NEW YEAR IN THE CAPITAL DISTRIBUTED WITH


16TH JANUARY 2025


Health, Fitness & Beauty 7


New year, new career?


Is there an alternative to the sit-all-day desk job? she


Last summer, Ellen Williams, a structural engineer, decided


needed a change. “I had very much followed the traditional route of studying for a degree and working my way up the ladder. I had a great job, but it wasn’t my passion.” After discovering Pilates and


instantly falling in love with it, Ellen decided to turn it


into a career,


retraining with London Pilates Academy to become a Pilates teacher. She’s now in the process of opening her own studio, Te Pilates Cloud, in Bromley. “I’m looking forward to waking up every day and doing something that excites me. Having practised Pilates such a long time, I know first-hand


for


the positive impact it’s had on me mentally and physically. Being able to do something that can help other people is hugely rewarding,” she says. When it comes to career change,


Ellen is hardly alone. In a survey of 12,000 people across the UK released in June by Randstadt, over a quarter (27%) planned to change career within the next six months.* “Many people believe you have


to come from a fitness background to be a Pilates teacher, but around two-thirds of our students are tran- sitioning from unrelated profes- sions,” says Neil Dimmock, owner of London Pilates Academy. “We have students from all backgrounds, from finance and marketing to


cafe workers, retirees and even


a zoologist.” So, what does retraining look


like? Here’s a deep dive into London Pilates Academy’s teacher certifica- tion programme:


1. Get started with on-demand learning To begin, you’ll work from home on your own time, learning about the principles and fundamentals of Pilates as well as foundational anatomy and physiology. During this time, you can start to plan your career transition, working through your studies at your own pace.


2. Learn to teach Pilates in the studio You’ll then go in for six full days of in-studio training at London Pilates Academy’s education hub in Parsons Green. You’ll cover Joseph Pilates’ original exercises, learn how to modify and adapt them for today’s clients and get the know-how you’ll need to confidently teach.


3. Complete your assessments Following your training, you’ll complete your learner portfolio (like a workbook) from home and practice for your practical assessment. When you’re ready, you’ll go back in and demonstrate teaching a class along- side a supportive group of other students just like you. Te course will take you between three and six months to complete. How do you put your learning


to practice? If you’re not ready to jump straight into entrepreneur- ship, London Pilates Academy runs a recruitment programme to connect you with studios in your area where you can get on-the-job experience. “It’s really important that we help


students become studio-ready,” says Neil, whose background includes over 20 years teaching Pilates and


* Randstadt Employer Brand Research Report 2024: randstad.co.uk/employers/workforce-insights/ rebr-report


running education for top studios in London.


“Teachers need to be


able to enter the market delivering a sought-after and effective experi- ence. We support students at every step to get them there.” Courses at London Pilates Academy fill up fast and need to be booked in advance. If you’re interested in enrolling, you can do so online.


londonpilatesacademy.com T: 020 4592 9141


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