your very welcome Carole and thank you for your comments, I have learned and gleaned much from you and I wish you were in my area becaue I would love to work out with you.
Leeann

I let my PMA membership lapse and have no intention of taking the exam. I spent 20 years as a Certified Health Education Specialist, a health educator in layman's terms, and belonged to the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, a governing membership body that was established to make sure no one but those deemed to have the education, credentials, certification or degree could be a health educator. After 20 years, they were still trying to convince new grads that this was the only way they could work in the industry, and the only way employers would hire them. After 20 years of membership fees and doing my required continuing education hours, I gave it up too! It never brought me anything and if they had to still work so hard to convince people that their way was the only way to go, they weren't very effective to begin with. I see similarities with the PMA. Good for them, not good for me.

To luann - How can it possibly be good for 'them', if it's not good for you? I don't know anything about that other organisation, but the PMA (of which I am a member) is a not-for-profit. Not-for-profits are not owned by anyone, and therefore there's no one to be making a profit or gaining anything personally. If the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing was trying to establish a professional credential for health educators, and failed to have it gain acceptance after 20 years - that is not 'good for them'. They failed in their mission to establish being a 'health educator' as a profession, and presumably anyone can say they're a 'health educator' as a result, no matter what their background. I'd imagine you supported their goals, as you participated for 20 years, yes? Perhaps you're disillusioned as the cause you supported failed to achieve its mission. All the more reason to actively support that PMA.

Dear Jen: Given all that the PMA has made clear on this post, I can understand that there would be a case for those titled "Fitness Professional" or "Physical Therapist" teaching pilates to actively support the PMA and its Exam; I'd say your post is well-stated, if it is from that particular viewpoint. While I have only good wishes for those following that path, I have chosen not to define myself by either of those titles and I imagine that there are at least some that share that view with me. Some may argue that no one is gaining "personally," but I definitely think, that for many of us, there is something to lose in defining our profession solely under a traditional fitness umbrella, even in these "early stages."

I am also letting my PMA membership lapse. During the posts I made my feeling known about PMA and it's director Elizabeth Anderson took offence to my assertion that the PMa is an elite Mafia,she then accused me of hiding behind my anonaminity and after I revealed myself, Ms Anderson took it upon herself to look me up and send me a personal email rebuke because I stated on my website that I am recognized by the PMA as a teacher training school. Acccording to MS Anderson the PMA does not recognize any one, it merely lists them. So the PMA has not only done nothing for me, it now takes revenge on those who do not agree with their ideas.

Thank you all for participating in this post. I am both surprised and pleased with the outcome.

I have started the AIM Academy for Somatic Integration Blog, instead of a website at this time. We are a group of individuals committed to pilates, as it has inspired our personal and professional lives. We are participants in a community of dialogue and we invite well-intentioned individuals to join the conversation in an effort to evolve AASI. (AIM Academy was founded in 2001 to evolve, and as a project of, the Amend Integrative Model, AIM, a framework for communication about embodiment and movement practices.)

The blog first began this fall out of a desire to connect with like-minded individuals who have a desire to foster understanding, support, and distinction in, around, and through the pilates community. Our specific task at the moment is to define pilates on our own terms as a group. I am taking this opportunity to extend invitations—to all—to read and comment on the blog. Just email me to identify yourself and I’ll then send you further instruction. There’s room for a limited number of participants, at this time, so please let me know asap if you are interested.

It is my pleasure to be offering this service that will hopefully leave us all feeling uplifted through fun conversation, validation and support. I look forward to hearing from you!

Happy New Year!
Best Regards,
Carole Amend
info@aim-academy.org

From the AASI blog, December 30, 2008:
“It took about twelve hours after posting for me to realize that I should make this blog public, given that I can screen comments (still learning as I go about all the neat blogspot.com tricks!). It is very helpful for commenters to state their vantage point/orientation from the get-go in order to limit the amount of misunderstanding in conversations, especially online. I first thought that anyone reading it should do this using the AIM tools provided, but it is a simpler matter to make it public and ask those who wish to comment to state their orientation. So, there will be instructions on how to comment here on the blog. Once you have stated your orientation, your comment will be approved; word count on comments may be limited. Of course, anonymous readers may always comment about the AASI blog on Pilates-pro.com, as it provides that capability, and I would encourage them to do so. I am just taking the next few days/weeks to get a few more articles of information out and then the AASI blog will be available to all to peruse.”

