Still on the Fence? Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training Is for Everyone!

It’s almost time! Body Aligned’s Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training in Tampa will begin in January 2024.

Are you still on the fence about joining? 

In my last two blog posts (Is Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training Right for You and Considering Body Aligned Pilates Teacher Training), I shared the enthusiasm of recent graduates as applied to a career as a Pilates instructor.

But you don’t have to plan to teach for this training to be a great fit. Body Aligned’s Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training is equally beneficial to those who simply want to improve their practice — with no intention of teaching others.

One of my past graduates recently told me about how Teacher Training has helped her become more aware of her own body and enhanced the classes she takes.

“Like a lot of people, I really liked Pilates as a movement discipline because I knew it was giving me what I needed, plus a full body workout. 

“Once I was doing classes regularly — enjoying them and seeing the benefit in my body — over time, I just wanted to know more and go deeper into the practice of Pilates itself. I knew the only way to really do that would be to get my instructor training. 

“You can’t just read a book and figure it all out. I mean, you can see the exercises in a book, but you can’t be sure of doing the movements correctly without somebody showing you how to move.

“You just develop a better baseline of knowing why — why you’re doing a particular movement or why you’re getting a particular queue from your class instructor. Pilates becomes so much more meaningful. In class, the instructor only has time to kind of briefly tell you, “Do this, not that.” So, before receiving my training, I often wondered, ‘What difference does it make?’ 

“Like, say, with the simple exercise of Mermaid. Even though I’ve done this motion 1,000 times, now I understand what I’m trying to achieve more innately. When I’m coming up, I want to lift my chest up rather than just bend my torso over. Now I understand all the different things happening in my body, and I know how to reposition myself to get the most benefit from the exercise.

“Also, after Teacher Training, I now understand modifications for exercises. Sometimes, I’ll do something with a flat back, yet other times, I’ll do it in a C-curve. Now, I know why those modifications make a difference.

“And learning the variations of the exercises was also enlightening to me. The way Natalie teaches it, we learn the same exercise across all the different pieces of equipment. That was eye-opening and very beneficial for me. Depending on the exercise, some are just a little bit different on the various equipment, while some are a whole lot different. So, having that knowledge has brought my repertoire together, giving me an overview of how the exercises differ from machine to machine.

“Plus, after Teacher Training, I now have greater body awareness. 

“For instance, let’s say you may intend to use your lats to pull instead of your biceps. But your body will engage the easiest thing first — no matter what you’re trying to target. 

“So, with my knowledge from Teacher Training, I’m aware that I don’t have to use my arms for this particular exercise — it’s really my back or my core that I’m trying to engage. Now I know, and that’s so beneficial. It’s amazing how much there is to know.

“Even when I’m walking around now, I’m always thinking about my posture. I went shopping yesterday and looked around at people in the mall and thought, ‘Oh my gosh, straighten up!’ After Teacher Training, I’m much more aware of our bodies in space.

“Proper movement is our saving grace as we age. If you can keep moving — and moving in alignment, as Natalie told us a million times — it makes all the difference.”

If you’re fascinated by the art and science of Pilates, joining Body Aligned’s Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training will open up a world of awareness! You’ll increase your ability to understand why certain muscle groups may require attention, accurately target them, and get so much more from your instructor’s queues.

Teacher Training is for everyone ready to dive deeper into what makes their body tick and how to enjoy a more nuanced workout.

And who knows what revelations Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training might bring you?

But don’t delay. Space is limited, and classes begin on January 13, 2024, right here at Body Aligned Pilates and Wellness, centrally located in Tampa Heights.

Contact me directly at natalie@bodyalignedtampa.com for more information.