Joyful Movement Life Skills: Comprehensive Apparatus Training - Certificate of Achievement

The Joyful Movement Life Skills Comprehensive Apparatus Training Certificate of Achievement program is designed for students who seek dance and wellness integration opportunities that prepare them for careers as nationally certified Pilates instructors and other commercial whole body and fitness ventures. Completion of this certificate will provide students with the skills they need to sit for the Pilates Method Alliance National Certification Exam and work in higher level Pilates positions such as Comprehensive Pilates instructors, Gym or community center instructors, partner with schools, work in Pilates studios or develop their own clientele. Study includes hands-on Comprehensive Apparatus training including Chair, Reformer, Cadillac, and small equipment; National Pilates Certification exam preparedness; advanced Pilates technique, theory and methodology, dance integration, and race, class, and gender considerations in health and wellness industries.

The Joyful Movement Life Skills Comprehensive Apparatus Training Certificate is the third and final series of progressive training in Pilates technique, application, and teaching methodology.  Students who complete program requirements for the following three certificates will be well prepared to sit for the Pilates Method Alliance National Certification Exam. Each certificate must be completed independently and in sequence. 

1. Joyful Movement Life Skills Mat Training: The Joyful Movement Life Skills Mat Training Certificate of Achievement is a prerequisite to entering the Reformer Training program.

2. Joyful Movement Life Skills Reformer Training: The Joyful Movement Life Skills ReformerTraining Certificate of Achievement is a prerequisite to entering the Comprehensive ApparatusTraining program.

3. Joyful Movement Life Skills Comprehensive Training: The Joyful Movement Life Skills Mat AND ReformerTraining Certificates of Achievement are prerequisites to entering the Comprehensive ApparatusTraining program. 

Students must meet required hours for Personal Sessions, Observation Hours, and Student Teaching.  Joyful Movement Open Studio hours are available through the Department of Dance at Laney College. Open Studio sessions allow students to improve self-technique, practice exercises on the Pilates equipment, and meet required student teaching hours. Students are expected to complete Personal Sessions, Observation Hours, and Practice Teaching by taking and observing classes, as well as teaching apprenticeships at various locations recommended by the program instructors. Must be enrolled in the full program to access Joyful Movement Open Studio sessions.

Students enter the  Joyful Movement Life Skills Comprehensive Apparatus Training program as a cohort cluster. Students must attend a one-hour online program orientation prior to enrollment. Students should contact the Department Chair of Dance for more information. https://laney.edu/dance/

It is expected that 10 students will complete this certificate annually.

Program Goals

The Joyful Movement Life Skills Comprehensive Apparatus Certificate of Achievement program will enable students to integrate foundational Pilates concepts with practical technical skills, which ensures real-world applied knowledge to be truly job-ready.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Select the appropriate design and implementation for physical and wellness-based training and mind-body awareness from an anatomical approach for general conditioning, back and joint pain, fall prevention for seniors, pre/post-natal exercise, with a mindful understanding of how to work with various body types.
2. Demonstrate, synthesize, and evaluate proper Pilates Apparatus exercises and their application to train and modify for intergenerational populations with diverse body types and fitness levels.

Completing the Joyful Movement Life Skills Apparatus Training Certificate program is the final of three Certificates of Achievement students may pursue to prepare themselves to sit for the national Balanced Body Pilates Certification exam. Courses for the Joyful Movement Life Skills Apparatus Training program are only offered as a cohort cluster in which all courses for this certificate will be completed in one semester. Completion of coursework for the Joyful Movement Life Skills Reformer Training program is a prerequisite to enter the Joyful Movement Life Skills Apparatus Training Program. Successful completion of this final Pilates Post Rehabilitation Joyful Movement Life Skills Training Program presents students as highly skilled and qualified to sit for the Balanced Body Pilates teacher certification. Successful completion of one or more Joyful Movement Life Skills training and certification training programs leads to careers in fitness centers, health and wellness centers, or privately owned studios. Must present current First Aid/CPR to earn the Joyful Movement Life Skills Apparatus Training Certificate of Achievement. 

TOTAL 8.5 Units

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
DANCFOLK 004F	Dance Conditioning I	1.00	Y2, S2
DANCFOLK 010A	Beginning Hip-Hop and Break Dance	1.00	Y2, S2
DANCFOLK 098P	Apparatus Comprehensive Teacher Training	1.00	Y2, S2
DANCFOLK 107P	Restorative Mind Body Healing V	3.00	Y2, S2
DANCFOLK 116P	Pilates Joyful Movement V: Personal/Observation/Student Teaching	1.00	Y2, S2
DANCFOLK 121P	Pilates Technique V	0.50	Y2, S2
DANCFOLK 123P	Mind Body Business Models II	1.0	Y2, S2

Understanding the connection between Pilates and Dance Movement Technique A folk dance is movement developed by people that reflect the life of the people of a certain country or region. Joseph Pilates, (b. 1883, d. 1967) recognized the need for a universal people's movement that centered the attention of the body and mind on health and wellness through specific technical application and equipment. European folk ballet utilizes the ballet barre; modern dance requires dancing barefoot; and hip-hop and ethnic dance forms compel a dynamic relationship to music. Pilates movement technique has a long-standing relationship to dancers since the 1960’s when Pilates became popular in the ballet world. Unfortunately, accessibility to Pilates training, just like professional ballet training, is disproportionate among students of color. Moving the Needle on Equity in the Pilates Industry Research reveals an equity gap exists in the field of Pilates fitness/Pilates Dance-fitness (Balanced Body, 2020). Ex: There is only one African American Balanced Body Pilates Master Instructor in Northern California; two African American Balanced Body Master Pilates instructors in the state of California; and less than one handful of Balanced Body Master Pilates instructors of color who hold careers in the SF Bay Area. Balanced Body, the international Pilates industry leader recognizes the need to diversify and is actively seeking African American and instructors of color to fill this gap, (Balanced Body, DiversityInPilates.com, 2020). Pilates companies historically conduct skills-based hiring. The Reformer Certificate of Achievement Program will enable under-represented populations to gain entry-level employment in the Pilates industry and health and wellness sectors by 1) preparing students with the necessary skills to meet the demands of a highly skilled profession and 2) prepare students with the knowledge and confidence to pursue careers in a high paying industry that has been historically inaccessible and exclusionary to students of color.

There are no other Certificates of Achievements in Reformer Training within this service area East Bay Regions (Alameda and Contra Costa Counties).