Today, January 4, 2009, I write:
Sneak-peek summary of my first article on the AASI Online blog (basically a summary of my posts on this PMA Exam post plus more) includes:

-How the AASI blog began and on it, how AASI began
-Why I started this post on the PMA Certification Exam
-What I hoped to present at the 2009 PMA conference
-Why/when AASI began
-What I view the present focus of the PMA to be and what tasks the PMA could do to help out the vision of AASI (these are tasks “within the range of what (they’re) able to offer”; Quoting Elizabeth Anderson from her December 12, 2008, Pilates-pro Exam post: "There is no ‘us’ and ‘them’. It’s ALL ‘US’, to quote Deborah Lessen, PMA Board President."),
-The ultimately common goals of the PMA and AASI
-Why I must say “good-bye for now” to the PMA
-Why I began this new AASI blog
-The AASI vision and its call to the greater pilates community to participate
-What my tasks are at this time—shifting my focus to AASI and its mission
-As well as my thanks to the PMA and founders of the Bay Area Pilates Collective, as well as Pilates-pro.com, and blogspot.com (both amazing tools)
-Who we are at AASI and
-How we will go about the conversation on AASI Online.

Again, I ask that anyone interested in reading the blog to let me know asap. This is an important time (these next few days/weeks before the blog is public) to give feedback and get involved, as I have decided to try out the orientation process on a small group first.

If you wish to be included in that small group (up to 100 people), please email me BY JANUARY 11, 2009 (I don’t mean to shout, I just don’t know how to italicize!). Here's how it will go:
1. Simply email me (you needn’t be a teacher or aspiring to be; pilates enthusiasts are also encouraged to participate). You may use an anonymous email.
2. When the orientation process is ready and up on the blog (or perhaps, sooner), I will send you an invitation to read the blog (you will need a gmail account to do so).
3. You then decide whether you would like to participate (there will be no obligation). If so, you will go through the orientation process and post a comment about any part of the blog.
4. I greatly appreciate the efforts of those who wish to help out at this time. It will be evident that you have done so, if you post a comment before the blog “opening” (let’s call it a “golden” thank you—sorry couldn’t resist); or you may wish to help out anonymously by simply emailing me directly with your comments.

I send many thanks to those of you who have come forward thus far. :)

FYI: The AASI Online Blog has a sister site, the AASI Contributions Blog. This is a public blog (in its infancy) with info about AASI and its Offerings.
Please visit: http://aasicontributions.blogspot.com

Thank you all,
Best regards,
Carole Amend
info@aim-academy.org

Carole - I think you've misunderstood my point. You responded as if my comment had been directed at you, which it wasn't.Nor was it offered for your assessment. You used it for your own purpose to make a particular point, which was obviously not mine. My comment was directed to luann, who was implying that her payment of membership dues to the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing was 'good for them' (that they were somehow profiting from her dues), while she got nothing from it. Then she drew a paralell between that situation and the PMA. She seems to be judging the PMA based on her experience wiht her other organization. That's her right, but I don't think it's reasonable or fair, and it's my right to say so. My point is, it's not 'good' for any organization to fail to achieve its mission, even while members pay their dues. To think that it is 'good for them', is extremely cynical, is insulting, and does a disservice to the people who are working hard to achieve worthy goals, who may not succeed despite their best efforts. I feel we should work hard not to let this scenario occur for the Pilates community. There - I've spoken for myself. Please do not bend my comment to any other purpose.

By the way, I do not define myself as a Fitness Professional or a Physical Therapist. You seemed to be suggesting that, although I don't know why, as I never described myself that way. I am a Pilates Teacher, and I see it as something distinct from either of the terms you propose. We need to get away from defining ourselves in reference to others. Teaching Pilates is unique unto itself. I support the PMA's aim to establish Pilates teaching as a profession in it's own right - not a subset of being a personal trainer or group exercise instructor.

Frankly, it seems to me reading this whole thread and particularly the flow of bullet points in your January 4 post, that as you are not eligible to present at the PMA conference as you're not PMA certified (which presumeably you could easily be?), you started this forum using the well known acronym PMA, in order to capture the attention of the Pilates community which you cannot reach via the PMA conference, to direct people's attention toward your own AASI project and agenda. It's pretty obvious now that this is what this thread was all for, and I think that is disingenuous. Can't you promote your own work and agenda without 'using' the PMA? Is it not attractive enough in its own right? And it doesn't seem appropriate for you to use the AASI blog to promote your view on the PMA behind closed doors where they cannot respond. Why not just focus on your own work?

