cover issue 4 - Register of Exercise Professionals

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Issue 5 | The publication for the Register of Exercise Professionals in the UK
Get interactive
Learn the benefits
of online testing
Be fit to practise
Do your skills and
knowledge measure up?
In the
spotlight
Ways to work the
publicity machine
Setting the standards for REPs
PROUD SPONSORS OF THE REPs JOURNAL
PLUS
Olympic Champion On Board
:: New REPs Council :: Have Your Say
opening up
Welcome.
The fitness industry today is light years ahead of
what it was just 20 years ago when poorly-equipped leisure centres, ‘spit and
sawdust’ gyms and instructors who presented with dubious, if any, qualifications
made up the bulk of the business.
We have witnessed an amazing and rapid growth in terms of facilities, training
equipment and the investment in marble-floored clubs, while the mind-boggling
computerised equipment seems endless. But I’m sad to say that we appear to
have built an industry that’s facility, not customer, driven. The ‘lot’ of the modern
day fitness professional is slightly less exciting than in the past.
In 1986, I opened my own health and fitness club and decided to reward my gym
instructors with a salary of £12,000. I felt awkward about this as I demanded much
from them and it didn’t seem to be an appropriate salary for professionals
responsible for the physical welfare of my 650 clients. But my budget told me that
this was all I could commit to. What’s interesting to note is that 20 years later,
fitness instructors are still being employed at similar salary levels.
Bob Paton’s excellent article in the last issue of the Journal set out some good
solutions to the issues surrounding client retention — something we continue to
hear about rhetorically. Yet, if we simply listen to customers complaining about
the lack of personal recognition, attention and service, we would realise why the
problem actually exists.
I’m absolutely convinced that the solution lies with the industry. If it recruited
appropriately qualified personnel with heaps of personality, managed them
professionally with first class renumeration and incentives, and provided ongoing
investment in their professional development, happy staff would be the end result.
Employees who are content in and passionate about their job, tend to look after
their customers far better than those who are unhappy and resentful. As the
saying goes, ‘clients don’t care how much you know, until they know how much
you care’.
The good news is that many of the major operators are rethinking their strategies
concerning fitness staff and, generally speaking, I believe the ‘lot’ of the fitness
professional will improve in the near future. There’s also no doubt that REPs has
played an important and significant role in bringing forward these changes in
strategy and therefore we should all continue to support and invest in its future.
Norman Basson
Chairman and Founder of Premier Training International Ltd
Stay updated!
Make sure you’re kept up-to-date
with all the latest REPs news, diary
dates, technical tips and special
promotions by getting the fortnightly
REPs e-zine. Simply send your
current email address and
registration number to
[email protected] to
make sure you’re in the know.
The contents of articles and editorial comment published in the Journal does
not necessarily represent the views or position of the Register. However, we
are happy to publish feedback and comment on any aspect of the publication.
The REPs Journal 03
contents
contents
In this issue
08 Development
The future’s online
12 Industry Are you fit to practise?
16 Fitness Pilates comes up to standard
20 Publicity How to work the media machine
06
12
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20
In each issue
03 Opening Up From Norman Basson, Chairman and Founder
of Premier Training International Ltd
06 News Working in Fitness 2006; On board for REPs;
SkillsActive: Developing the sector
07 FIA News Where has all the funding gone?
24 Ask Aunty Your questions answered
25 Final Word Have your say
THE REGISTER OF
EXERCISE PROFESSIONALS
Third Floor, 8-10 Crown Hill,
Croydon, Surrey, CR0 1RZ
Telephone 020 8686 6464
www.exerciseregister.org
Registrar Cliff Collins
Registration Manager
Alison Frater
[email protected]
Programme Manager and
Special Projects Rob McGregor
[email protected]
04 The REPs Journal
QUALIFICATIONS &
TRAINING STANDARDS
SkillsActive
Stephen Studd, CEO
Castlewood House
New Oxford Street
London
WC1A 1PX
Telephone 020 7632 2000
Technical Unit Ben Gittus
[email protected]
EDITORIAL
DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Editor Baljit Lall
REPs Contributing Editor Sarah Joy
[email protected]
Senior Graphic Designer Mukta Luther
Graphic Designer Jem Pomak
Published by Multitrax UK Ltd
ADVERTISING
Marketing Manager
Greg Sellar
[email protected]
Advertising Sales Manager
James Huse
[email protected]
Ground Floor West
The Sail Loft
Limehouse Court
3-11 Dod Street
London
E14 7EQ
Telephone 0870 608 0001
Fax 0870 042 0102
www.multitrax.com
© 2006. The REPs Journal is published four times per year. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted in any form, in whole or in part, without the written
permission of the publishers. Whilst every care has been taken in the preparation of this publication, The Register of Exercise Professionals or Multitrax UK Ltd cannot be held responsible for any
consequence arising from the content. The statements and opinions within the Journal are those of the individual authors and contributors and not of REPs or Multitrax UK. Products or services
advertised in the magazine are not endorsed or recommended by REPs or Multitrax UK and no responsibility is accepted for injury or loss resulting from services or products advertised.
ss 2006
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With SkillsActive leading the skills and productivity drive for
the health and fitness industry, it often focuses on the
quality of training and qualifications. Working with
employers and experts, SkillsActive sets the standards and
best practice for the industry. This is reflected in the
National Occupational Standards, which define what it
means to be competent in the industry.
In order to set the standards and know what’s right for
the industry, SkillsActive plays host to a number of expert
groups and panels comprising of representatives from the
health and fitness industry, including employers, higher and
further education training providers and other respected
individuals. These technical experts work together to
reshape qualifications and training to ensure that health and
fitness professionals are fully qualified and have the
opportunities to access new training and ideas to meet
employment demands.
A major part of SkillsActive’s role is to evaluate training
programmes and assess their eligibility for recognition by
REPs for continued professional development (CPD) through
an endorsement process. The SkillsActive Endorsement Panel
is made up of representatives from the health and fitness
industry with recognised technical skills, expertise,
knowledge and industry experience.
The endorsement process comprises of several stages,
the first being the completion of the SkillsActive submission
documents and presentation of all training materials to
SkillsActive. The training programme is then evaluated by
an independent technical expert in the field of the course,
who completes a report and makes recommendations back
to SkillsActive. Each submission and technical report is
presented to the Endorsement Panel who makes the final
decision of endorsement for CPD.
