Pilates on Hudson, Inc.

What makes a pilates instructor a good instructor? Is it if they have insanely ripped abs and arms? Or that they are super thin? In today’s market, way too many students are getting conned into taking classes with instructors who aren’t fully certified because of how those teachers look in their instagram photos. Well, here’s a video of me teaching. As you can see, I don’t have the most ripped arms, and there’s a little more pudge in my torso than I’d like, but I’ve also been doing this for over 40 years. When it comes to being a good teacher, it’s more about being able to convey to your students what it is that they need to be doing, and the correct way to do it, as opposed to how the teacher looks in their lululemons. Good teachers, the best teachers, are the ones that have years of experience in working with almost all kinds of clients, and those who have gone through years of training and certification courses so they know how to work with you. Always ask what credentials your instructor has, and if they are less than forthright about it, do some research into their background. An in person 500 hour course is the bare minimum that they should have and having complementary trainings and certifications in other specialties is better. I started my training at the only medically based Pilate studio in the country at the time, The Center for Dance Medicine at what is now UCSF Hospital in San Francisco with people who were leaders in dance medicine internationally. I went on to get fully certified through two of the most difficult programs, Stott Pilates and Pilates Academy International, along with getting a personal training certification from American Council on Exercise. To complement that, I am also a Level 3 Neurokinetic Therapist, meaning I can evaluate the root cause of any musculoskeletal pain you have and give corrective exercises. I’ve attended conferences and done continuing education every year ever since. So, what makes a good pilates instructor? Someone who has the knowledge and experience to help YOU do better, feel better and get stronger, not necessarily someone who just looks good in a leotard.