We sat down for a quick Q&A with current Pilates Instructor in Training Emily Riddler to chat about her motivation and experience as a student at The Studio Academy.
Tell us a little about yourself
I am working full time as an Accountant and have done so for the past five or so years. When I am not at work you will find me practicing Pilates, training to be a Pilates instructor, walking my Cavoodle Benson, drinking way too much coffee (oops) and spending time with my friends and family. I have just started dabbling in attending Barre classes as well and I am loving that.
What inspired you to join The Studio Academy for your Pilates Instructor Training?
I studied for a long time from my Bachelor of Business to becoming a qualified Chartered Accountant (CA). I found after completing my CA I wanted to keep studying so I enrolled in The Studio Academy.
I wanted to study a passion of mine outside of work that is completely different to Accounting. Accounting will always be my full time career because I do love it, but I would love to teach a few Pilates classes a week alongside my accounting career. Pilates and accounting, it’s the perfect combination, right?!
I started researching Pilates courses and The Studio Academy seemed like the perfect fit for me. I knew it was the perfect fit from all my conversations with the studio owner Emily Clark. Emily was so helpful with answering all my questions. When signing up I liked that the course incorporated lots of practicums to learn and develop.
Having gone to The Studio HQ before I knew that they would have incredible training as they do focus on technique in all their classes (not how heavy a weight can be lifted!). I knew I would be taught the principles and technique of all exercises correctly.
What have you loved so far about your training?
The Sunday practicums. It’s a way to put online learning into practice. The Practicums provide much more detail than an online video can provide. I like that the practicums are taken by different instructors each time. This gives everyone in the course exposure to different teaching techniques to help develop our own teaching styles.
The practicums are not just about practicing the moves in your own body but also practicing cueing on other students. I think it’s great that you are required to get comfortable doing this from the very start.
What are you looking forward to most about becoming a qualified Pilates Instructor?
Inspiring others to move their body not just for the physical benefits but for the mental health benefits. Nothing feels better for me than starting my day off with a Pilates class to set a good mood for the day.
