21/08/2026
This month, we’re bringing you fresh resources to inspire your teaching, deepen your knowledge, and expand your Pilates toolkit! ✨
Our latest APPI Member resources include:
🎥 Featured APPI TV class
Teaching Plié in Class with Jo Hawkins
📚 Research Article
Innovative Rehab Class Supports Recovery After Brain Injury
📝 Class Plans
Cadillac: Beginners, Intermediate & Advanced
Ready to explore? Become an APPI member and start discovering this month’s resources! 💻👇
19/08/2026
A recent study suggested that people with low back pain did slightly better in Pilates when told not to engage their core.
(Lunkes LC, Dias Neto MA, Barra LF, de Castro LR, de Sá Ferreira A, Meziat-Filho N. Keeping the abdomen relaxed versus contracted during Pilates improves disability slightly and may improve other outcomes in chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomised trial. Journal of Physiotherapy. 2026;72(2):116–121.)
But that headline needs context.
One group in the study was instructed to consciously tighten and brace the abdominal muscles during the exercises.
The group not instructed to engage their core was instead asked to focus on breathing, control and quality of movement.
That is an important distinction.
At APPI, we do not teach continuous bracing. We teach the appropriate level of abdominal support needed to support quality movement, depending on the person, the exercise and the task.
The research also reminds us to be clear about what we mean when we use phrases such as “engage your core”.
Does the client understand the cue as we intended? Or do they respond by consciously tightening, holding their breath and creating more tension than the movement requires?
As teachers, we need to observe the response to our cueing. Can the person breathe and move with control? Are they using enough support for the task, or are they bracing unnecessarily?
Good teaching is about choosing language carefully, observing the response and helping each person find the support they need to move well.
Comment “CORE” if you would like the link to the full article. We take a closer look at what the study actually found, why we think it’s been interpreted a little too simply, and what it really means for Pilates instructors.
23/07/2026
☀️ Summer Sale Just Got Better! ☀️
There’s never been a better time to invest in your Pilates education. For a limited time only, we’re giving you an extra 5% off our Summer Sale, making it even easier to take the next step in your teaching journey.
Whether you’re looking to complete a certification, expand your clinical knowledge, or master new equipment, now’s the time to enrol.
Some of our featured Summer Sale courses include:
✨ Reformer Certification
✨ Clinical Matwork Certification
✨ Women’s Health Certification
✨ Performance Pilates
✨ Pilates for Men’s Health
✨ Reformer for Osteoporosis
…and many more.
Don’t miss your chance to save on the courses that will help you teach with greater confidence and broaden your expertise.
🔗 Tap the link in our bio to explore all Summer Sale offers and claim your extra 5% off before it’s gone!
13/07/2026
The World Cup is here, and we’re quietly nodding 👀
Our Global Head of Education and Master Trainer Dawn Bouy has worked with Premier League football teams herself, and she’s got something to say about Pilates and football performance...
The research on injury prevention in football is pretty clear. The most effective programmes consistently include neuromuscular control, balance, core stability, strength, mobility and movement quality.
Sound familiar? 🙌
Now, Dawn isn’t here to claim the glory, but when you look at what the research says footballers need, it’s hard not to notice that Pilates has had that covered for a very long time.
Swipe to see exactly what we mean 👉
13/07/2026