For further details and an Endorsement Submission Pack
please contact Lee Buck at [email protected]
The time has come again to have your say about the fitness industry
through the Working in Fitness Survey and to win a free pass to the
FitPro Business Conference in September.
The survey, which is carried out by the Register and SkillsActive,
provides a valuable snapshot of the make-up of the industry as well as
offering those who work in it to rate their salaries, training packages,
benefits and job satisfaction.
In the three years it has been running, the survey has become
recognised as an excellent mouthpiece for employers and is taken very
seriously by employees. But to ensure its value remains constant, as
many people as possible need to take part. Last year, more than 1.200
people responded and it’s hoped that figure will double this year.
Working in partnership with the Register and SkillsActive are
LeisureNet Solutions, the Fitness Industry Association and FitPro, who
are once again offering respondents the chance to win an entry to the
2006 FitPro Business Conference to be held at the Birmingham NEC
(26–27 September). The two-day conference package costs £295 and
includes an action-packed line-up of speakers, presentations and
training opportunities.
The survey is conducted online and is completely confidential. It will
run until early summer, with the results and findings being compiled in
late August. The results will be analysed by the SkillsActive research
unit and announced at the REPs/SkillActive Conventions across the UK
in November. They will also be published through The REPs Journal.
For more information contact [email protected] or visit either
www.skillsactive.com or www.exerciseregister.org
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Olympic C
Katharine Merry, winner of the 400m bronze medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000,
has become one of the latest new members of REPs after successfully completing
Lifetime’s Level 2 Fitness Instructor qualification.
Since retiring from athletics due to injury, Katharine is hoping to start a new career
in fitness as well as continuing her work in the media including appearances on
GMTV and A Question of Sport.
Katherine made her British Team debut at the tender age of 13, before going on to
win five medals in just three appearances at the 1993 European Junior
Championships. She holds the British and Commonwealth women’s 400m indoor
record, to add to the 200m UK record she holds, with a 50.53 seconds clocking.
Katharine has won several major championships medals, but is most notable for
winning a bronze medal in the 400m sprint at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and
becoming the fastest woman in the world over the 400m a year later.
06 The REPs Journal
news
news
news
Where has all the
funding gone?
There are three major reasons why I would assume that funding
of exercise teaching qualifications would be of priority to
the Government.
Firstly, the public health agenda is focused on increasing physical
activity levels of the population in order to gain health benefits and
to stop rising obesity levels, yet we know that currently there are
insufficient trained professionals in the workplace to fulfil the
demand that increased participation will bring. Secondly, we’re
entering a six-year lead into the London 2012 Olympic Games for
which physical activity teaching skills should be a priority.
Thirdly, the fitness industry needs to gain the confidence of the
medical profession in order to deliver exercise referral programmes
for which professional qualifications are essential.
Why then are training providers finding it increasingly difficult to
obtain funding for exercise instructor qualifications despite the
Chancellor, over the past three years, announcing increases to the
tune of billions of pounds for improving the skills of the workforce?
The Government’s focus in terms of funding is very clearly directed
at 16–18-year-olds, which may well be appropriate for some
sectors. In the health club and leisure centre sector however, who
can really envisage a 16-year-old personal trainer being readily
accepted by an increasingly sophisticated, and sometimes more
mature, consumer? In exercise instruction, maturity and life/people
skills are needed to engage with, and support consumers. Recent
research by REPs shows that the average age of an instructor is 33.
Additionally, the health and fitness industry is seen as being nonpriority by most regional Learning and Skills Councils (the funding
bodies) as it’s classified as ‘sport’ and does not therefore contribute
to the health of the nation. How bizarre when most clubs and
leisure centres align themselves to health in its broadest sense and
not sport at all.
Finally, while the further education sector is being squeezed of
its funding and more and more of the funds are being allocated to
those who are already employed, what happens to our potential
exercise professionals who need pre-employment training like
nurses and teachers? The plea, on behalf of the industry, has got to
be to the National Learning and Skills Council to fund our sector’s
training and qualifications as health provision and recognise that we
truly are, as a sector, contributing to the Health of the Nation.
Andrée Deane, Chief Executive Officer of the Fitness
Industry Association.
On board for REPs
The Register is looking to appoint 12 of its members to form a
body to represent its total membership of over 22,000.
The group, to be called the Register Council, will represent the
interests and needs of the general Register membership and will
report back to the REPs Board, SkillsActive and the Sport and
Fitness Employers Council (SAFE).
Registrar Cliff Collins said: ‘The idea of a members’ Council is
very exciting and I think represents a major step forward for the
Register. Electing appropriate members will take time so we’re
suggesting a tiered time frame to ensure that the process is
handled correctly.
‘We also want to make sure that the members who will serve
their fellow instructors’ interests in the best way are brought
forward. We estimate that establishing this process of democracy
and accountability will take at least three years to come fully into
effect, but this is a clearly desirable objective.’
Initial proposals suggest the Council will have six members
from England, three from Scotland, two from Wales and one from
Northern Ireland. These members will also broadly represent
full-time, part-time, self-employed and uniformed services, plus
those from the voluntary sector.
The Council will only have powers to recommend, report and
discuss Register member interests, and will conduct its business
through two meetings a year and by group email contact in
between. It will have no powers to raise money from the
membership. The Council will nominate three of its members to
serve on the main committee, to be the representatives of the
general membership of the Register, and it will also approve a
member (or members) as required to serve on the Professional
Practice Committee.
Members of the Council will be available for the lobbying of
general member interests, to report at conferences, and to be
answerable for Council decisions and actions. The Council will
publish recommendations, policy statements, position statements
and issues of concern and take feedback through The REPs
Journal. In addition, it will also have the important function of
monitoring the standards of performance of the Register in
dealing with registrations, enquiries and much more.
The REPs Journal 07
The
future’s
online
From re-registration to updating personal records,
going online is the way forward, says Michael Betts
I
ssues 3 and 4 of The REPs Journal highlighted how
the Register will operate in the future and some of the
changes to registration and CPD that members can
expect to see. Key changes are online re-registration,
automatic updates of personal records, and the way in
which members will record their continuing
professional development (CPD) activities.
