A Look Into ITT Pilates: Part 1
We have asked ITT Student Leah S. to blog about her experience so far with ITT Pilates. Follow her along as she documents her journey:
Hi, my name is Leah! I have been practicing yoga for 48 years, however, it was only recently that I became a Registered Yoga Instructor. With additional training, I also now work in wellness and rehabilitation using yoga.
During a physical therapy appointment, I realized that using a Pilates reformer for sciatica pain and building a good core connection with my mind and body would serve me well in my autumn of life. I also struggle with scoliosis due to moderate to severe Thoracic Outlet Syndrome due to a nasty fall I took in 2006. Pilates reformer exercises provide more precision in movement that was not available to me at the apex of sciatica pain. Therefore, my physical therapist suggested I may benefit by taking Pilates reformer training.
Attending a Pilates mat class taught by an ITT Pilates graduate was encouraged by my best friend. The cuing and precision were exceptional! The instructor highly recommended ITT Pilates at A Body of Work in San Francisco. The scope of core awareness exercises Pilates offers could be a perfect compliment to my yoga wellness, rehabilitation, and life coaching practice. I looked at the various certification courses available. After speaking with ITT Pilates Director, Jean Sullivan, I made a commitment to enter the program.
The required course materials, videos to purchase and watch, self-practice, teaching, observation, and assessment hours, as well as time on the mat and reformer prior to attendance illustrated the depth of understanding required before entering the program. The commitment was almost every weekend from mid-September to the end of December if I took the required assessment training ahead of time. We all know that "life happens," if you cannot attend a session, you must plan to attend when the program starts again. However daunting, this seemed a perfect fit for my clientele and my own issues.
There was an obvious emphasis on being certain that you understood this was a commitment to attend every class and that your calendar should be cleared to do so. It was vital that you could navigate the website to find the course materials and sign up for Vimeo to view the required purchased videos. There was a new client form to complete that may have gone to the ITT Pilates junk mail. The form is required as well as a hold harmless agreement. There was an emphasis on safety! You are not to take alcohol or drugs that may interfere with your ability to move in the studio or on the equipment safely. The cancellation clause states that there is no refund once you begin the segment in which you are enrolled. Or, if you enroll and decide to cancel in advance of the training, there is an administration fee.
Jean emphasized getting the coursework materials, start reading the Anatomy of Movement, and becoming familiar with the Trail Body Guide before the beginning of the Anatomy section that she expertly taught! It was a biomechanic's delight!
I can see why taking a specified number of mat and reformer classes is required to get certified to teach Pilates. There is a precision to each exercise to perform the correct action and safely!
At the first session, Jean provided a binder and a folder of information that would support our journey. At the second session, with each student's permission, she shared our contact info and the contact info of the instructors! If you had paid for the required videos, you received the spiral-bound Essential Exercises professionally produced manual (extremely impressive) written by Jean and her teaching team.
The biomechanics of exercise is my passion.
The ITT Pilates Anatomy class was taught by Jean. Her knowledge and understanding of how the body moves and her ability to verbally articulate the movement, show physical examples of bones, and virtual examples of how the bones and muscles move in relation to each other was exciting if you read the material ahead of time or overwhelming if you hadn't.
The Essential Exercises were taught by Sue Aslin and Margaret Tappan. I had viewed all of the purchased videos required for this teaching segment ahead of time. Both Sue and Margaret were exceptional in taking questions and demonstrating the principles behind the ITT Pilates exercises. Talking and answering questions posed by the students in class was encouraged. Both instructors exhibited mastery in their knowledge, teaching styles, and ability to help me understand the principles behind the Essential Exercises.
I look forward to the next sessions on the mat!
~ Leah