I believe as you wrote, that pilates is “something distinct from either of the terms (fitness/PT)” as well as “We need to get away from defining ourselves in reference to others. Teaching Pilates is unique unto itself."

Absolutely.

Jen: "I support the PMA's aim to establish Pilates teaching as a profession in it's own right - not a subset of being a personal trainer or group exercise instructor."

So, it seems you believe that is the aim of the PMA and that the PMA IS representing you as someone other than a fitness trainer /PT.

Since that is the case (and please note that I wrote “IF” in my Dec 29 post to you; I am glad you clarified otherwise), I’ll now post publicly on Pilates-pro:
To the PMA board:
Maybe you would like to tell Jen why the PMA is so concerned with a bill that is being presented in New Jersey that will determine what personal trainers can do with their clients. Maybe you can tell her why you are viewing pilates under a “personal trainers” umbrella, despite many members having voiced to the contrary, as Jen has. Please explain to her, again, the “worthy goals” that you are working hard to achieve. Then maybe you can explain to her why the PMA is following a concensus developed over the last eight years that doesn’t seem to be able to address the “agenda” of someone like me, who believes that pilates is in a class of its own.

Jen, if you read my statement again on the AASI—public—blog, perhaps it will now make more sense. I have been as candid as I can be in relating to the greater pilates community and to the PMA what I feel the PMA is up to.

I am sorry, I knew you were addressing luann, however, I thought my answer to you was important—just as I thought starting this post was important, in that many PMA members might be under the same impression as you. I am glad you showed up and spoke your mind. By all means, continue to let the PMA know your interests. they are supposed to listen.

Dear Jen and other readers:

I urge anyone seeking information about the PMA, its policies and positions, to consult the PMA for information, as opposed to any other individual or organization. The PMA is the authoritative source of information about the PMA. Much of what has been written by others about the PMA on this forum has been a distortion and should not be relied upon.

With regard to the NJ legislation, actually we have an article in our newsletter coming out next week that goes into great detail on this subject. As a member, Jen will get the full update then. We’ve also prepared a shorter message on the subject to our whole email list.

In brief, the PMA is concerned about the proposed NJ legislation requiring licensure for personal trainers because the bill specifically includes Pilates teachers within their definition of ‘personal trainers and group exercise instructors’. As Jen correctly stated, the PMA's aim is to establish Pilates teaching as a profession in its own right - not a subset of being a personal trainer or group exercise instructor. In general, the bill looks flawed as it pertains to personal trainers in a number of ways. But worse, the proposed bill would “lump” Pilates professionals in with all other health and fitness professionals, subjecting Pilates teachers to a standard of education and practice that could have very little to do with the Pilates method. The PMA supports the establishment of professional standards BY the Pilates industry FOR the Pilates industry, which is why we created a Pilates-specific third-party credential. This pending legislation demonstrates the importance of supporting PMA Pilates Certification. As we've said all along, if we don't define our role, create a psychometrically sound certification exam and scope of practice, and support our own profession by becoming PMA Certified and increasing the number of certificants, we are vulnerable to having standards and practices imposed on us by others. This must be avoided at all costs.

If anyone has questions about the PMA's position on this or any other topic, please contact us directly, not through this forum. Thank you.

Elizabeth Anderson
Executive Director
Pilates Method Alliance
www.pilatesmethodalliance.org
info@pilatesmethodalliance.org

Dear Elizabeth,

Thank you for answering my questions, as it is your job, not mine, to comment fully on issues about your operations. I am glad that the PMA continues to use this opportunity to make clarifications.

I would add that the bill, to me, is an infringement on the client/teacher relationship. The bill is also not acceptable from the view of many yoga teachers, as they are also "lumped" into the definition.

Only members get full updates...? I would think that this is newsworthy enough to have on your website, or at least release the full information when asked to do so. I would urge the PMA to keep it open and not "behind closed doors." This, so that those with "other" views about pilates, who the PMA does not reach or is not able to find a place for, at this time, can get the information and get involved when and how they see fit. I appreciate your efforts on this matter.