We have widely consulted with awarding bodies,
training providers, industry employers and our
membership regarding the changes to REPs’ CPD
activities. The outcome of this consultation was an
overwhelming agreement that online testing at level 2
and 3 should be an option for members to meet the
mandatory CPD requirements for re-registration.
Online testing
Following detailed discussions with a number of IT and
e-learning providers, from July 2006 onwards, members
will be able to measure their existing levels of
knowledge and competency through the introduction of
interactive online testing.
Members will be able to access the system using
their unique user name and password on the REPs
website and they can then register for the appropriate
assessment level. There’s a small charge (£15) for each
assessment, which is taken by online credit card
processing, and it includes an online interactive study
guide which covers the syllabus content for each level,
together with sample questions for members to
practise before taking the final paper.
It’s encouraged that members complete the study
guide first to fully prepare for the assessment.
However, those who feel their knowledge is still current
can skip the study guide if they wish. The theory papers
have a time limit set at one hour to discourage
members moving away from the screen to look up
answers in a book, and nothing else can be opened up
on the screen while the theory paper is being taken.
8 The REPs Journal
development
The REPs Journal 9
The questions are based around the core underpinning
exercise, fitness knowledge and application to the
member’s specific discipline (gym, ETM or aqua at level
2, and advanced instructor or personal trainer at level 3).
There will be around 40 questions in total which are
randomised for each test. Upon completion of the theory
paper, members are immediately emailed their result,
which is automatically entered into the member’s
personal records within seven days.
Members should select the exam and syllabus that
best suits their registration status. Development work
has already started for exams to be available in other
specialist subjects, such as working with children, older
adults and exercise referrals. Successful completion of
the exam provides 6 CPD credit points, which is 50% of
the new annual requirement. However, only one exam
per year can be used for CPD. If it all goes wrong, then
re-sits can be taken at any time at the same cost.
persuasiveness of the internet is changing how we deliver
and access learning and training. Online learning provides:
• Access to content: courses, articles, multimedia
resources, information and experts.
• Interaction: instructor to learner, learner to learner,
learner to content.
• Learning at your own pace and in real time with others.
The Process
To access the online learning exam, you will need to
log-on to the members area of the REPs website.
From the menu bar, click the link to the online test
that’s best associated to you.
Support systems
This revolutionary step for the health and fitness
industry has been made with the support of ALTeRD.
This is an exciting new concept, based on a white-label
Learning Management System (LMS), designed to
provide online learning resources for the active leisure
and learning sector of industry.
The ALTeRD development team has worked closely
with SkillsActive and a number of awarding bodies to
produce materials that meet the needs of the active
leisure industry and current nationally recognised
qualifications. Its mission is to give training providers
high quality interactive learning resources which have
been standardised to national occupational standards
with the aim of improving quality of delivery, increased
access to learning and overall achievement rates.
ALTeRD has been developed by a team of experts,
headed by myself, who have combined their expertise
and experience within the fields of education, active
leisure and online learning to provide this pivotal step
for the industry as a whole. Steele Williams brings his
considerable experience in the fields of personal
training and nutrition having trained an extensive list of
celebrities including Naomi Campbell, Mel B, Elle
Macpherson and Bjork. He is also the CEO of fitness fx
Ltd. In addition, Debra Stuart has 27 years’ experience
in the active leisure sector. She became a lecturer in
1994 and possesses considerable knowledge and skills
in the delivery and assessment of qualifications. She is
a quality assurance inspector for REPs and works with
SkillsActive and a number of other awarding bodies on
the development of occupational standards and
qualifications for the sector.
You will then be prompted to pay the fee and once
payment has been confirmed, you will return to the
‘My Courses’ page which will display the online test that
you have enrolled on. The test is broken down into
three modules.
Module 1 is the theory revision section which will
contain material specific to your qualification as well as
information on the REPs code of ethical practice and
the industry itself. You will study using text, flash
animations and movies, as well as self-assessment
worksheets to ensure your understanding.
Online learning
Learning online represents a unique way of combining
innovative education and teaching techniques with
individual tutor support. Students are able to enjoy the
convenience of working anywhere at anytime via the
internet and training providers can combine the use of
online learning resources with traditional course
delivery, and use online communication tools to interact
with students throughout the world. An online learning
course is one which can be taken on the internet from
anywhere with no residence requirements or need to
attend physical activities at another location. It’s not based
around a CD ROM or a workbook. The growth and
10 The REPs Journal
Module 2 is the online theory assessment. To take
the test you will be required to download a small piece
of software. Once it’s installed, the assessment will
begin. You will be allowed a practise run to ensure
you’re familiar with the testing procedure.
Questions will be in the form of one-word answers,
multiple choice and true or false. Pass marks are 70%
for level 2 re-registration and 80% for level 3.
Module 3 is where you will receive your REPS
certificate of completion. There’s no need to send this to
REPS as the system will list your exam success on your
own CPD records.
Fit to
practise...
what you need
to do for CPD
Keeping your skills and
knowledge up-to-date as
an exercise professional
and member of the
Register is important.
By Cliff Colilins
industry
T
o progress your career and deliver the services your
clients expect and demand, you must be a member of
the Register who takes personal development seriously.
We call it continuing professional development (CPD)
and some requirements are considered mandatory for
the purposes of re-registration.
When you first join the Register, the status awarded to
you is often referred to as your ‘licence to practise’ but at
the time of re-registration, you need to demonstrate that
you continue to be ‘fit to practise’. Personal or
professional development should be complimentary to
how you want to develop your own career and it’s
regarded as an important principle of professionalising
the industry. Members must be able to demonstrate that
they remain in good ‘professional standing’ by engaging
in appropriate CPD activities — and ones which can be
reasonably audited and validated by the REPs office
personnel at the time of re-registration.
* Members registered at level 4, when this qualification becomes available later in 2006, will be expected to meet some specific specialised CPD requirements.
