How The Program Works
The program is designed to run for one year, and consists of an 87- hour lecture cycle repeated three times over the year. Although the essential content is the same in each cycle, your focus will change as your knowledge progresses and you are able to listen/hear at a different level each time. Usually there are participants just beginning the program, some who are part way through and others who are finishing up in each cycle. This allows for a lively mix of learning levels and group interaction in practice teaching of both privates and classes. Often teachers from Balance Within attend or participate as well.
Two of the sessions (Fall, September through November and Winter, January through March) are six weekends spread over the two to three months involved. Summer is an intensive session, lasting ten consecutive days covering two full weekends and the afternoons between them. Attendance at the first two weekends is mandatory in each of the six-week sessions. Other absences, if any, must be approved and makeup arrangements made to cover content missed.
In addition to lectures, there are required observation hours and practice teaching hours. Trainees should plan to spend at least 8-12 hours a week in the studio. Practice teaching can be done with other trainees, friends, relatives and often, teachers in the studio. It is possible to arrange to do some observation and practice teaching elsewhere, but only with permission from both Balance Within and the other location/instructor. In all cases, observation and practice teaching hours are required at Balance Within to ensure trainees meet the high standards dictated by the program.
Private lessons (at extra cost) are a necessity to take your learning forward. Lessons as a trainee are very different from those as a client, leading to much more detailed examination of your body, exercises, options and thought processes. Although the lessons are extra, private lessons are available (as scheduling permits) at the lowest cost without having to purchase a package. Semi privates, mat and reformer classes are available at no cost (space permitting), as are individual workout time and practice teaching hours; duets, however, are exempted from this no-cost status.
The bulk of the program is taught by studio director Gail Anderson, with assistance from various certified and experienced teachers at Balance Within. Several times each year the Anatomy and Pathology presentations are enhanced by the presence of Kathy Campbell, a certified Pilates teacher and physical therapist incorporating Pilates into her practice.
In terms of anatomy, it is not possible to teach Pilates without knowledge of how the body functions. If you do not already have such a background, it is required that you take an anatomy class at one of the local massage schools or community/technical colleges before or during the first cycle of lectures. One of the training weekends in each six-week cycle is devoted to an anatomy overview and considerations of pathologies that clients regularly present in a studio. No specific anatomy or pathology other than basic is included in the 10-day intensive session.