Besides my shiny outfits and sparkling wit, there are several practical reasons why you want to work with a real, live pilates instructor like me.

Reason #1:  Live, private pilates instructors provide feedback from an experienced eye.

Any instructor with comprehensive training and experience is going to be worth her weight in gold when it comes to preserving your form and thus, your body.  Any chronic back and joint injuries you may already have come from repetitive motion and poor postural habits.  When you practice pilates on your own with a DVD or from a book, you can replicate these habits and reinforce whatever condition you are trying to correct.  DVDs and books can be great as a an introduction to pilates or as a supplement to private training.  But make sure at some point in your pilates training you schedule time with a certified professional who can make sure you are doing things right on your own.

Reason #2:  Live pilates instructors provide exercise variety.

Varying your pilates routine is not merely a matter of keeping your interest or preventing boredom.  It goes deeper than that.  As you increase your strength and body awareness, an experienced pilates instructor will adjust your workout to keep you challenged so that you don’t plateau.  You will see quick results when you start a pilates program and you want to keep that momentum going.  Also if you are active in other sports such as running, biking or surfing and have an accident or injury that you need to work around, your instructor will be able to modify exercises so that you can still progress through your pilates workout.

Reason #3:  Live pilates instructors motivate.

I can’t help repressing an evil laugh here.  Some of my clients despair that I am a drill sargent when it comes to motivating them to perform at their peak.  I say, that’s right.  My students perceptions of their limits are usually way more modest than reality – I just find ways to help them see that they are stronger than they think.  When their friends and family start asking them if they’ve lost weight, suddenly they’re A-OK with the drill sargent.

Motivating you to go behind where you think you can go on your own is what you pay me for.  Otherwise you could flail about by yourself, doing things the easy way, getting bored or injured and wondering what the big deal about pilates is because it doesn’t seem to be doing anything for you.  While not everyone needs a drill sargent, you need to find an instructor with a personality that will keep you going.

Reason #4:  Live pilates instructors offer personal guidance.

Here’s where my drill instructor goes away.  When you have an ongoing relationship with your instructor, your body becomes theirs.  What I mean is, over time I get to know you and I develop a very invested relationship in the outcome of your workouts.  My professional reputation depends on it.  Plus now I know you and like you and really want to you them succeed.  I know a little more about your job, your hobbies or sports and can tailor your workout to help you get more from them.

My surfing client wants to emphasize core stability and shoulder and thigh flexibility.  My knitting grandma client wants to keep her balance on her long walks and work on her projects without getting shoulder and back pain.  My snowboarder has taken up biking and wants to maintain flexibility in his hips and legs.  While all of these clients will get the total-body workout that pilates promises, I can tailor each session to their individual, immediate goals.  Their routine stays dynamic and extremely relevant to their requirements of their lives.

Reason #5:  Live pilates instructors teach you how to maximize use of the equipment.

Not all pilates classes happen with equipment.  But if you take private pilates lessons with an instructor at your side, you will receive detailed instruction on how use the machines to achieve your goals.  A teacher showing you how to use the equipment?  Seems pretty obvious, right?  If you have ever seen a pilates reformer, cadillac or chair, you know that they are about as far from intuitive to use as you can imagine.  Even new instructors get confused with all the possible configurations of springs, straps and settings.

A treadmill is pretty obvious:  step on and run.  A chest press machine is pretty obvious:  sit and press.  But a pilates machine is built to be multi-purpose.  It works your legs, your back, your shoulders, your abs and requires you to be contorted into all sorts of original positions to accomplish your exercises effectively.  Even my advanced clients who have practiced pilates for years need my reminders of what goes where.

There are lots of ways to incorporate a wonderful pilates workout into your life.  Because pilates involves such detailed work, it is essential for students (especially beginners) to set up time for individual instruction at some point.  If you are budget challenged at the moment, ask for a session or package for your next birthday or holiday present!  Or schedule a virtual session to have the instructor observe and correct you via Skype or other video program.  Use technology to your advantage to access the best talent available, regardless of your physical location.  It will be worth it to experience the profound mind-body changes that come with a pilates program that is customized to your needs.