Have you ever thought about becoming a Pilates Instructor?
I recently took one of those personality types quizzes (16personalities.com) that, based on your answers to a variety of questions, explores your traits and associated behaviors and compiles them into one of sixteen personality types. My results came back that I was an INFP (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Prospecting) and included this overview in the INFP “Career Path” section: “Careers in counseling, teaching, writing, or the arts often appeal to your nurturing nature and imaginative spirit…Your challenge lies in finding a career that not only aligns with your values, but also provides the flexibility and autonomy you crave, allowing you to make a meaningful impact while staying true to yourself.”
I read this now and understand how uncannily accurate it turned out to be in my own life. Over a decade ago, I was in my mid-forties and at a career crossroads. I knew then that I craved doing something meaningful, purposeful, creative, and flexible, in a field which values connection, self-discovery, and growth. What I didn’t know was that becoming a Pilates instructor would be the career that fulfilled those aspirations and values.
I was happily taking Pilates lessons and classes at my local studio when Meghan, my amazing instructor and studio owner, asked me if I would be interested in training to become an instructor. Her question came at precisely the time in which I was contemplating returning to work. My kids were a little older and I had been exploring my career options. My background is in the book industry and pursuing that route would likely require a full-time position with lots of travel back and forth to New York City. As much as I loved publishing, a return to that field didn’t feel compatible with my parental responsibilities.
So when Meghan posed the question about possibly becoming a Pilates instructor, it took me by surprise! Could I be an instructor? Could I go from reading books to reading bodies? Could I make it through the intensive training program? Was I too old to embark on this entirely different career? I knew that I loved my Pilates lessons and the instructors at the studio. They were knowledgeable, challenging, supportive and it seemed like they could “see” the secrets of my body, the strengths and weaknesses, and how it moved. Nobody had ever assessed my body in that way and worked with me so closely to improve my alignment, strength, and flexibility. I had never considered being on the other side of that equation. The one who could “read” a client’s body and tailor a Pilates workout to address their needs. After all, these instructors had worked with me to systematically stretch and strengthen my body, so I knew what was possible. Still, it seemed like a superpower that I wasn’t sure I possessed.
My answer to Meghan was “yes!” That was over ten years ago. I will be forever grateful to
Meghan who saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. There are so many reasons I said yes to becoming a certified Pilates teacher. First and foremost, I love Pilates! I love learning about Pilates. I believe in the genius of the system that Joseph Pilates invented. I also love the idea of doing something that acts as a positive force in the world, improving others’ health and well-being. In my studio, Fountain Pilates, I truly love to connect with my clients, see their progress, witness the changes in their bodies as they get stronger, improve their alignment, and become more flexible. I didn’t know then (on a conscious level, anyway), that becoming a Pilates instructor would be a journey of lifelong learning and that it would ultimately provide the alignment of my values with my work. If only I had taken that personality quiz sooner!
In recent years, my Pilates journey has led me to master teacher and mentor, Janice Dulak,
founder of Dark Horse Pilates. Janice was a student and appointed “Teacher of Teachers” by Romana Kryzanowska, who was taught directly by Joseph Pilates. Janice has created a Dark Horse Pilates Teacher Training program that endeavors to pass along the authentic teachings from Romana that preserve the legacy of Joseph Pilates. Janice and the Dark Horse Affiliate Teachers are committed to providing the highest level of quality Pilates training. If you are considering becoming a Pilates instructor and are looking for a comprehensive program that values positivity and inclusivity, go to darkhorsepilates.com and learn more about the Teacher Training Program. You may find that it is just the right fit!
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