Science-driven training for Pilates instructors

28 February 2009 - Posted by James Raaff in In the press, News

Many people working in the massive and rapidly growing health and fitness industry, including personal trainers, fitness instructors, dance teachers, coaches and athletic trainers, regard Pilates as a natural choice when looking for a competitive edge, or seeking to provide their clients with a method of exercise that is different and effective, according to James Raaff, a biokineticist who has been training Pilates instructors for the past seven years. Biokineticists, physiotherapists, chiropractors and medical doctors interested in physical interventions that will promote wellness among their patients, or who simply wish to broaden their knowledge, are also taking up Pilates training, says Raaff.

While a National Fitness Certificate is required to work in the fitness industry in South Africa, Raaff points out that Pilates training – which is still relatively new in this country - is unregulated at present, and could in effect be offered by instructors who have completed only a short training workshop and have no previous experience of teaching this method of exercise.  But Pilates - a form of movement and a principle-based way of learning healthy postural habits – in fact requires a good knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, and an understanding of how exercise affects human physiology. “It is not enough for instructors simply to understand the exercises and the movements of Pilates:  they also have to intricately understand the human body, to provide good training,” says Raaff.

Through his business, James Raaff and Associates (JRA), Raaff and his team set high standards for career professionals, with the aim of enabling instructors to give their own clients and patients the best that Pilates can deliver for a sound and strong mind and body.  “In our courses we educate trainers about what goes on within the body, changing their thought paradigms and the way they approach clients to bring about desired change. If they understand what happens scientifically, they can do this better.”

With its focus on the mind-body techniques that have evolved from the original work of Joseph Pilates, Raaff’s company has integrated knowledge from many disciplines into its courses to enhance understanding of the Pilates method and its use in a wide range of applications. “Our philosophy is supported by the latest evidence-based approach to the problem of motor control deficits. Simply speaking, we apply the science to retrain movement patterns for optimal physical wellness.”

Raaff believes the inclusion of Pilates into any exercise regimen can have far-reaching results in sports performance conditioning, rehabilitation and recovery. “General health and fitness will also be greatly increased. Pilates develops a functional balance of strength, power, endurance, flexibility, co-ordination, balance, agility and speed – known as the bio-motor abilities – to create a body that moves with grace and ease.”

To ensure that instructors are able to learn at a higher level, an entrance requirement for all JRA courses is that students should have a recognised certificate, diploma or degree in basic health or fitness studies. Raaff says his company works closely with the Exercise Teachers Academy (eta) and international Pilates institutions to create possibilities for any student wishing to become a Pilates instructor.  “Anyone who requires basic health and fitness education can begin with the eta offering and then move on to develop Pilates skills.  The eta is a recognised leader in the field of lifestyle, fitness and sports coaching education, and provides nationally accredited certificates and diplomas in the various disciplines.”

He says the more specific skills that Pilates instructors need include those relating to the assessment of their clients’ needs, Pilates exercise principles, mat and equipment exercises and modifications, and planning and programming for special needs clients.  These skills are gradually built up, and knowledge gaps filled, during the progressively more advanced, modular Pilates education courses that his company offers.

“Even doctors, biokineticists and physiotherapists who have had five years of medical study at university still have not learnt the specific anatomy that is required by a Pilates instructor or any other mind-body exercise teacher. On our courses we are not reteaching anatomy or physiology that students have learnt in other disciplines, but delving deeper to help them reach a greater depth of understanding.  Our courses cover some of the motor learning concepts, and look at how the brain adapts and learns on a neurological level. Students also study the biomechanics and physics that Pilates instructors need to understand.”

Raaff says the while JRA does not teach diagnostic skills, graduates need to be skilled enough to recognise when to refer clients who require rehabilitation to a physiotherapist, biokineticist, doctor or other medical professional within the network they have built, fulfilling their proper role within the scope of Pilates and not stepping out of it.
He adds that as the courses at his studios are being pitched at a higher level, the course facilitators have a broader knowledge and understanding outside the context of Pilates, enabling them to answer questions or queries with confidence and authority. The courses held at the Pretoria studio, for example, are run by a medical doctor, while Cape Town students have the benefit of his knowledge of biokinetics.

To comply with rigorous education standards, the training JRA offers is designed around outcomes-based learning.  All the courses are in modular format, with each module combining theoretical knowledge, practical experience and hands-on training for a full learning experience, he says.  The modular format meets the requirements of working professionals, and also allows those with prior knowledge or experience to begin training at the appropriate level. 
The first two course units focus on mat-based exercises. The entry-level module is designed to increase body awareness and introduces six basic Pilates principles. The second builds on the foundation of stability already established, and begins moving towards more functional challenges. Students learn specific teaching methods, advanced evaluation techniques and more complex exercise progressions, he says.

The third course prepares students to teach a broad range of exercises performed on the Reformer, the primary piece of resistance equipment used in Pilates. The course unit includes thorough safety, set-up and care sections, as well as use of Reformer accessories such as the mat converter, jump board, and long and short box.

Students then progress onto the Trapeze table or Cadillac course, using springs and bars, and learning techniques that can be beneficial during subtle rehabilitation or athletic performance conditioning.  This course includes Stability Chair work for strength-style training and rehabilitation, and also explores the use of four types of Barrels in exercises designed to enhance spine flexibility and improve posture.

A practical component must be completed after the presentation of each course. This consists of four aspects, Raaff says:

• Observation: watching qualified trainers at work.
• Practice exercise: Mastering the exercises through repetition.
• Practice teaching: Applying newly-acquired teaching skills.
• Apprenticeship/Internship:  Beginning a new career path under supervision.

Most of the full-time course units are of two to three days’ duration, and each course unit is completed with a one-hour theory exam and one-hour practical exam, he says.

JRA, which is endorsed by the Swiss Pilates Foundation, can facilitate students’ registration for the Pilates Method Alliance Certification, the only accredited designation in the USA, says Raaff. Upon completion of his company’s comprehensive Pilates instructor certification courses, graduates may register on the SA Directory of Certified Pilates Instructors (www.pilatesinfo.co.za).

For more information, contact James Raaff and Associates on phone 021 465 2870 or e-mail info@jamesraaffandassociates.com.