What's In Your Scope?

TEACHING TUESDAYS:

Scope of Practice: The scope of practice is limited to that which the individual has received education and clinical experience, and in which he/she has demonstrated competency.

As Pilates instructors, nurturing is our nature.  We want to help people look and feel good in their bodies.  After all, we care about the well-being of others.  Sometimes, in our genuine attempt to be helpful, we step beyond our scope of practice as certified Pilates instructors and offer advice that we're not really qualified to give.  I believe that as a protection for our clients and ourselves (liability issues) it's imperative that we only work within our scope of practice. We should never underestimate the power of what we have to offer via Pilates and resort to working out of our realm of expertise.  I feel as if we should leave that to doctors, psychiatrists, physical therapists, personal trainers, massage therapists, chiropractors etc. who have extensive training and expertise in their fields. We offer a really important component in helping clients develop a healthy lifestyle and should never feel pressured or obligated to offer more than what we're qualified to do.  It would be more beneficial to establish a network of other health care and fitness professionals that we can refer clients to.

Most Pilates certification programs train us to assess people's posture and movement patterns in order to create a Pilates-based exercise protocol that will help them achieve their fitness goals. That skill alone is challenging and takes years of practice to hone in order to be super-effective.  The better we are at our assessment skills and our ability to tailor Pilates sessions to each individual, the results our clients experience are often life-changing.  But that entails an in depth knowledge and understanding of Joe's (Joseph Pilates) work and the principles that guide it; coupled with an understanding of anatomy and proper biomechanics.  As well-educated Pilates instructors we can help people experience transformation of body, mind and spirit. 

Some of us are, however, trained and qualified to work with specific populations such as expectant mothers, clients with orthopedic conditions, overweight clients, elderly clients etc.  But most of us are not trained or qualified to diagnose, give nutritional/dietary advice, or fitness advice beyond Pilates. And that's okay.  I think that enough of us have seen what happens when unqualified people teach "Pilates".  Despite good intentions, it unfortunately prevents people from getting the true benefits of Pilates. I feel that we should respect other health care and fitness professionals by allowing them to do what they do best while we do what we do best.

Rock Your Powerhouse!

Kira

Comments

[Katie]

This could not have come at a better time. I have been having a hard time figuring out where the "boundaries" are with a client who wants me to be her therapist...since she has major eating and body image issues...the lines are hard to see sometimes, but we have to keep doing the best at what we can do, and not feel to awful about not being able to do more. Easier said than done of course.

[Katie]

This could not have come at a better time. I have been having a hard time figuring out where the "boundaries" are with a client who wants me to be her therapist...since she has major eating and body image issues...the lines are hard to see sometimes, but we have to keep doing the best at what we can do, and not feel to awful about not being able to do more. Easier said than done of course.