News

A very warm welcome to the new members who have joined the PAA community this month. We have 19 new student members just starting out on their Pilates training. Congratulations to the students who have graduated and upgraded to a teaching membership and to those members who have upgraded their membership level. We encourage all members to upgrade your membership as you reach the next level, either by qualification or hours as it highlights your experience to clients and we love to highlight you as well. For further information on upgrading please read about the benefits of upgrading and the…

Simmone Cser-Pratzky Pilates 44 Studio (owner/manager), Bathurst NSW Instructor Name: Simmone Cser-Pratzky Studio(s) you work at: Pilates 44 Studio (owner/manager) Location: Bathurst NSW Instructor training: Diploma of Polestar Pilates Comprehensive Instructor Method, Mentor & Educator in training with Polestar Education, Bachelor of Ex. & Sports Science CSU (currently studying). PAA Level: Professional Level 1 What originally motivated you to try Pilates and then go on to train as an instructor? Like many, Injury and pain management initiated the search for Pilates. The mechanics of the body has always fascinated me, mostly through breeding and training horses. Mechanics and muscles are…

Early creation of the PAA Podcast Having been a PAA committee member since 2019, I have been intimately aware of the ongoing agenda item addressing promotion of the Pilates Method, in particular the role of the PAA in broadcasting the standards of Pilates as a professional and valued healthcare and fitness discipline. Borne out of the need to continue exploring communication channels to reach the Pilates community, I put it to the committee in late 2020 that creating the PAA podcast could aid in expanding the conversation around maintaining standards across the many facets and layers of the Pilates industry….

Step back in time into Carola Triers New York studio! At the 2021 PAA conference, we enjoyed Elaine Ewing and Sean Gallagher’s presentation of the historical Elaine Malbin photo’s in JP original New York studio. Elaine Ewing’s continuous research on Pilates history now brings us another set of fascinating vintage Pilates photos, this time from inside Carola Trier’s studio in New York City. This collection of photos dates back to the 1960’s-1970’s respectively, and includes images of Carola teaching, her students practicing, and children exercising. It’s an incredible glimpse back through time where we can see details of Carola’s apparatus,…

May is International EDS and HSD awareness month! These conditions are more common than previously thought and not well understood. Many patients wait decades for a diagnosis. People with Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) or Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) have faulty connective tissue throughout their entire body. This not only leads to joint hypermobility but can lead to many other issues in other systems in the body. Connective tissue is found in every tissue and organ in the body. Fascia is made up completely of connective tissue. Bone, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, blood, and adipose tissue are all specialised connective tissues….

How do you promote Pilates for mums-to-be or new mums? New PAA member, Laila, shares her thoughts on why the Powerhouse and Pregnancy are the perfect match. Pilates is a perfect match for pregnancy. There are many reasons why Pilates is such a great movement practice for all women. Not only do you get the benefits of mindfulness and that rare chance to take some time for yourself, but Pilates can also help enhance women’s health, especially around pregnancy. Pilates focuses on the “powerhouse,” which promotes the incorporation of the entire core musculature, including the pelvic floor, into the functional…

The Pregnant Pilates Teacher As teachers, we see individuals from all walks of life, however Pilates is particularly helpful for pregnancy, birth preparation and the monumental post natal recovery. But what happens when the pregnant person is you? Take it from me, navigating such an active profession as ours as a pregnant Pilates teacher can prove tedious during this marathon journey. You can practice what you’ve been taught in your women’s health courses and what you’ve learned experientially, however you never truly know until you’re in it. Every woman and every pregnancy is different. Some women breeze through and some…

Many of us in the Pilates field are mums, and the balance of business and family can be tricky. A few years ago I was honored to be nominated for the AusMumpreneur awards which celebrate the contribution Australian women make in business toward the economy, all while juggling young children. I had to put a speech together for the award ceremony and present to a room of over 500 amazing business women who were also mums. My gosh I was extremely nervous, excited and mind blown by the experience. Whilst writing my speech I really had to stop and think…

So much is going on behind the scenes of the PAA that we thought it time to give an update. Natural Therapies Review: The review into the effectiveness of Pilates, to determine if health fund rebates should be reinstated, continues. Dr Penny Latey has been spending a significant amount of time reviewing research and providing feedback to the Health Department as they work toward producing the report on Pilates. We are hopeful that we will have more information on the potential release date of the report in the next few months. Advocacy actions: Circular 69/18 became effective from April 1,…

Stefanie Zimmermann Soleil Studio, Maroochy River, Qld Emerging Instructor in Focus Instructor Name: Stefanie Zimmermann Studio you study or work at: Soleil Studio Location: Maroochy River, Qld Instructor training: Pilates International Training Centre PITC PAA Level: Professional Level 1 What originally motivated you to try Pilates and then go on to train as an instructor? My injuries introduced me to Pilates. I had suffered with disk injuries, abdominal separation (after having children) and a nasty ankle injury from playing sport. After hurting my back I lost all confidence in my movement. I was too scared to walk to the shower,…