A look into ITT Pilates: Part 7

The weekend started with Jean Sullivan, Master of Pilates and ITT Director, answering questions about certification graduation requirements. You have a year from the Comprehensive Program start date to complete them. In our case, it was by the end of August 2022. That is why Jean had strongly encouraged us to have at least three volunteers to work with regularly to complete our teaching hours. We discussed the protocol for observation hours and how to log onto the A Body Of Work (ABOW) online schedule to know who was teaching Pilates for our observation hours at ABOW. We can bring our volunteer students in to practice teaching or use the equipment for self-practice when there is a free station. We discussed observation etiquette. The training schedule had changed so much that we needed confirmation about dates for upcoming Assessment and Chair and Barrel classes. There was a lot to accomplish and to juggle… and we’re still dealing with a very infectious COVID! I’ve stayed on top of the requirements, but many sessions have been canceled due to COVID. Make no bones about it—the program requirements are intense!

Cadillac Level 2 was challenging but fun! Jean started with which Essential, Mat, or Reformer exercises would be good preparatory for the Cadillac exercise she presented. My capacity to absorb a magnitude of detail over this course was challenged, and it was an exposure to what I needed to review and why!

Our assessment knowledge for observing other student alignment issues to make alignment corrections with props had improved. We had time to go off on a tangent to understand why and how to “sink your sacrum.” We’ve digested volumes of information with self-practice and teaching hours. Jean was pleased with our ability to perform and progress as Pilates instructors-in-training. The added bonus? Our personal fitness had significantly improved!