CPD requirements
In the past year, there has been an extensive review of
the requirements of CPD and there have been some
important changes to the earlier scheme. At the time of
re-registration, members of the Register at levels 2 and
3* will have to demonstrate compliance with the
following CPD requirements and conditions:
To complete, on average, an annual programme of
CPD which is worth 12 CPD credit points
This will be considered across a ‘rolling’ two-year
period of registration, where the total points achieved
should be a minimum of 24. There’s no upper limit to
the number of points which can be achieved, but a
minimum of 4 points must be completed in any single
year, and a maximum of 20 points can be carried
forward or backwards a year to make a total of at least
24 points across two years. All CPD credit points must
be gained by completing formal training/learning
through the following routes:
• Either completing a full NQF qualification, which is
worth 20 CPD credit points, plus completing
additional training/learning with a value of a further
4 credit points as a minimum.
and/or
• By completing an NQF-based category of qualification,
which is worth 4 credit points as a minimum.
and/or
• By completing other programmes of endorsed
training/learning which may include an approved
online exam, but which total a minimum of 24 CPD
credit points in any two-year period of registration.
and
• By achieving a minimum of 12 points for training at
their level or category of registration over the
consecutive two-year period of registration.
The schedule published on the REPs website also
includes listings of industry shows, seminars,
conventions and workshops which attract CPD credit
points. It’s also possible to achieve some CPD points
through self-taught programmes and reading of
technical articles, journals and publications.
However, there are some limitations on the
number of points that can be claimed for these
activities in any one 12-month period.
• A maximum of 4 CPD credit points for attending
listed conventions and/or trade shows.
• A maximum of 8 CPD credit points for attending
listed seminars, workshops, etc.
• A maximum of 4 CPD credit points through relevant
reading and self-taught programmes, and where
these are recorded within each member’s individual
personal records.
There are also a further two options which members
can use to achieve CPD points.
1 To complete an approved online exam at the level or
within a category of their registration, which will
comprise around 40 multiple choice questions founded
on exercise and fitness knowledge, application and
industry context. A summary of text for each theory
paper will be available for reference.
Successful completion will achieve 6 CPD credit points
(50% of annual requirement).
2 To complete a personal CV that’s used to record
employment details and experiences, qualifications,
skills, career development expectations, and a
section on reflective practice as a written statement.
This option will only be available online through the
REPs members’ area. Updating personal contact
details can be made at any time, but the section on
reflective practice will only be considered for a
maximum of 4 CPD credit points in any one year.
There’s no upper limit to the number of points you can
achieve but you must complete a minimum of 4 CPD
points every year and an aggregate of 24 points CPD
credit points in any two-year period
Members of the Register should log-on to the REPs
website to access a full range of current CPD training
programmes and online exams. You can also keep your
own record of your CPD achievement in the form of a
logbook. A paper version of this can be obtained from
the REPs office.
Your logbook (hard copy or online) must be available
for verification by the REPs compliance officer. CPD
will be reviewed and verified in a continuous two-year
process for all members of the Register
Every piece of CPD training, conferences etc. on the
REPs schedule is given a unique code, which you should
use when recording your CPD in your personal records
either online or in your logbook. Certificates of attendance
(carrying the REPs CPD logo) will be given to you as
evidence, and training providers will be submitting files
with details of delegates. These will be used to
automatically update your personal records online. You
can check your status at any time by logging-on to the
REPs members’ area.
Non-compliance with CPD requirements
It’s a clear expectation that the opportunities and routes
available for members to engage in CPD activities mean
that rules of compliance will be strictly enforced.
The REPs compliance officer will audit and review
members’ records.>
The REPs Journal 13
‘the schedule published on the
REPs website includes listings of
industry shows, seminars,
conventions and workshops which
attract CPD credit points’
14 The REPs Journal
Any member experiencing difficulties or problems in
meeting CPD requirements should inform the
compliance officer before re-registration. Members who
are not compliant with CPD requirements will be
informed of their options and timings to take action to
prevent suspension or removal from the Register.
The compliance officer will inform the Registrar of
any member who is not adhering to the requirements
set out in the information leaflet. Unless action is taken
by the member to meet requirements, the Registrar will
report this to the Professional Practice Committee who
will then call that member to account at a formal
disciplinary hearing of the Committee. For further
information, contact:
The Compliance Officer
The Register of Exercise Professionals
Third Floor
8–10 Crown Hill
Croydon
CR0 1RZ
Tel: 020 8686 6464
Email: [email protected]
Pilates
comes up to standard
Within the space of just 10 years, Pilates as a form of exercise has
gone from being the preserve of the rich and famous, to become
one of the most popular exercise regimes in the world today.
Lynne Robinson investigates
I
t’s estimated that 25 million people take regular
Pilates classes in the US, and that more than 1 million
do the same here in the UK. Now almost 90 years since
Joseph Pilates first began to formulate his fitness
regime, the Pilates Method has perhaps come of age
with the introduction of a national standard, sitting at
level 3 in the National Occupational Standards
framework — a world first.
What does it mean?
With the massive increase in demand for classes in
recent years, some of the UK’s leading Pilates groups, in
association with SkillsActive and REPs, recognised the
urgent need for a formal national standard to ensure the
quality and safety of Pilates teaching, and to enable
Pilates enthusiasts to check that their teacher is
properly qualified. This standard came into effect in
August 2005 and will increasingly become the
benchmark for Pilates teaching.
The national standard covers the teaching of Pilates
matwork in groups or on a one-to-one-basis and
requires that all student teachers are given
comprehensive training in the theory and history of
Pilates as well as in the exercises themselves. It also
requires that they undertake an extended period of
practical, supervised training, are able to assess and
progress clients, adapt exercises to the particular
needs of that client, and that they are aware of their
wider responsibilities to their client.
The goal is simple: to ensure that Pilates teachers
have the knowledge and skills to teach classes in a safe,
enjoyable and effective way so that everyone, regardless
of their level or physical condition, can benefit from the
Method. The first task of the Standards group was to
establish what Pilates is. This wasn’t easy as there are
many ‘styles’ of Pilates in existence today based on the
work and teachings of Pilates and his wife, Clara.
‘As a child I would lie in the
woods for hours, hiding and
watching the animals move’
Joseph Pilates
The backgound
Joseph was born in Düsseldorf in 1880. A sickly child,
he suffered many childhood ailments including rickets,
rheumatic fever and asthma, to the extent that his
doctors predicted he would not live past the age of five!
Fortunately, they were wrong and, in his battle to
overcome these frailties, he developed a passion for the
outdoor life and a strong belief that we must take
responsibility for our own health and fitness.
