International
Pilates
College
Certification
Convention
International
Pilates College
Pilates Code of
Conduct
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!