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As a Pilates instructor, it’s so easy to get swept up in the daily grind of teaching classes, managing schedules, and running from studio to studio. When I first sat down with this workbook, I expected a fairly standard guide on movement mechanics. What I found instead was a deeply personal toolkit that completely shifted how I see my career, gently reconnecting me with why I teach Pilates in the first place, and how I truly want to show up for my clients. Staying Grounded in My “Why” For me, Pilates has always been a deeply personal journey. Sitting with…

Written by Kimberley Garlick, PAA President Based on a professional discussion with Jose Horn about music licensing for Pilates and fitness businesses in Australia. Music is woven into the experience of many Pilates studios. It can establish atmosphere, help instructors create energy and flow, and contribute to the overall experience clients associate with a studio. But there is an important business question sitting behind the playlist: If we play music in a Pilates studio, what are we actually required to pay for? For many studio owners, music licensing can feel confusing. Questions arise around Spotify and Apple Music, instructors bringing…

For many years, the Pilates profession has relied on the instructor’s trained eye to observe movement quality, identify compensations and guide clients toward more efficient movement patterns. While technology has transformed many areas of fitness and healthcare, Pilates has remained largely dependent on human observation and expertise. That may be about to change. The recent emergence of smart reformers, wearable sensors and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven movement analysis tools suggests that technology is beginning to enter the Pilates space in a meaningful way. Systems that can measure spring resistance, force production, movement tempo, alignment and weight distribution are becoming increasingly sophisticated,…

Strong professional relationships are an important part of a sustainable Pilates practice. For Pilates instructors, connecting with local allied health practitioners can help build trust, strengthen professional credibility, and support more connected care for clients. These relationships also help other health and movement professionals better understand the role qualified Pilates instructors can play in supporting movement, wellbeing, strength, mobility and confidence. Allied health practitioners may include physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, GPs, psychologists, exercise physiologists, massage therapists, women’s health professionals, specialist clinics and other local health providers. The right professional network will look different for every instructor, depending on their community, experience,…

A message from the President of Pilates Association Australia On Tuesday 11 August 2026, Australians will complete the national Census. For most people, it is simply another government form. For our profession, it is much more than that. Every five years, the Census provides one of the most important snapshots of Australia’s workforce. Governments, researchers, businesses and industry bodies use this information to understand who is working, what they do and how professions are changing. For Pilates, this is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss. Over the past two years, PAA Committee Members Robyn Rix and Susie Bond, together…

With the popularity of Pilates as an adjunct to sports-specific training among athletes, from footballers and runners to golfers and fencers, I wondered if the research supports the claims that Pilates improves strength, flexibility and body control. There is definitely a growing body of scientific evidence suggesting that Pilates can enhance many of the physical qualities that underpin athletic performance, including dynamic balance, coordination, agility, movement efficiency and core strength. Research indicates that Pilates can help athletes move better, perform more efficiently and, in some cases, improve performance outcomes. While dance is not universally classified as a sport, competitive dance…

Pilates Association Australia (PAA) has confirmed the qualification requirements for health fund therapeutic Pilates provider recognition. The PAA is committed to maintaining nationally recognised education standards while also recognising the experience of practitioners who entered the profession before Diploma qualifications became available.   Qualification pathways For therapeutic Pilates health fund rebates, it is a requirement to be a member of an association where Pilates is covered as a modality. For PAA members, the requirement is to be at Pilates Practitioner Level 2 or above. If not at that level, the pathways available are: Pathway 1 – Diploma Completion of a…

The Pilates Association Australia (PAA) is a not-for-profit association led by a dedicated volunteer committee. While we are passionate about serving and advocating for our profession through the PAA, each committee member is also actively involved in Pilates beyond their committee role. Many of us own studios, teach clients, mentor practitioners, educate future professionals, and experience the same opportunities and challenges faced by our members every day. We believe this connection to the industry is one of the strengths of the PAA. It allows us to remain grounded in the realities of teaching, studio ownership, practitioner development and client care….

  An illuminating anatomical journey A review by Helen Fletcher Hammond Julie, 2026 The Pelvic Diaphragm: Treating Pain and Dysfunction from a Global Anatomical Perspective. Lotus Books 244 pages $56.69 AUD  Author Julie Hammond’s aim for The Pelvic Diaphragm was to “inspire and excite the reader about anatomy that is often misunderstood, making complex anatomy relatable”. In this well designed and illuminating book, the reader is taken on an anatomical journey. Beginning with the author’s ‘why’, we then take a brief look at body reading and its terms, directions on how to use the book, and equipment needed for what…

28 Classic Pilates teachers write about their lives and their work Edited by Peter Fiasca Ph.D., Amy B Bergesen PhD, Suzanne M Diffine M.A. www.ClassicalPilates.net As the title states, this is a collection of essays by teachers who may or may not be writers. The Essays have been collated into chapters that take you on a walk through the history and methodology that is (was) Pilates. It reads a little like a cult worshipping of Romana to start. Which nearly put me off, but then came some essays on Kathy Grant which felt more relatable to my experience of teaching…