Drawing on his interest in many different movement
techniques ranging from yoga, martial arts, Zen and
ballet, to name a few, he developed his own fitness
regime which he termed called ‘Contrology’. Living in
England at the outbreak of the First World War led to
his internment along with other German nationals, and
it was in an internment camp that he began to teach his
fitness routines to fellow internees. When he was later
transferred to another camp on the Isle of Man, he
became a nurse orderly and began designing
equipment to help rehabilitate the patients in the camp
hospital. He took springs from the beds and used them
to create resistance exercises for the bedridden.
He set up the first Pilates studio with his wife in New
York, where he spent most of his life, in the 1920s.
The studio was equipped with his own unique
machinery (including the Universal Reformer, Cadillac,
and Wunda Chair), which used spring tension to help not
just rehabilitate clients, but also achieve the strength
and flexibility they needed to do his matwork.
The equipment used today has changed very little.
While Pilates was the main creative force behind the
Method, Clara, a trained nurse, quietly adapted many of
his exercises to suit the more fragile client. They both
taught intuitively, recognising the individual needs of
each person so that the same exercise was rarely
taught the same way to different clients. This, coupled
with the fact that Pilates never set up an official teacher
training programme, resulted in the first generation
instructors teaching their own versions of his work.
As the number of studios grew, so too did the type of
variations with each studio perpetuating its own
approach as the Method was passed on. It’s easy to see
why there are so many ‘brands’ of Pilates available
today and also why teacher training has, to this point,
been unregulated.
Pilates and Clara worked tirelessly from the 1920’s
up until his death in 1967, leaving a huge legacy of mat
and studio work for us to draw from. Central to his
matwork is a series of about 40 choreographed
exercises commonly known as The Full Mat.
These exercises are considered very challenging for any
bar the super fit. As a result, most responsible Pilates
training providers now teach versions that have been
adapted from the original exercises, making them safer
for the ‘average’ person.
Several aspects of Pilates’ teaching have needed to be
re-examined in the light of medical research. For example,
many of his exercises were designed to flatten the curves
of the spine but we now know how important it is to keep
them and so clients are now taught to recognise the
neutral position for the spine and pelvis. The new UK
standard will allow the various schools of Pilates to teach
their own adaptations, as long as they follow the
guidelines given and adhere to the principles below.
It would be wrong to simply see the Pilates Method
as a series of exercises to be learnt. Rather, it’s a total
mental and physical conditioning programme.
Traditionally, six principles underpin Pilates’ work and
all later teaching. These are:
Concentration
Pilates understood the connection between the mind
and body and was said to be fond of the Schiller’s quote:
‘It is the mind itself which builds the body’. The need to
focus and move thoughtfully with awareness is
fundamental to the technique, a result, perhaps, of his
study of Zen and the martial arts.
Control
Pilates referred to his method as ‘Contrology’.
Heightened body awareness leads to control of the body
and controlled movements, while good proprioceptive
skills develop alongside co-ordination and motor skills.
Centring
Pilates was way ahead of his time in his teaching of
centring, or what we now call ‘core stability’. ‘Draw the
navel back to the spine’ was the direction he gave his
clients and modern medical research* has confirmed
that this action engages the deep core muscles
(transversus abdominis and multifidus, which stabilise
the spine). Lumbar, pelvic, scapular and cervical
stability form the basis of sound movement patterns
and are part of every Pilates exercise. >
fitness
Flowing Movement
From this strong core, flowing movements are
performed with fluidity and ease. The key lies in doing
each movement slowly and smoothly so that your whole
body is in it.
Breathing
According to Pilates, ‘before any real benefit can be
derived from physical exercises, one must first learn
how to breathe properly. Our very life depends on it’.
He designed the Method to cleanse the bloodstream
through oxygenation. For most of the exercises, lateral
thoracic breathing is taught and the timing of the
breath used to facilitate the movements.
Precision
Lynne Robinson is the co-founder
and director of the Body Control
Pilates Association and was a
member of the Pilates Industry
Working Group that helped to define
the content of the level 3 national
standard for Pilates.
The quality of the movements is far more important
than the quantity or intensity. They must be performed
precisely with awareness and control. No movement is
without purpose. Although different training schools
may have added to Pilates’ principles and adapted his
original exercises, there’s a common approach that
runs throughout — all exercises are performed slowly,
with control and thoughtfulness.
The right approach
These natural flowing movements are built around a
strong core. The hallmark of a good class is that it is
well balanced in terms of the fundamentals of Pilates.
They are stability (lumbar, pelvic, scapular, cervical),
thoracic breathing, joint mobilisation and articulation of
the spine (in all anatomical planes of movement).
Practised correctly and regularly, the Pilates Method
delivers numerous health benefits.
Pilates in all of its forms — whether matwork or
equipment-based, one-to-one or group — has never
been more popular. This is due, not only to the inherent
ability of the Method, when taught correctly, to deliver
effective and long-lasting results for a wide variety of
clients, but also to the knowledge, professionalism and
commitment of those teaching Pilates today. To become
a good Pilates teacher requires dedication, discipline
and the need to immerse oneself in the work.
The Method has justifiably earned a reputation as
being a conditioning regime that works, but, as with all
exercise and fitness methods, it’s only as good as those
who teach it. This is where the new standard will come
into its own as a way of ensuring that the next 90 years
of Pilates is as successful and beneficial as the first.
‘My method develops the body
uniformly, corrects wrong
posture, restores physical
vitality, invigorates the mind
and elevates the spirit’
Joseph Pilates
Answering these questions
online will count towards your
annual CPD requirements:
1) Name and briefly outline the six principles
that underpin the idea of Pilates.
2) What key features should a good Pilates
class have?
3) List four recognised health benefits of Pilates.
Benefits of Pilates include:
• Improved proprioception.
• Awareness of good postural alignment — the
neutral zones.
• Increased lung capacity.
• Joint mobility.
• Core stability.
• Sound movement patterns.
• Segmental control of the spine.
• Improved balance.
• Flexibility (through maintenance,
developmental and dynamic stretching, and
good posture and body mechanics).
• Increase in bone density.
• Stress reduction.
Reference
C.A. Richardson and G.A. Jull. Muscle Control —
Pain Control. What exercises would you
prescribe? Manual Therapy. Department of
Physiotherapy, University of Queensland,
Australia. Professional Ltd. 1995.
P.W. Hodges. Dysfunction of Transversus
Abdominis associated with Chronic Low Back
Pain. Department of Physiotherapy, The
University of Queensland. Manipulative
Physiotherapists Association of Australia
Conference Proceedings. 1995.