Just as we may have a momentary singular focus in practicing pilates, we are reminded, in principle, to keep the whole in mind.

I hope that individuals will (also) get involved with AASI, as I believe we offer a valid, helpful, and necessary viewpoint to the PMA, pilates teachers, and their cooperative networks alike.

Sincerely yours in spirit,
Carole Amend
Director
AIM Academy for Somatic Integration
http://aasicontributions.blogspot.com
info@aim-academy.org

My answer to Jen's January 7th "disingenuous" accusal:

With that disbelieving attitude, Jen, you'd best keep an eye on me! ;)

The rest is posted on my Blog. It was too long to write here. Please go to Labels on the side bar and read the three "The Monkey in the Middle" Posts.

http://aasicontributions.blogspot.com
Good luck to everyone.

I have come late to this, and haven't read past Ms. Anderson's Dec. 12 post. Commenting on that post, she says that the PMA office receives calls from clients who have been injured doing Pilates. I assume this is from non PMA certified teachers?

I also understand that the PMA is attempting to be a governing body to standardize the quality of the teaching that PIlates teachers do. I have also seen plenty of abysmal PMA certified teachers along with the good PMA certified teachers. I'm sorry, but to me this indicates that the PMA is not succeeding in their mission at this time. I am not new to Pilates teaching and all the interesting things that occur in the PIlates world. I've been teaching for over 20 years. The idea of a governing body is nice, but the actuality seems to failing sadly and miserably. An organization like this indeed needs the money to function, but at some point it seems to be more about trying to keep itself aloft and alive than actually doing what it should be doing. And, no, I don't think that if every teacher became a member and/or took the test it would help matters.

Question posed on the Continuing Ed: Gyrotonic article today (Here's to logical progressions; I didn't bring it up again, you did!):
"What ever happened to 'master teachers' coming together to formulate a more consolidated training program(s) that offers its students a diverse experience?"

December 12, 2008 on this post was quite a day. Please refer to my post beginning with "I want to be clear on some points...." Within that post, which is good summary of my position, I state:

(referring to what I proposed at the first PMA meeting-8 years ago, no takers, obviously-and to many others beforehand beginning around 1995)
"I saw the first order of business to be getting the schools together to decide how they can define pilates on their own terms without competing. I have had a way to do that since the mid-90's, but all have been too busy building their empires and competing with each other--to be the FIRST to do this or that----to be able to either understand my motives or to recognize the importance of the physical and mental implications of the 1930's test."

I think that maybe they will soon, very soon.
It's only logical.

If people care to look up into the trees or on the shore, there are some of us who have, by choice, avoided the marketing river rapids. It's been quite an interesting show from where I sit.

On April 13, 2009, the PMA put a NewsFlash email out implying that, as a result of its efforts, any mention of "pilates" had been removed from the proposed NJ "Fitness Professionals Licensing Act." The email, in my opinion, is, plain and simply, false advertising.

Please do not believe everything you read. I made a call to the same person the PMA spoke with in the Senator's office, and heard a very different story about the course of events that led to the removal (which, btw, I had nothing to do with).

As long as the PMA continues to foster fabrications, I will continue to speak out.

Please read my blog entry for April 16, 2009:
http://aasicontributions.blogspot.com

Thank you,
Carole

The PMA is NOT a valid assessment of a quality pilates teacher in any way. I know several instructors certified by the PMA who do not have a full certifiation from a Pilates teacher trianing company (just training with a studio owner) and one who does not know a single exercise on the cadillac!!!. How can she be considered certified?? Well PMA considers her that and posts her on their website as a certifed teacher! How preposterous. I am still waiting for a reply to my email tot he PMA regarding this hypocracy. I will not sit for such a ridiculous, unecessary exam and will not support anything that the PMA is doing until they support me. I am a 15 year Pilates veteran running 3 studios and an education company.

Thank you for your reply, Frankie. I hope you get a response from the PMA.

Frankie,

I'm not sure what you mean by "just training with a studio owner", given that Pilates himself was "just" that. You are apparently suggesting true professionals like yourself must be trained by large educational institutions. The reality is many excellent instructors in our profession received their training from "just a studio owner", including myself.
A discussion regarding the value of third party certification should not be blurred by petty interpersonal issues.

