and is only as good as the teacher guiding the client. In the wrong hands, a reformer can be highly dangerous and even comes with a warning sticker stating it should only be used under qualified supervision. Social media is also to blame for the current reformer obsession, as many people are using reformers for all kinds of dangerous exercises that are not part of the Pilates repertoire just to get attention, followers, likes etc online.  Like group mat classes, group reformer classes where everyone is doing the same thing at the same time are not suitable if you have chronic pain or an injury. These classes are for people without injuries who just want a workout. Using a reformer in a 1 on 1 setting for rehabilitation is highly beneficial as the exercises are designed for your needs, but avoid large reformer classes to prevent further injury.

 If you are looking for a qualified and experienced Pilates Practitioner to overcome chronic pain email me at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can start 1 on 1 virtual Pilates sessions with me by signing up HERE and we can schedule an appointment time. If you want to work independently, join my online Pilates program of on-demand videos, which I specifically designed to help you recover from pain or injury. It would be my pleasure to assist you on your Pilates journey to pain-free living!