Extracts taken from Joseph Pilates books:
Return to Life through Contrology J.H. Pilates
and Miller. 1945/1998 and Your Health.1988.
media machine
Working the
Leaders in the fitness industry believe a company’s
reputation is as equally important as its financial
history. Some of the industry’s leading public
relations experts share their expertise
P
ublic relations is about reputation — the result of
what you do, what you say and what others say about
you. A survey conducted by OTBpr, part of the thinkOTB
group, was carried out among industry leaders to
gauge their knowledge of public relations (PR). With
results showing that just under 40% think that
reputation is a company’s most important asset,
compared to just over 40% stating financial history, the
industry’s changing attitude towards PR is obvious.
While 81% of those questioned believe that PR is now
more important to a company’s success than 10 years
ago, only 70% currently invest in it. However, the
number of companies spending money on PR is on the
increase and the fitness industry is investing more than
ever before.
According to Emma-Jayne Sherry, PR manager at
OTBpr, PR is an increasingly important marketing tool,
especially as traditional forms of advertising are
struggling to catch consumers’ attention.
‘Many operators are acutely aware of the need to win
the trust of the consumer and the third party
endorsement provided by a well executed PR campaign
can help them achieve that. The need to demonstrate
corporate responsibility also motivates businesses to
invest in PR. Fitness industry leaders are really starting
to believe that reputation is everything’.
publicity
A vital tool
While some of the people questioned in the survey still
described PR as ‘overrated’, others saw it as playing a
key role in their company’s development, describing it
as ‘strategic messaging’. One industry leader went as
far as describing it as ‘the most essential part of a
business’, while another said: ‘it’s simple, if we don’t
use PR, one of our competitors will and we’ll lose out.’
So, how can PR work for you and, more importantly,
how can you go about generating publicity for your
great idea?
Katie Start from Promote PR, one of the mostestablished and prolific PR agencies in the industry
explains how the term ‘PR’ is very broad and describes
any activity that raises awareness and creates a positive
image. ‘It provides an incredibly cost-effective tool for
independent operators looking to distinguish their site
from the local competition and keep the community upto-date with club developments.’
Three examples of how PR can raise awareness and
generate leads via effective media relations include:
Providing local interest news stories
The local media is reliant on businesses, charities,
schools and residents in the community to provide
stories. This creates an opportunity for club owners to
submit news regarding member success, new classes
and services, facility refurbishments, the latest fitness
trends, charity events, training techniques and general
health and fitness. Information should be delivered on a
regular basis, written in a clear and concise manner —
preferably in the style of a press release — and delivered
to the correct media contact. Investing time in developing
strong relationships with the media is key to success.
Columns and features
Most local media don’t employ a health and fitness
correspondent and are reliant on external experts to
provide comment on relevant issues. This creates an
opportunity for operators to become the local authority
on health and fitness issues by contributing columns or
features. In addition to providing strong brand exposure, a
regular contribution also establishes the writer as a leading
local expert in this field, increasing brand credibility.
Competitions and promotions
The media is always looking for ways to add value to its
publication or air time by offering something that their
competitors can’t. This gives operators the chance to
work with a local newspaper or radio station to run a
competition or reader offer. This is usually provided at
no cost to the operator and offers a fantastic
opportunity to increase awareness and capture data.
Promotions and competitions can attract hundreds of
entries and provide numerous valuable leads.
Using the five Ws — what, when, where, why and how
(well, it has a ‘w’ on the end) — as a checklist of all the
information you need to get across will ensure you’ve
covered all the important questions when writing a
news story or press release. Including the answers to
all the Ws in the first two paragraphs will also draw the
reader into reading the rest of the article.
Networking
Abigail Harris from Big Fish PR, trained as a regional
journalist and now handles the PR for some of the
industry’s biggest players. She told the Journal: ‘One of
the most important aspects of generating publicity is
being able to spot a news story. You won’t believe the
amount of people I talk to that say they have nothing
newsworthy going on and then half an hour later over a
cup of coffee, tell me all about their latest fancy dress
fundraising event, postman turned personal trainer or
miracle member!
‘Journalists love a story that’s real and has a touch of
the ‘wow’ factor. If you’ve got a story like that,
particularly if it comes with a great photo or filming
opportunity, the media will want to know. And if you’re
not sure, ring them up and ask.
‘By making contact with reporters in your area you
not only improve your knowledge of how to meet their
needs in terms of providing a good story, but you also
help generate ideas. Reporters tend to be very busy so
make sure you’ve got all the vital information about
your story to hand when you make contact and be
prepared to be flexible. If they can’t cover an event, ask
if you can send pictures and a report afterwards, or try
to arrange a visit on a different day.’>
The REPs Journal 21
Keep it current
Making your stories seasonal is a great way to
maximise your chances of coverage. Sherry has
devised the following PR calendar to help
inspire you:
September
September: Link with a charity. This month, why not
put on a Body Combat demonstration in your local town
square to mark World Heart Day (24) and raise money
for the cause. Get the instructors to dress up as pop
stars and send a release to the local press.
June
June: Exploit the hype around Mission Impossible III
and put together a themed workout for your members.
Use the film’s soundtrack as the background music
and get your members to imagine they are saving the
world, while rolling around the floor in Tom Cruise
style. Write a press release about the class and send it
to the local media inviting members of the public to
join in.
October
October: Organise a walking bus for local school
children as part of International Walk to School Week
(2–6). Childhood obesity is a hot topic at the moment,
so activities that tackle the couch potato lifestyle will
go down well with the media. Lots of smiling children
in fluorescent vests will provide you with a great photo
opportunity too.
July
July: Take part in a national campaign such as the FIA’s
Commit to Get Fit. Not only will it give you a reason to
talk to the media, but you will also benefit from lots of
national PR. In addition, the FIA will provide you with
advice and support so if you’re nervous about PR, this
is a great campaign for you. It’s still not too late to
sign-up for this year’s campaign.
Contact [email protected]
August
August: Put together a series of top tips for keeping
trim while on holiday. Sell this into your local radio
station and offer yourself as a fitness expert for a
question and answer session. This will provide you with
great media coverage and also position you as an
expert in your field, adding to your facility’s credibility.
