Firstly, before I commence writing this, I want you to know that I have been in this position and asked the same thing (before becoming a Pilates Instructor) “Why is Pilates so expensive?”. But, going through the Romana’s training program, which required a full immersion on my part and paying the $$$$$$ to get through the course, having no money, having to rely on family for help, and moving from one side of the country to the other for Pilates training, and leaving my kid (even tho she was an adult, this Lioness still likes having her cub close) is a pretty big effort on my part. I commenced my Classical Pilates in January 2015, and completed in October 2016, so i INVESTED a huge part of my life to learning how to teach the art that is Pilates. I did not do a weekend course in Pilates, and all of a sudden I became a kick arse Pilates Instructor! Hell no! So, at times, when this comment has been made, I have that quick opportunity for my brain to process rapidly thru the memory banks, of what was necessary for me to sacrifice and experience to become a Romana’s Pilates Instructor, yet this person whom I am speaking to about Pilates, has no idea or concept of my training or my experiences during this deep training. So I tell them. I explain to them. One soon hears my passion. One soon learns and understands when they experience True Pilates for the first time. We train and are trained very comprehensively and in depthly. Please don’t downplay this certification. Don’t downplay it, because it isn’t a university degree….this is one helluva experience on all levels. We earned the right to charge (well most of us, like in all industries, there are still hacks out there……) for our value. And we also have bills to pay.
But this brings me to my second point of “why is pilates so expensive?” blog. I am pretty passionate about health and the health of those I love and care about. I have my vices but I am pretty stoked with my health in my mid 40’s. I feel strong and fit. But I consciously choose to invest into my health. I must admit that I am constantly blown away how people will invest huge sums of $$$$ into a car, toy and whatevs will feed the ego initially (and i dont mean the ego in a bad way - to understand how i mean ego requires another post and I cant be naffed doing a post on that…) but without even thinking about spending any $$$ on a Pilates session and investing on the inside of your body. (The old gym membership cracks me up with some people. I know people who still pay their fortnightly membership to their gym without having attended in years, but feel that whilst paying for the membership, it gives them this false sense of security that they are committing to their health - but we all know that they’re not. That’s just how lazy they are…cant even cancel their gym membership). Is it our oxymoron ways, that we spend a shit load of money buying a flash new car (which eventually loses its shine and new car smell and the envy of your friends after a few months), encasing this metal around us externally, to make us feel happy and proud and safe. But the true investment, is the internal investment. Your health. Its a no brainer peoples. What needs to happen for you to realise this? a scalpel to cut thru your flesh on your chest, to peel back tissue to expose your rib cage, which then be sawn thru with some saw type instrument, then ribs butterflied pried open, and your heart operated on, because you invested everywhere externally, but very rarely do you invest into your health and it’s resulted in this moment. Wow. Way to go. This is not the way i chose to go. I don’t want to have to endure any type of surgery that resulted, partly of whatever percentage, of health neglect.
Invest into your damn health. Physically and emotionally. It deserves it after all the shit you put if through. And if there is one thing you cant pay for as you get older, it is good health. But you may be finding yourself buying big operations to keep yourself alive because of genuine lack of self love (because not investing in your health is a huge lack of self love. Yep, no shit)