Abstract
Background and Purpose. Pilates exercises are built around a foundation of movement principles that encourage correct body alignment and biomechanics, proper breathing techniques, efficiency of movement and core stabilization. There are hundreds of different exercises that can be performed on a mat or on the Pilates equipment. Due to the intricacy of the exercises it is imperative that students seek their Pilates instruction from a qualified, certified Pilates instructor. It was the purpose of this study to examine if Pilates students could achieve one of the benefits of performing Pilates exercises, improved postural awareness, by participating in Pilates classes taught by a certified Pilates instructor. Subjects and Methods. Participants of the study include 22 Pilates students and 2 Pilates instructors. Of the 22 participants, 19 were female. All but 2 participants were between the ages of 31-60. The Pilates Perception Questionnaire (PPQ) and the Self-efficacy for Exercise Behaviors Scale (SEEBS), was distributed to Pilates students currently participating in Pilates classes. Items on the PPQ assessed the participants' perception of how they move, their postural awareness and core strength and the instruction they received in their classes. Items on the SEEBS assessed the participants' self-efficacy and exercise behaviors. Descriptive statistics and correlation studies were performed on the participants' demographic information and their answers to the questionnaires. Results. Reports on the Pilates Perception Questionnaire demonstrated a strong correlation (r=.712) between answers given on questions related to postural awareness and instruction. Discussion and Conclusion. Based on the findings of this study the participants perceived that they had achieved improved postural awareness by participating in Pilates classes taught by a qualified, certified Pilates instructor.