November
November: Has one of your members lost an enormous
amount of weight, found love at the gym, or climbed the
three peaks? The local press love people stories, so if
you have of a positive story about one of your members,
tell the media about it (but ask the member first!).
December
December: Journalists love statistics. This month,
conduct a survey of some people in your community and
find out what they would most like to achieve in 2007?
Use these statistics to put together a Christmas wish list
to send to the media. A lot of people will want to get fitter
in 2007, giving you a great reason to include a year’s gym
membership as one of the presents on the list.
This article first appeared, in full, in
Workout, published by Wharncliffe
Publishing. For more information visit
www.workout-uk.co.uk
MARKET PLACE
recruitment
CUSTOMER SERVICE
MANAGER
Due to an internal promotion, Multitrax
UK is currently recruiting for a dynamic
Customer Services Manager to lead our
team of Customer Services Operators.
Your key responsibilities will be to
oversee and develop our extensive music
membership database, implement
changes to increase both membership
and ancillary product sales - plus train,
develop and champion our existing team.
To be part of the progressive Multitrax
company, you need to have at least one
year’s experience in a customers
services/membership sales environment
and have a clear grasp of the fitness
industry and know what instructors
want. You must have a good working
knowledge of Microsoft packages, have
excellent administration skills, attention
to detail and be very customer-focused.
A group fitness qualification would be
preferred, but not essential.
To apply for this exciting role, please
email your CV to: Dean Farnham at
[email protected]
services
training
EDUCATION
ADVISER
The Pilates Institute are looking for an
individual with a strong Pilates or fitness
background. This person will be
responsible for all in-coming course
enquiries and be able to advise clients
about the various course structures and
career paths available. An important part
of this role will be to act as a point of
contact for all existing clients for ongoing support.
This is essentially a sales orientated role
and so some sales experience would be
ideal but is not essential.
IT literacy and excellent communication
skills essential.
To apply for this exciting role, please
email your CV to: Lucy Murphy at
[email protected]
To advertise here please
contact James Huse on
[email protected]
or call 0870 608 0001
equipment
The REPs Journal 23
AskAunty...
Question: I’m having problems logging-on to the members’ area of the REPs website…help?
Aunty explains: As a new user, in order to log-on to the members area, you need to follow
I get asked so many questions
– often on the same topics –
that i thought I’d share a few.
Here’s a taster of some very
typical questions I’ve recently
been asked...
a few simple steps to receive your password. Click on the Members Area & Services link in the
main website, which will take you to the log-in page. At the top, you will note some text in bold
asking you to Click Here if you are a new user and require a password. You will then be asked
to insert your membership number in full and your postcode.
The membership number must be written with the letter R followed by your seven digit
membership number making sure you use the digit 0 rather than the letter O.
If after clicking Register an error message is shown stating it’s not possible to authenticate
your credentials, it’s likely that we don’t have your current postal address on record. If this is
the case, then you will need to call the REPs office on 020 8686 6464 to inform us of your
change in details.
If, however, you have successfully moved on to the next step and we have an email address
against your record, you will be asked to type in a prompt question and answer — this will be
used as verification in the event of your forgetting your password. If we don’t have your email
address, you will required to insert one. Your password will be sent to you via e-mail once you
have typed in your prompt question and answer and clicked Finish.
We have noted that a number of members have not received their email confirmation of their password. This could
be due to the security settings on the individual’s email account. If you’re faced with this problem, simply call the
office and after a few security questions we will advise you of your password.
Question: I keep calling the REPs’ office but get an answer message
that says all lines are busy. It’s very frustrating — can’t you have some
more lines put in?
Answer from Aunty: We have four telephone lines and usually only
four or five people in the office at any one time who also have all other
administrative duties as well as answering the phone. In fact, we
recieve nearly 1,200 calls a week and 1,000 emails. We’re not a big
office and can sometimes be overwhelmed with calls, but we do try
our best. Many answers can be found on our website, and I
recommend you check this first (www.exerciseregister.org).
Question: I would like to have a higher profile on the website than just
listing my qualifications. I am a personal trainer and group exercise teacher.
Aunty says: Our new Extended Directory Membership (EDM) allows
you to post a personal profile and contact details in the members’
listing on the website where you can put a personal statement and
contact details. Browsers looking for instructors will then be able to
contact you directly. In the past few months, over 100,000 members of
the public have searched the qualifications of our members on this
directory. Members on the EDM are indicated by the following logo
against their name:
The cost of this membership is £5 per registration period so if you’re
due to renew your membership with REPs and choose to pay for EDM,
it will last for 12 months. But if you choose to pay halfway through
your current registration period, it will only last until the end of that
period (6 months).
24 The REPs Journal
Question: I have been given provisional status on the Register — why?
Aunty replies: Because of the wide diversity of qualifications and
experience in the industry, there are many members who apply for
registration but don’t fit neatly with our entry requirements.
These members are given provisional status and are then given 12
months to ‘convert’ to full status by demonstrating occupational
competency with present qualification standards. There are six main
reasons why someone is initially given provisional entry.
1.They hold an old qualification that does not adequately compare to
present standards.
2.They have insufficient qualifications but have gained significant
industry experience to substantiate the level and job function that they
operate at.
3.They have a non-UK-based qualification that hasn’t been mapped to
REPs’ technical criteria.
4.They hold a higher education awarded qualification (degree, diploma,
masters) that identifies high levels of knowledge, but doesn’t prove
occupational competency.
5.They have moved to a higher placing on the Register by gaining a
level 2 qualification and then by completing some endorsed training —
typically Wright Foundation, Gayton Group and BACR — move to level 3
on a temporary basis.
6.They are level 1 and should be working towards a level 2 qualification.
You can download an information leaflet from the REPs website called
What is my status?
final word
Getting involved
A higher level of participation by REPs’ members with the affairs of
the Register will be organised later this year by selecting members
to represent the interests of the general membership at the
SkillsActive Employers Group and on the REPs Professional Practice
Committee (PPC).
The present governance arrangements for the Register involve
many industry stakeholders — employers, training providers, awarding
bodies, professional and trade organisations — but not REPs’
members directly. The selection process is currently being developed
and will take place initially through the three regional conventions in
November, and then at the national convention in March 2007.
