This week we chat with Erica Walters. Erica graduated from the Advanced Training Program at The Pilates Center, Boulder, Colorado in 2013. She is the owner of Pilates Fit Studio in Crestwood, Kentucky and she first discovered Classical Pilates in 2005 with Peak Pilates and became PMA certified.
Hi Erica, How are you today?
I’m great!
Where are you and what are you up to today?
I just finished teaching for the day and am now standing in my kitchen making my three-year-old lunch eating some chips and salsa. After lunch we will be heading to swim lessons.
How did you find out about TPC?
You hear lots of things teaching Pilates and over the years one of the most consistent things I heard from people was that The Pilates Center, Boulder, Colorado was the best.
I was at a Pilates on Tour in Arizona in 2008 and I overheard Brent Anderson say “The Sisters” were awesome. Also, someone close to where I was teaching in Scottsdale was a TPC grad and I always heard people say they loved her.
Pilates Style Magazine listed TPC as the Harvard of Pilates Schools and I had heard that the TPC program was rigorous and not everyone could make it through…
So when I met Lindy Irwin and Caroline Snell at Pilates Connection in Dallas, it confirmed what I had been hearing when I saw their excellent teaching.
What was your reason for choosing to train with TPC?
I moved to Dallas in the fall of 2012 and began working with Lindy Irwin and Caroline Snell, both TPC graduates.
I knew TPC was one of the best, but it wasn’t until I saw up close and personal how good these two teachers were, that I knew TPC was a place I needed to be. I already had a comprehensive Classical diploma, but I still felt nervous around Caroline and Lindy because they knew things I did not know. After two weeks, I went to Lindy and said I wanted to go to TPC. Lucky for me, Lindy was an advisor for TPC and the next day we began preparing for me to test into the bridge program.
Why do you think TPC is the best option for people wanting to become Pilates teachers?
The difference with The Pilates Center, Boulder compared to other Pilates teacher training schools is they don’t just teach you exercises, they teach you the method and how to apply the method to individual people. During your training they repeatedly reinforce how important it is to teach the body in front of you.
The layout of the course is excellent too. Not only do you do the lecture series, you do weekly teaching clinics, movement skill classes, symposium, and observed teachings (where TPC advisors observe you teaching and guide you to be better). All of this in addition to observation, practice teaching, a case study (a person you teach for a full twelve months writing reports on their progress and your plans to progress them further), personal practice and lessons. It is one of the most comprehensive programs out there and Amy and Rachel are truly committed to making their trainees be the best teachers possible.
What do you think your experience at TPC has given you most?
TPC changed my life!
I now love the Pilates method more than ever and I teach with confidence. I’ve also got a 98% retention rate with clients – my business is thriving! And of course the people at TPC and other teachers I have met are awesome.
What would you say to someone who is considering training with TPC?
You won’t regret this decision. You will be employable anywhere you go and will have a life long career.