International Pilates College
Instructor Guideline

IPC is thriving with amazing Teacher Trainers, like you, who personify quality with a variety of talents, knowledge, & background experiences.
We encourage all to share their talents, continue to study, & ask new questions.
We challenge you to progress in your own ability to perform Pilates movements, to teach, to analyze and to utilize all of the teaching techniques.

We teach student-teachers How to Learn
IPC educators can present a wide range of Pilates’ methodology of movement vocabulary and teaching variations to the student-teacher without prejudice.
We provide criteria of fitness testing and client evaluations to establish a baseline to help document client progress
IPC professors establish high standards of learning and teaching Pilates; based in critical evaluation and safety

Education; A Latin word, which may be translated several different ways
Depending on how it is subdivided, the root word Educe may mean 'the leader', catio is Latin for 'building'. 'Educe catio' means 'leader building', 'E du catio translate into 'the two building', 'edu catio'' is education building'. We at IPCollege focus on developing future Pilates instructors who can safely educate others in a variety of Pilates methodologies.

IPCollege instructors lead students to answers
We teach by asking the students a series of questions that logically brings them to a deeper understanding of the Pilates concept.
We educate students in seven (7) accepted teaching methods.
We educate in the art of thinking Pilates
Students receive tools to critically analyze Pilates movements and evaluate the possible benefit versus potential contraindications; based on client needs and abilities.
An IPCollege graduate is prepared to confidently choose 'What' Pilates movement to teach, rationalize 'Why' they decided to teach it and know 'How' to teach it safely.

IPCollege develop elite instructors, not trainers
We discourage a 'fitness trainer' style of teaching that makes people do exercises.
We prefer to educate clients in understanding their bodies and taking personal responsibility to work within their 'Comfort Zone'.
An instructor must be adept in presenting a variety of ways to move and encourage the person to choose which variation feels correct in their body.
Instructors are not permitted to 'Stretch' anyone into an increased ROM.
We teach people how to release their excess muscle tension to achieve a normal ROM.

IPCollege does not teach rehabilitation modalities
Physical Therapists rehabilitate injured clients, Pilates instructors work with post-rehabilitates. Clients often remark that Pilates did more for them than the PT, due to a realization of regained strength and flexibility. What the client doesn't understand is that Pilates modalities could exasperate a fresh injury when taught by one without proper PT qualification. The Physical Therapist's medical applications maintain the structural integrity of an injured body, afterwards the post-rehab client may notice a dramatic change in functional efficiency through Pilates instruction which, could not have occurred with out the Physical Therapists' rehabilitation.

Do not encourage structural imbalances
The weak or limited side dictates bi-laterally intensity and Range of Motion of both sides.
Hyper-flexibility should be balanced with strength.
Both Hyper-extension and Hyper-flexion should be avoided.
Explore alternative possibilities when one is moving or breathing habitually.
Differentiate between holding positions and successively renegotiating them.
Straight back coccyx balances and straight leg sit-ups are contraindicative
Ballistic stretch techniques are no longer appropriate

General Protocols for Special Populations
Injuries; observe medically recognized protocols; provide handouts with general guidelines so clients may assume personal responsibility, keep an open conversation with inquires, honor their responses and intuition, work within their comfort zone.
Pregnancy; every situation is different, allow for late cancellations and no-shows
Elderly; focus on feet, posture and functional efficiency, exercise your patients
Obesity; follow pregnancy protocols, be emotionally supportive
Systemic Conditions; don't stretch nerves, avoid Opposition Elongation Principles, focus on releasing muscle tension or joint impingements

'Always Show Our Bodies Respect'; our Philosophy and anagram of Pilates Principles