The SkillsActive Fitness Employers Council (SAFE) is made up of
employers and others who broadly represent the composition of the
industry. The SAFE is chaired by Steve Philpott, MD of DC Leisure,
and advises the Board of SkillsActive on issues of education, training,
qualification, standards, business development, and the Government
agenda. In a nutshell, it’s there to develop and oversee the work of
SkillsActive in the health and fitness sub-sector, including workforce
development, labour market research, standards and training
frameworks, and to advise on the development of REPs.
The PPC is a small panel of business and industry experts as well
as representatives of the membership of the Register. It hears
appeals arising from issues of professional misconduct,
misrepresentation, or unfair treatment by, or to, the members of
REPs. It holds hearings and decides upon complaints from members
of the public about members of the Register, and it also listens to
complaints from members about service failure from REPs-endorsed
training providers and those in the industry-recognised award scheme.
The PPC approves new members to REPs and their removal from the
Register for non-compliance with the requirements of registration
and re-registration.
The opportunity of direct engagement with REPs’ members in the
decision-making and governance of the Register is an important step
in the development of the Register, and any members who are
interested in taking a role should contact the Registrar.
Convention Update
Provisional dates have been booked for three regional conferences this
November following the success of the first Register National
Convention in 2005.
Venues include Glasgow (10), Manchester (17) and Cardiff (24),
and each day will start with a key-note presentation by guest
speakers James Edwards and former golf professional Dr. Karl
Morris, who will share the importance of training the mind for
physical success. Paul Bedford will also be giving an insight into
his research of what customers want. Other events include the
results of the Working in Fitness Survey 2006 covering pay and
conditions, and the first election of members to serve on the REPs
Council will be announced.
After a networking lunch with REPs-approved training providers,
there will be a choice of nine technical workshops for members to gain
CPD points in the afternoon. Around 150 delegates are expected at each
event and demand for passes (£30), is expected to be high. A second
national convention is also planned for March 2007 in London.
For more details about securing a place or running a workshop
and/or having a stand at any of the three events please call the REPs
office on 020 8686 6464.
Recognising REPs worldwide
Last year saw the development of an European Qualification framework
for exercise professionals and from this comes the possibility of registers
appearing in a number of EU countries in the near future. The European
Health and Fitness Association (EHFA) has taken the lead in this work.
Registers are most likely to be developed for the four Scandinavian
countries, in Belgium and the Republic of Ireland. It already has
reciprocal recognition with Australia and New Zealand and shortly, a new
register in South Africa will be launched along the same lines.
Discussions have been taking place with a number of US training
providers and recently the International Health, Racquet and
Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) recommended that all of its 4,500 US
member clubs only hire personal fitness trainers who have come
through a nationally recognised accrediting body. They identified the
Washington-based National Commission for Certifying Agencies
(NCCA) as the organisation to do this as they have a separate
accreditation arm called the National Organisation for Competency
Assurance (NOCA). This is a big step forward in developing what will
be common standards that lead to certification or qualification which
have an agreed content and outcome. It means that with third party
verification, it’s possible to assess US training providers against the
UK/EU standards to open the possibility of direct recognition.
Already, a number of leading training providers are in discussion
with REPs and SkillsActive, who are the organisation who will actually
do the detailed technical assessing. These include the American
Council on Exercise (ACE), the National Academy of Sports Medicine
(NASM) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
It’s an important principle that standards — skills, knowledge and
competencies — are common around the world and that these
represent the different activities of being an exercise professional.
The UK is the first country in the world to have developed standards
for defining what it means to be a qualified Pilates or yoga teacher,
in addition to the main activities of gym instruction, group exercise
teaching, personal training and working with special population
groups. The Register is now the largest qualification-based
organisation for fitness in the world.
Want to have your say? Here are a few issues to get you started. Write to us at: The REPs
Journal, 8–10 Crown Hill, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 1RZ, or email [email protected]
Obesity in children
With the Government announcing that children who are deemed obese are to be
subjected to regular weigh-ins, are we as a fitness industry doing enough to
safeguard the health of our youth? Are regular weigh-ins the way to tackle this
problem or should gyms and health clubs be doing more to offer specific activities for
children and getting involved with local schools to improve all-round fitness levels?
Fads for fads’ sake?
The media is increasingly reporting on ‘the latest exercise trend’ — is this just hype
to fill the columns or are we as an industry being seduced by the need to go along
with the next trend? Should we be constantly offering new services to our clients to
keep motivation levels high and improve retention figures, or should we be spearheading a drive back to the basics of exercise?
Sink or swim
Are health and safety regulations regarding swimming pools and the number of
lifeguards required compromising the success of public pools?
Too close for comfort?
26 The REPs Journal
The last edition of the Journal featured a photo showing an instructor assisting a
woman on a lat pulldown. The REPs’ code of conduct says: ‘Ensure that physical
contact is appropriate, necessary and is carried out within the recommended
guidelines and with the participant’s full consent and approval.’
Is it appropriate for instructors to touch clients in this way and if not what is
acceptable and what’s not?
EDUCATION & EVENTS
PROGRAMME 2006
MULTITRAXed
U plugg
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Our popular one-day event is a great way to catch up with some of your
favourite freestyle presenters: John Shehan,Tosh Cameron, Liz Bussey,
John Fernando Echieverri, Agata Pienio, Diane Leek and many more…
Hi/Lo – Step – Indoor Cycling – GRAVITY – Pilates – Yoga – Conditioning
30th September 2006
Birmingham
Free to Multitrax Pro 6/Pro 12 members
From £39.00
MULTITRAX
r
umme
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Bash
This charity event, in aid of Dogs for Disabled Children, is taking place on
4 August 2006. Multitrax has chartered a beautiful Catamaran for an exclusive
River Dining Cruise, which will sail down the Thames for a memorable evening out.
4th August 2006
Embankment, London
£35.00 (includes fork buffet and disco)
MULTITRAXnly
ne Date O
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A series of single dates with some of the UK’s most popular presenters
Michael Steel, Darryl Preston, Dean Hodgkin and Michael King.
Each date will host an afternoon of workshops, lectures and masterclasses, covering
different disciplines: Conditioning, Indoor Cycling, Pilates and Step.
16th September 2006 – Indoor Cycling with Darryl Preston
30th September 2006 – Pilates with Michael King
14th October 2006 – Conditioning with Michael Steel
28th October 2006 – Dance with Dean Hodgkin
£25.00 Members
£30.00 Non Members
To book: 0870 608 0001 [email protected]