01 Mar Why are Pilates classes more expensive than most fitness classes?
Posted at 23:12hin UncategorizedbyUrseila0 Comments
– updated on 8Feb 2019
The average neighbourhood membership (such as Safra) costs about $40 per year in Singapore. Fitness centres such as Amore, Fitness First, Virgin Active or California Fitness charge members up to $250 per month, with a minimum of one year contract. Pilates Mat classes conducted by freelance instructors may range from $20-$35 per person for each group class, while Pilates Reformer classes at Pilates studios cost up to $65 per person per group class.
If you attend one Reformer class once a week, it totals up to $260 a month for 4 classes! Yes, Reformer Pilates classes may be priced steeper compared to other group exercise classes. Most people shy away from giving Pilates Reformer classes a shot as a fitness option as they are relatively more expensive, but there are valid reasons why people are willing to pay more for Pilates Reformer classes. In this article, we will be sharing some of the reasons why Pilates is worth its cost!
- Experienced Pilates Instructors
Pilates instructors need at least four months of full-time training before they are eligible to sign up for certification examinations. In order to be a qualified Pilates Instructor for Reformer, one has to undergo an instructor training course consisting of at least 8 hours daily for 14 days, followed by a minimum of 100 practice teaching hours with another fellow trainee, and 20 hours of observation and attending classes as a client. This means that if you want to be certified to teach Mat, Reformer, Chair, you will need to do at least 42 days full-time, 300 practice hours and 60 observation hours! In fact, a certified Pilates Instructor across all equipment is akin to taking a undergraduate degree – in both hours spent and costs.
With the above requirements fulfilled, potential instructors can then apply for a certification exam that includes a practical exam as well as a 1.5hr written exam on the human anatomy. In fact, some polytechnics in Singapore are in the works to include Pilates as a module in their curriculum, as it will take a minimum of four months of full time study to master how to teach a beginners’ Pilates class. As compared to other forms of fitness training where instructors can be certified via a weekend course, without a practical exam, Pilates certification courses require much more effort, time and money. This is one of the key reasons why Pilates classes are more expensive than most group fitness classes. The Pilates instructors have spent considerable amount of time, effort and money in order to get themselves trained as instructors. This also means that Pilates instructors have a strong foundation in anatomy and movements as compared to many other fitness instructors.
At Pilates Fitness, on top of the Pilates education received from top Pilates schools such as Stott Pilates, our instructors receive personal instructor training from the Founder of Pilates Fitness for at least 200 hours before they are allowed to handle clients. This positions Pilates Fitness Instructors as the cream of the crop, equipping them with the ability to manage customized exercises for each individual in a group class. We also only accept full-time instructors in our studio and do not engage freelancers. It is of utmost importance to our Founder that our instructors are passionate about their job and are able to concentrate on the positive development of every participant in class.
Our instructors are Stott Pilates® trained with at least 5 years of Pilates experience to bring you the safest and most effective Pilates exercises. Whether you are a seasoned athlete or an exercise novice, a thirty-something or an active grandparent, our passionate team works with you to create an optimal fitness routine. The experienced instructors at Pilates Fitness are trained to customize each Pilates session according to each individual’s strength and ability, maintaining a challenging yet manageable workout for everyone. The modification of exercises to the individual’s needs make Pilates a more effective workout than attending boot camps or going to the gym. - Small-class size
Pilates Reformer classes often do not exceed 12 people per class, which ensures that everyone has full attention from the instructors. Unlike most group fitness classes where participants mimic the movements led by the instructor, Pilates instructors instruct the movements with their voice and move around the class to correct the posture and form of each individual. This ensures that all participants enjoy a full body workout and discover how to use different parts of their muscles in every class.Other group exercise classes can take in as many as 60 participants per class, and instructors are often at the front demonstrating the exercises and unable to correct every participant. This results in some people leaving the class worse-off with injuries as they may have utilized the wrong muscles to execute the move.
As Pilates Fitness limits each class size at a maximum of only ten people, the instructors pay more attention on each client, and carry out corrections and modifications based on each client’s health issues more effectively. Also, it is important for clients to maintain a focused mind-body connection (ie. executing the exercises as per instructed) throughout the class as Pilates exercises are heavily focused on stability & coordination. This helps to train the brain-body cognition and enhance body awareness, which makes Pilates a more all-rounded workout as compared to mass fitness classes and boot camps.
At Pilates Fitness, we preserve the quality of the classes by ensuring we do not have more than ten persons per class. Also, we do not believe in cancelling classes even if there was only one person who signed up. We take pride in ensuring every client will get the full benefits of exercising in a small class. - Impact on your Joints
Pilates exercises has zero-impact on your joints as the resistance is given by the springs and straps. In any event that you are unable to handle the resistance, the springs will return you to the starting position without any sudden impact. This also means that the elderly, obese, people with body size on a bigger side, or even those recovering from an injury can still do Pilates safely. Pilates strengthens not only the core but the whole body, targeting each muscle group evenly and working them in different directions. As a result, Pilates increases flexibility and produces a uniform and deep strength and tone, without needing to lift heavy weights in the gym.
Pilates stands out from other group exercises as it focuses on controlled, deliberate movements and muscle engagement. Each repetition is precise and objective-driven to get targeted benefits. Depending on your strengths and weaknesses, all Pilates exercises can be modified to push you to deliver your best so that you achieve maximum results with every class.
At Pilates Fitness, we created unique routines that combine the benefits of Pilates, leading to weight loss and a better posture with less body aches. Low-impact exercises such as Pilates allow you to achieve the same benefits as high-impact exercises, without causing damage to your joints, and may even promote the healing and recovery of damaged joints. Pilates Fitness instructors use effective cues and unique routines to ensure that all participants reap the maximum benefits, learnt with the right posture so as to prevent injuries and incorrect muscle usage.In short, you are paying value-for-money quality Pilates exercises that are fully customized to your needs while keeping in mind your safety and health in the long run. Think about it this way – you’re getting the same results as you would by training with a personal trainer, but this time, only within a fraction of the price! What are you waiting for? Take the first step to be a stronger, leaner and toner individual and sign up for Pilates Reformer classes today!
Oh, we are also stoked to learn that we have been voted as one of the most affordable Pilates Reformer Studio in Singapore by Money Smart Blog.
