Choosing a Pilates Teacher Who Can Really Help Your Back

1. How did you prepare to be a Pilates teacher?

The Pilates field is still relatively new, and as such, teacher training, industry-wide standards, and certifications are still under development. This means that teacher training for Pilates instructors may vary widely in terms of quality, format and sub-specializations. So you might ask your potential Pilates teacher open-ended questions about how they got to where they are.

Some training programs are given by Pilates elders, or their students. These programs are likely to be very high quality because they are led by the people in the industry who have been around the longest. Many have been responsible for pioneering the application of Pilates in rehab settings.

2. If you went through a formal training program, what did it entail?

As mentioned above, teacher training programs in the Pilates field vary widely. Try to find out how long (how many hours, over how many months or years) the program was, including a break down of hours in terms of lecture, client observation, student teaching and apprenticeship. You might also ask about the focus of the program, or if there was opportunity for the development of specialized skills. For example, many Pilates instructors specialize in scoliosis - if you have scoliosis, did your potential instructor learn techniques for adapting the Pilates exercises to your condition? Were guest presenters such as doctors or physical therapists brought on board to speak to the group? You can think of your own questions, too.

3. How long have you been doing Pilates?

Technically, there is no requirement for a teacher of Pilates to have had Pilates training themselves. While most do, this fact increases the risk that people with limited exposure to the method will hang a shingle allowing them to build a clientele, even though their practical experience is lacking. Think of it - there are many Pilates exercises, especially when you consider the modifications and variations for each. It takes a while to learn them all well enough to present them in a class or session, and even longer to hone skills for applying them to special populations, such as for people who have back injuries and pain.

4. How long have you been an instructor?

This one is obvious. Generally, the more experience a Pilates teacher has, the better the chance their classes or sessions will help you with your back pain. This is by no means the only way to determine if the instructor has the ability to work with injuries and conditions of the spine, but it certainly helps.

5. Have you had any injuries or back problems of your own?

The reason for this question is three-fold. First, instructors who have a back problem themselves tend to be better able to tailor the pace and level of the class to your ability, and with compassion, at that. Second, she or he may have learned techniques, modifications and/or movements that would be helpful to you in your condition. Third, along those lines, she may also have found some things that are best avoided. An instructor who is able to pass on the benefit of her own experience with back pain augments her knowledge by "understanding where you are coming from."

You might also ask how she dealt with her pain, and what worked the best. Sometimes it is not the Pilates that helps the most, so be prepared.

6. Do you have any other movement, fitness or rehab experience?

This question will help you find out the scope of the instructor's experience working with people and the body in motion. Those with solid experience in the fitness and health fields are quite often well-prepared to be of great benefit to their Pilates clients. They have familiarity with anatomy and kinesiology (how the body moves), and may have expertise in certain sports that can be used to tailor your Pilates program to your goals. Don't forget to ask them which, if any, certifications they may hold from fitness organizations such as ACE (American Council on Exercise) or ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine). Certifications such as these shows the trainer has adequate background knowledge in the area of exercise and fitness.

7. How much and what kind of experience do you have working with spine patients?

The old adage "experience is the best teacher" can be applied when looking for the right Pilates teacher. There are many types of back and neck problems and they don't all respond to the same treatment. Sometimes, less experienced instructors believe that Pilates is the answer to any back problem. While many back pain sufferers have seen excellent results after embarking on a Pilates program, this does not mean just any instructor will provide a save and effective workout.

There is specialized training available for physical therapists and those interested in clinical applications of Pilates. So if you need rehab and want to do Pilates, your best bet is finding a licensed physical therapist who has completed this type of training.

8. Do you work within a network of medical and holistic health practitioners?

Unless your Pilates instructor is also an MD, PT or other licensed health care practitioner, they are not legally allowed to diagnose and/or treat your spine problem. So with this question, you are trying to find out what the instructor would do if after giving their class a fair try, you were not benefiting in the way you had anticipated. A dangerous practice on the part of any health or fitness provider is to try to hold on to you as a customer when what you really need is medical attention. A reputable teacher will refer you, as needed, to someone who is qualified to diagnose and treat your problem.

9. Are you trained to teach on Pilates machines?

As with Pilates instruction in general, it is important that a teacher be well versed in the types of equipment they are using. Pilates can be taught as a mat class, which uses little to no equipment at all. There are also several pieces of large equipment, for example, the reformer, the Cadillac, and the chair, that when used under the guidance of a trained instructor, can provide benefit to people with posture and other back problems. Because these pieces of equipment are large with moving parts, they can also be dangerous. If you are interested in working on the equipment, check out the level of experience and training your instructor has with each individual type.

10. Have you taken the Pilates Method Alliance certifying exam?

In 2005, the Pilates Method Alliance, a non-profit group dedicated to the teachings of Joe and Clara Pilates, began giving a certification exam for Pilates teachers. Passing the exam means the Pilates instructor has the equivalent of at least 450 hours in a teacher training program. The exam tests areas such as postural screening, knowledge of the exercises, and teaching technique.