UPDATE on FITNESS REGULATIONS for PILATES IN SA

21 July 2010 - Posted by James Raaff in In the press, News

The past 2 weeks have been busy for a number of Pilates bodies who studied the Fitness Regulation to provide feedback. We established that there are more than 2100 Pilates Instructors in SA, therefore we (Pilates instructors) represent more than 30% of the combined group of Personal Trainers and Pilates Instructors. This is good news for us, as it strengthens our case for representation in terms of the Fitness Regulation.
 
We provided feedback to Sport & Recreation SA (SRSA) who will update the Fitness Regulation after today. We will receive a copy of the amended Fitness Regulation once it is available. It is very positive that SRSA wanted feedback from the Pilates Industry – we were given an opportunity to comment on the Regulation, which we did.

Once the Fitness Regulation is updated the next action from SRSA is to finalize the constitution of the Fitness Board. SRSA made it clear to us that the current draft of this constitution is a 1st draft, this will change, and we will have an opportunity to comment on the constitution. The fact that we represent more than 30% of the industry will strengthen our case to have representation on the Fitness Board.  SRSA also indicated that SA will adopt the Register of Exercise Professional (REPS) system for registering fitness professionals. The REPS system is in use in the UK, EU, Australia and New Zealand. Adopting the REPS system means SA will be adopting internationally accepted standards and provide international mobility for fitness professionals. Go to www.exerciseregister.org if you want to know more about REPS in the UK. We will most likely use their organization as a model for the development of our own SA REPS.

 

What should we do now?

Give SRSA a chance to process our feedback and update the Fitness Regulation. We will update you on the revised Fitness Regulation once the information is available.

DO NOT try to oppose the draft through inapproriate means (like sending legal documents demanding Pilates be regulated by another board), make comments directly to any government body without being sure that the body is the correct one to approach and the method in which you address them is appropriate. Your comments are needed but they need to be heard by others in the Pilates industry. Commenting in inappropriate ways or making objections without proposing viable alternatives will:

  • create confusion in the industry,
  • create lack of cooperation with government (that we have been building over decades)
  • prevent Pilates-specific requirements from being added to the draft regulations
  • in all likelyhood, result in Pilates being left completely without representation in the regulations
  • squander the chances of international recognition through SA REPS and ICREPS

We know how tricky this subject is to understand so please send your questions to us at the following email info@jamesraaffandassociates.com

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