How I Choose Continuing Education as a Pilates Instructor

Stop chasing points and start following your curiosity.

Most people don't truly understand how specialised, precise and comprehensive Pilates training is.

If you've completed a comprehensive Pilates training programme, you've committed to a minimum of 500 hours of studying repertoire, understanding pathology, developing movement mastery, refining your observation skills and undertaking apprentice teaching. This isn't a weekend course. It's a significant commitment that becomes your focus for the next 1–1.5 years.

But in my opinion, qualifying as a Pilates instructor is where the real journey begins.

If you've made it through that process, chances are you've discovered more than just a job. You've found a new career, perhaps even a calling.

I know this because I left a corporate career to pursue my passion for movement. Along the way, that passion has evolved into my purpose, my profession and the business I run today. Purpose, profession and profit — the ideal formula, some might say!

But getting there takes work. A lot of it. And a significant part of that work involves continuing education.

Your Pilates qualification is just the beginning

When I first qualified, I knew very little about the body beyond what I'd learnt in my training. I could confidently name a few muscles, but understanding how everything connected — how the body moved, how the nervous system influenced movement, how pathology affected function and how to interpret what I was observing — was an entirely different challenge.

And so, my continuing education journey began.

I attended every course I could. I participated in workshops whose titles I didn't even fully understand, simply because I believed in the person presenting them. I spent hours on YouTube researching conditions I'd never encountered during my training but was suddenly being asked to work with in my sessions.

Little by little, my knowledge grew.

My understanding of the body deepened. I started seeing connections between different systems, questioning what I'd previously accepted and recognising that there was always another layer to explore.

The more I learnt, the more I realised how much I didn't know.

And that, I believe, is one of the most exciting parts of being a Pilates instructor. There is always something new to discover, another perspective to consider and another opportunity to become a more thoughtful, knowledgeable and effective teacher.

Continuing education is about more than collecting points

Keeping your knowledge and skills current is a natural expectation in any profession. If you're a member of a professional association, maintaining your membership may also mean meeting specific continuing education requirements.

Depending on the organisation, these may be called Continuing Education Credits (CEC), Professional Development Points (PDP) or Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Whatever the terminology, I understand why these systems exist. They encourage us to keep learning, maintain professional standards and continue developing our skills.

But here's where I see things differently.

I'm not interested in taking a course simply because it gives me a point. I want to learn because something genuinely interests me.

I want to understand more about the body, the nervous system, pathology, mindfulness, biomechanics and human behaviour. I want to develop my business skills, improve my understanding of accounting and explore marketing strategies that help me communicate the value of what I do.

Why? Because I believe all these things influence the way I teach, the way I connect with clients and the way I run a movement-based business.

Our work as Pilates instructors doesn't exist in isolation. We work with people, not just bodies. We observe, communicate, problem-solve, adapt and make decisions. We also need to understand the business behind our practice if we want to sustain a career doing something we love.

Knowledge empowers us to make better decisions — in the studio, in business and in the way we support the people who come to us.

And continuing education doesn't have to mean learning another sequence of exercises or adding more repertoire to your teaching toolkit. At some point, you may find that another repertoire-focused workshop isn't what you need to grow.

Perhaps you need a deeper understanding of pain. Perhaps you want to explore how the nervous system influences movement, develop your observation skills, learn more about the people you teach or become more confident running your business.

Growth can take many forms, and I believe we should allow ourselves the freedom to explore them.

Let curiosity guide your next investment

There are times when the professional development requirements set by industry associations can feel restrictive, particularly when the learning you want to pursue doesn't fit neatly into their accepted categories.

That's why I've stopped allowing the points system to be the deciding factor in what I choose to study.

Instead, I follow a much more personal formula.

When my eyes light up, my heart beats a little faster, my tummy gets butterflies and I can already see the connections to a deeper understanding, that's when I know I've found something worth exploring.

At that point, my credit card payment has often been processed before my logical brain has had a chance to come up with all the reasons why I shouldn't do it!

Now, I'm not suggesting you throw your budget out the window or sign up for every course that catches your attention. We all have financial and time commitments to consider, and it's important to choose learning that is appropriate for our experience, goals and circumstances.

But I do believe there's enormous value in paying attention to what genuinely sparks your interest.

That feeling of anticipation is often the beginning of meaningful learning. It tells you that something has caught your attention, challenged your thinking or opened a window into a subject you want to understand better.

And sometimes, that's precisely where your next stage of professional growth begins.

Every learning experience has something to teach you

Has every course or workshop I've attended lived up to my expectations? Of course not.

Sometimes the content hasn't resonated with me in the way I'd anticipated. Sometimes I've discovered that a particular approach isn't for me. And occasionally, I've walked away with more questions than answers.

But I've always taken something away from the experience.

Even when a course hasn't sustained the initial fire in my eyes, I've learnt something about the subject, the presenter, my own preferences or the direction I want to take next.

I think of it a little like travelling. Things can go wrong, plans can change and the experience might not unfold as expected. Yet you can still return home with some of your best stories, memories and lessons.

Learning is much the same. Not every experience has to transform your teaching to be worthwhile. Sometimes it confirms what you already know. Sometimes it challenges a belief you've held for years. And sometimes it introduces you to an idea that won't make sense until much further down the track.

That's the beauty of continuing education. It isn't just about what you learn today; it's also about how that knowledge influences the way you think, teach and continue to evolve.

Invest in the instructor you want to become

As Pilates instructors, we encourage our clients to keep moving, explore their potential and discover what their bodies are capable of throughout life. We believe movement can support independence, confidence and the ability to keep doing the things that matter.

Shouldn't we apply that same philosophy to ourselves?

Movement for life isn't just about the people we teach. It's also about our own willingness to keep learning, questioning and growing throughout our careers.

The more we understand the body, the more connections we can make. The more we develop our knowledge, the better equipped we are to observe, adapt and empower the people in front of us. And the more curious we remain, the less likely we are to become complacent in our practice.

So, the next time you're considering a course, workshop or learning opportunity, don't let your first question be, "How many points will I get?"

Instead, ask yourself:

What am I curious about? What would I love to understand better? What might challenge my thinking or help me become a more confident, knowledgeable and effective Pilates instructor?

And, most importantly, does it excite me?

Meet your professional requirements, absolutely. Be sensible with your time and money, of course. But don't allow a points system to become the sole measure of your professional development.

Follow the curiosity. Embrace the opportunity to learn. Invest in the knowledge that empowers you.

Because the best continuing education doesn't simply add another certificate to your wall. It changes the way you see, the way you think and the way you teach.

And that kind of growth is worth investing in.

The mentorME membership I facilitate encourages Pilates instructors to take ownership of their learning, and offers a natural next step for those who want ongoing connection, encouragement and professional development rather than relying solely on occasional workshops. The group was established in June 2021 and keeps growing in value and richness. Use this link to discover more https://www.kinectedpilates.com.au/mentorme