Classical Mat Pilates Teacher Training Galway

Pilates Teacher Training Course Overview

Welcome to my Classical Mat Pilates Teacher Training Course at my studio The Yoga Lounge in Clarinbridge, Co Galway, starting in November 2023 - qualifying in January 2024. This course is fully certified by The Complimentary Therapy Association in the UK and fully insured by Balens Europe BV. This course takes 60 hours to complete spread over 3 months. It is an intensive enjoyable program designed to give you the knowledge, skills and confidence to teach basic to intermediary pilates repertoire classes based on 25 moves that I feel give every student a good core exercise regime, and from which you can design a myriad of classes. You will learn to teach prepilates and pilates mat exercises - but more than that you will really start to understand how the body works. This course would also be extremely interesting for any student of pilates who wished to dive deeper for the pure joy of it.

Your Pilates training journey with me is going to focus heavily on learning the repertoire suitable to the demographic of the west of Ireland - developing your teaching skills so you are confident in your ability to cue, demonstrate, know how to use modify and progress exercises, and most importantly how to really help your students to progress and enjoy the art of pilates.

You will also work on deepening your own practice at the same time - I passionately believe in the significance of your own journey of discovery and experience and the development of your unique personal voice and style as a pilates teacher. Without a good home practice you will struggle to keep your teaching fresh and interesting for your students.

Pilates Mat Galway Teacher Training - What we will cover in the course.

This 60-hour Pilates Teacher Training course is based on the work of Joseph PIlates with some contemporary pilates in there too - to make the exercises fun and accessible to all. Some more of my pilates inspiration come from Romana, Sonja Mayo, Mejo Wiggins, Cathy Grant - to name but a few. I also have spent many years working in the style of Blandine Calais-Germain. The focus in this course is understanding and teaching pilates in such a way that your students look forward to coming to your class. You will learn about alignment, extension, breath, initiation, anatomy, fundamentals of the pilates method, regressions and progressions. I also will teach you some somatics and Feldenkrais movements - that I have found invaluable in my pilates classes.

At the end of the course you will be ready to practice and teach the 25 exercises in the Classical Style and also to create your own class plans with various themes. You will learn a strategy of how to find the set up for success for each pose, key elements to a pose , cues to fix misalignments and various images that really bring pilates to life. You will learn to teach the students infront of you and be able to regress and advance movements so you keep your students safe and happy.

I will also cover anatomy in movement and breathing techniques. Everything I know about mat pilates I am giving to you.

This course would suit someone who wishes to work as a pilates teacher, physiotherapists who wish to learn more about the pilates method, yoga teachers looking to double their income, other fitness professionals, or a keen student who wants to learn more about pilates principles.

Course Timetable for Pilates Mat Galway Teacher Training

The course will start in November 4/5th 10-5pm. The second weekend will be December 9th/10th . The third weekend will be January 13/14th with your exam on the 14th January. The weekends are from 10:00am to 5:00pm each day, the last Sunday will be less - depending on how long the exams take.

MODULE 1: ANATOMY AND MOVEMENT PRINCIPLES. 

An introduction to the principles of Pilates movement and a deep dive into anatomy and the primary muscles of the body involved in Pilates movement. If you are going to work with the body and with principles like alignment and initiation you need to know muscles and joints, an over view of the skeleton and its function.  Don’t worry it won’t be boring - I love anatomy and I love teaching it. You will not have to learn every single muscle in the body - just the relevant stuff.

MODULE 2: THE 25 EXERCISES ON THE MAT

This is the meat and veg of the course. You will learn to teach 25 of the most fundamental exercises to the Pilates Method. I have omitted 9 of the 34 as they are too advanced for most classes you will teach in the West of Ireland and its demograph. You will learn how to cue these poses, demonstrate them, regress them if students find them too hard and advance them if students find them too easy. You will learn the contraindications of each pose so you can feel confident in your ability to teach safely. You will learn common misalignments that you see a lot on the mat and how to fix them. You will also learn some key hands on adjustments to really help your students to go deeper.

MODULE 3: POSTURAL ANALYSIS

In this module you will learn about various postural issues that you will see every day in your classes. How people use their body in standing, walking and sitting is key to their physical health. I find students really enjoy learning about their postural bias and working with it. This module  will make you understand why some students can do some poses - eg roll up and some can’t without a lot of work. When you understand a students’ posture and pelvis it can really help you as a teacher as to why some moves are so challenging, with this knowledge you can really help your students to advance in the method. Learning to really observe students in motion is a skill that every teacher needs to cultivate.

QUALIFICATION AND EXAM

You will be required to submit continuous assessment videos showing that you have a good understanding and an ability to teach the 25 poses on the course. This takes some practice and time and will ensure that you succeed and become a great teacher. In my years of teaching all the students say this is the most challenging but most essential part of the course. Accountability is everything here. 

During the course I will ask you to complete a variety of online classes from a variety of teachers so you can have a good immersion into teaching styles.

The exam will be a written exam focusing on anatomy plus a practical examination of your teaching skills and self practice. You will be well prepared for this and do mock ups to practice. If you have learning difficulties please talk to me as I have other options for this besides a test that may suit you better. I really don’t want anyone feeling stressed about an exam.

After passing the final examination students will receive a teaching certificate accredited by The Complimentary Therapists Association, and insurance by Balens BV Europe, and insurance can also be provided by this organisation.

BOOKLIST- Please buy and bring to the course.

Return to Life, Joseph Pilates

Anatomy of Movement, Blandine Calais-Germain

Simply Pilates, Jennifer Pohlman

COST OF THE PILATES MAT COURSE

The cost of the course is 850 euros. A non-refundable deposit of 300 euro is required to book a place. You can pay the balance at the first weekend.

PREREQUISITES FOR PILATES MAT TEACHER TRAINING GALWAY

You need to have attended a minimum of 20 hours of pilates classes prior to the course. This can be online or in person.

A word of warning - I have had one or two people sign up before and it clearly wasn’t the right course for them. So if you are not sure give me a ring and we can chat about it. Please ensure you read the terms and conditions.