[NOTE: This post has been edited to comply with our Community Guidelines. —Moderator]

Having been edited "into compliance" by the Moderator of Pilates Pro, I apologize for my language regarding Frankie’s post; it was a ridiculous statement, but not anymore ridiculous than Carole Amends’ suggestion that the PMA should respond to Frankie’s soliloquy. Aside from my years as a Pilates instructor, I have been licensed, and Nationally Certified, in Massage Therapy – as many others in the Pilates industry- for thirteen years. If I juxtapose the two professions, I find the later to have an advantage; it is regulated in the majority of states. Where it is not regulated, National Certification – third party certification – is viewed as validation of entry/minimum level skills that an employer or a state can look to for confirmation of ‘competency’. I am not currently PMA certified, nor am I that familiar with the tension that exists among others regarding this organization, but I must say that I have never read a blog about the National Certification Board for massage (NCBTMB) or the efficacy of its methodology. At some point, Pilates instructors, who charge what most families consider expensive exercise, and Pilates educational institutions that offer what most would consider vocational training, will fall out from under the radar, and the ‘authorities’ will seek some sort of organization that resembles that of similar, established professions. This discourse regarding the PMA certification has caused me to consider taking their exam and supporting their cause – thank you Carole- as is resembles what I know as a Massage Therapist: Licensed, Nationally Certified, and Happy.
And no, I do not believe a professional organization should respond to any sort of interpersonal drama – sorry Carole.

I would absolutely consider supporting the PMA again (as I did for eight years), if I thought that it was representing the way that I, and many others who feel as I do, teach. This is not the case at this time.

As for outside authorities seeking to regulate pilates teachers, let's cross that bridge when we come to it. (Btw, NJ has already tried, and we know how that went down, don't we?)

I hear you, "shanti"--no need to apologize to me or thank me for that matter. I'm not a big fan of drama either. Make all the anonymous judgments you want...just know you might be edited....

Me, I don't judge and I take nothing personally; I believe in being fair-minded, stating the facts, and allowing others to be heard.
The PMA is supposed to at least listen.

And speaking of being fair, I'd like acknowledge the email that I received from the PMA:

The following teacher training organizations have agreed to attend a meeting in Dallas(since the 2009 PMA conference was cancelled) in November 2009:
Balanced Body University
BASI Pilates
Peak Pilates
Pilates Center of Boulder
Pilates Center of Vancouver
Polestar Pilates
Power Pilates
Ron Fletcher Program of Study
STOTT PILATES
They will discuss the importance of a ‘professional credential’ and specifically about the difference between ‘certificate’ and ‘certification.’ All teacher training providers, from the largest to the smallest, are invited to participate for an open discussion. The PMA's goal is to solve the languaging issue that has caused major confusion and upset over the past few years within our profession.
Deborah Lessen writes: "Please contact Maly De Jesus at the PMA, maly@pilatesmethodalliance.org (305 573 4946 x 201) and let her know that we can count you in."

I wrote in my January 5, 2009 blog entry: (http://aasicontributions.blogspot.com/search/label/AASI%20Blog%20begins)

"Hopefully the PMA has benefited from the Pilates-pro post. AASI hopes that the PMA will:....
2) Clear up current incongruencies (this includes asking current members to adhere to policies and nomenclature)...."

I look forward to a resolution toward a common language concerning this issue (and others) in our community to the benefit of the public. I hope that everyone in the greater community will get involved.

-Carole :)

OMG

I was originally a PMA member, but left when their membership rates doubled. I had joined mostly to access liability insurance, so I switched to IDEA for insurance, which also covers Gyrotonic. I did however, take the PMA exam, which was not that scary, btw. Having trained at a studio that is not always well-recognized, it was important to me to have some more recognizable accreditation. Also, my current employer reimbursed me for the cost of the exam, which was great!

Hi. Hopefully someone can clear a bit of confusion with regards to teaching Pilates in the United States. I have done a Pilates teaching course in South Africa and we are looking to emmigrate to the States in the next year or two. My plan is to carry on teaching Pilates from home. Is there some kind of exam I have to do to become certified in America (from what I read from this blog the PMA is not something u have do). Can anyone tell me if my South

Sorry, somehow got cut off during the above post.
As I was saying, could anyone tell me if my South African certification, can be used to teach Pilates in America, from a home studio.
Would appreciate any feed back.
Thank you.