What's New?

Membership Change: PMA Institutes New Listing Service To Replace old Business and Training Organization Membership Categories.

Pilates Studio and Pilates Teacher Training Program Listings
The PMA now offers a listing service for Pilates Studios and Pilates Teacher Training Programs. This is provided as a service to the professional Pilates community and the general public and in no way constitutes an approval by the PMA of the listed Pilates Studios or Teacher Training Programs. Please note that you do NOT need to be a PMA member to purchase one of these listings. However, PMA Members will receive special pricing for these category listings as well as discounts to our Conference and Educational events. (Pilates Studio Listing and Pilates Teacher Training Program Listings will not receive these discounts.)

For Current Business and Teacher Training Members:
Here's How It Will Work...

EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2006:

All current Business members will be automatically changed to Individual Members (registered in the name of the Director of the business) and will then be asked to download a Pilates Studio Listing application.. Please do so and fill out this form in its entirety and return to the PMA promptly so we may update your listing. PLEASE NOTE: This form requires a 75 word (or less) description as part of the application. Please help us save time and money by sending in your 75 word description shown on the form as an email. Please send the email to: info@pilatesmethodalliance.org. Your Business Membership will be removed from the web site search and will be replaced with the Pilates Studio Listing as soon as the new form is received in our office and processed. Your new Individual membership and Pilates Studio Listing will expire on the same date as your old Business membership. The PMA will send you a renewal notice via email and snail mail.

All current Training Organization members will be automatically changed to Individual Members (registered in the name of the Director of the business) and will then be asked to download a Pilates Teacher Training Listing application. Please do so and fill out this form in its entirety and return to the PMA promptly so we may update your listing. PLEASE NOTE: This form requires a 75 word (or less) description as part of the application. Please help us save time and money by sending in your 75 word description shown on the form as an email. Please send the email to: Your Training Organization Membership will be removed from the web site search and will be replaced with the Pilates Teacher Training Program Listing as soon as the new form is received in our office and processed. Your new Individual membership and Pilates Teacher Training Program Listing will expire on the same date as your old Training Organization membership. The PMA will send you a renewal notice via email and snail mail.

What the Consumer Should Ask...

The PMA provides some questions (see below) for the consumer to use to assist them in choosing the best facility to meet their Pilates needs.

Pilates Studio Listing
You can use these questions to find out more details about the businesses listed in our business sections:

• Has the director of the business attended a comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training course or are they a PMA Certified Pilates Teacher?
• Have the studio's instructors attended a comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training course or are they a PMA Certified Pilates Teacher?
• What type of Pilates classes does the studio offer?
• What type of Pilates Equipment does the Pilates studio offer (Reformer, Trap Table, Wunda Chair, etc.)?

Pilates Teacher Training Program Listing
Please use the following questions to assist you in gathering information from our Pilates Teacher Training Program listings. Contact each organization directly for these details and have a personal communication experience with the director of the program or their facilitators. Pilates Teacher Training is a personal experience which leads to your future professional development. Make an informed decision.

• Does the program have more than one training program – if so what are they?
• Who is the program director?
• Does the Program Director have 10 years of Pilates teaching experience
• Are there any other facilitators/ trainers who assist with the program?
• Have the facilitators/ trainers attended a Comprehensive Pilates Teacher
• Training course or are they PMA Certified Pilates Teachers?
• Have the director and the facilitators had at least 7 years teaching experience or are they PMA Pilates Certified Teachers?
• How long does it take to complete the program?
• Are there any prerequisites to attend the program?
• Does the program have an entrance exam?
• Does the program include movement science, observation, hands on mentoring and self study?
• Is there a written and practical exam?
• Does the program provide a contract of the services?

WE ARE CURRENTLY BUILDING LISTING SEARCHES AND THEY WILL BECOME AVAILABLE SOON.

New Liability Insurance Forms Available Now!

Through an exclusive arrangement with ESIX insurance company, the PMA offers our members an instructor's liability insurance program. The cost is $170.00 annually for $2,000,000 worth of coverage. For more info, please download the forms or call the office. Application form, Insurance FAQs

Advertise in "The Hundred!"...

We are now ready to accept advertising in "The Hundred", the journal of the Pilates Method Alliance! Our rate card has all the information you'll need to produce and send an ad to our designers. Download rate card.

PMA Pilates Certification Exam Now Ready!

We are happy to announce the completion of the PMA Pilates Certification Exam! CASTLE Worldwide, a corporate leader in the high-stakes exam field, will administer the exam and it will be available on demand (based on test center availability) via computer-based testing at CompUSA Stores across the U.S. and Berlitz Language Centers in Canada. More details about International test sites may be obtained through CASTLE Worldwide.

CASTLE will do its best to accommodate your test site and date request. These are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, based on test center availability. Occasionally, the center and date you request may not be available, in which case CASTLE will work with you to find an alternative time and location to best meet your needs. Although this system may not in every case be able to accommodate your desired date and time, it is a great improvement over the more traditional approach of holding an examination at limited sites on only a few occasions each year.

Eligibility and Procedures for Taking the Exam

Eligibility and Registration procedures are covered in the Candidate Handbook and President's Letter. Some of the highlights include:

• The PMA has published a study guide ($39.95 + S&H) for the exam. Please call the office for more information on ordering the study guide or go to our online store to order now.

For more information on the accreditation process, download the Accreditation FAQ Sheet (courtesy of the American Council on Exercise (ACE)).

Registering to Take the Exam

1. Download the application and candidate handbook.
2. Fill out application, provide all necessary additional documentation, enclose payment (or provide Credit Card info) and then and fax or mail to CASTLE Worldwide.
3. CASTLE Worldwide will review your application, determine your eligibility and send you a User ID and Password. PLEASE KEEP THESE IN A SAFE PLACE AS THE PMA CANNOT GET OR RETRIEVE THIS INFORMATION FOR YOU.
4. Using your User ID and Password, you will go on-line to CASTLE'S Web Site to schedule a computer-based testing session at a testing location near you.
5. Go to your scheduled appointment to take the test.

Please do not call the PMA office to register for the test or to ask questions about the test. CASTLE Worldwide will handle registration and all questions. You will find the necessary contact information and procedures in the candidate handbook. There are no exceptions regarding the requirements for sitting for the test.

Why is Certification So Important for Consumers?

You may be wondering why certification might be important to our consumer market. Download the latest Press Release from the PMA which gives you more information on this very important subject:

#PR01-Jan. 25, 2005 - PILATES CERTIFICATION HELPS PROTECT CONSUMERS (PDF)