Practical Guidelines for Pilates Instructors
A committee of International Pilates community leaders has prepared these guidelines which are intended to give guidance in unfamiliar situations.

Be accountable
Taking responsibilities for your actions, words, intent, thoughts and deeds are hallmarks of an adult.

• A Pilates instructor’s primary responsibility is to the client’s safety; honor the clients' comfort zone, anticipate injurious mistakes.
• A Pilates instructor educates clients how to perform Pilates movements we don't make them perform like an animal trainer; we don't stretch clients, we teach them to release excess muscular tension into a normal ROM.
• We teach self control, don't be surprised when your client decides to take control of their own workout; it will dramatically change your job description.
• Letting go of ones EGO results in admitting that you are not the perfect trainer for everyone.
• A Pilates program design and frequency should be based on the client’s needs and abilities, not the ability to pay.
• If you take responsibility for all your clients successes you must also take responsibility for all of their failures; either the client does the work or not.
• Hold everyone to your published policies, including yourself.

Respect boundaries
A Pilates instructor should respect professional relationship boundaries with a supervisor, employee, colleague or client.

• A Pilates instructor should respect other’s right to privacy; all conversations, behavior and progress should be kept confidential.
• The Touch teaching method should immediately be discontinued per client request or signs of discomfort.
• The instructor should terminate the instructor/client relationship if either are unable to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• The instructor and client should avoid topics of religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and politics.
• Personal opinions on ethics and morality should not be imposed on another and mutually dismissed.

Be a professional
The foundation of your reputation is based on your appearance and conduct.

• Hygiene and personal habits should conform to acceptable social norms.
• Speech and attire should be appropriate to the client’s comfort.
• Profanities are inappropriate in any professional venue.

Maintain your work area to the facility policies and standards
A Pilates instructor is knowledgeable in the care of the Pilates apparatus

• Inspect equipment prior to use and report maintenance problems to the facility director.
• Always return equipment to settings and/or proper location according to facility policy.

Use fairness and integrity in business practices
Avoid profiling by considering the individual

• A Pilates instructor’s behavior should demonstrate trust.
• Contact information should be clear and understandable.
• Pricing and Policies should be administered consistently.
• A Pilate’s instructor should not solicit another trainer’s client; interactions with other trainers' clients should not be misinterpreted as solicitation of their business.
• An independent contractor who works for a business which finds and assigns clients for him, should respect that clients belong to that business.
• Pilates instructors should recognize their professional limitations and engage only in activities that falls within the boundaries of their competency.
• Clients should be referred to appropriate professionals for issues that breach the boundaries of the fitness trainer’s profession.
• Postural and Fitness Assessment, Program Design and implementation should follow the standards outlined by fitness industry professionals.

Show respect
Equality and justice for yourself and others

• Focus on the facts, your behavior (not others), and communicate without emotion when disagreements or conflicts occur.
• Opinions should not be presented as factual information.
• Don't assign feelings to others, you can only describe your own feelings.
• Never correct or make judgments of another trainer in front of a client.
• When someone talks about others you can be sure they also talk about you.
• If you would be embarrassed to see it published on face book, don't send it via voice, telephone or internet!