If you live in a smaller community like Mt Juliet, Tennessee, tracking down a great Pilates teacher can be harder than in big cities.

Finding Pilates in Mt Juliet, Gladeville and other small communities

Rural areas have different challenges than areas like mine, which is close to Nashville, TN. Here, when you search for “Pilates near me” or “Pilates Mt Juliet”, the big studios in Nashville come up first. These may not be the best fit for your location, needs or schedule, though. So how do you go about finding a teacher in your area that’s a good fit? Let’s explore.

Why not go for the big studios in the big city?

If those studios and those locations work for you, that’s great! However, big cities have lots of traffic. Also, those studios run teacher training programs. That means that a lot of their teachers will be fairly inexperienced. That may be fine if you’re in your 20s and fairly fit and healthy. But maybe not if you’re a bit older and have some preexisting conditions.

Can I just google “Pilates near me”?

Yes, and you should! Where I live, just outside of Mt Juliet, Tennessee, that will give you a few options. Not all of those will actually be near you, though. And small home studios tend not to be listed unless the owner knows to put their studio on Google My Business, Yelp and all the rest of the platforms. Also, we often don’t put our addresses out there since we don’t want people to just stop in without an appointment.

How do I find a good teacher in my area?

Here are a few other search strategies you can use:

• Search for “Pilates in Mt Juliet, TN”, “Pilates in Smyrna, TN” etc. – replacing the names of the towns with ones closest to you, of course. That is, run a few searches with locations that are easy for you to get to.

• Remember that address does not always align with distance. For instance, my studio is technically in Hermitage, Tennessee, but much closer to Mt Juliet, TN.

• Think about when you’d like to do Pilates. Maybe you can find a studio that’s on your way back home from work, to your child’s daycare etc.

• Try this directory of Nationally Certified Pilates Teachers run by our professional organization to ensure a baseline of quality teaching.

• Different Pilates schools have a different emphasis, and most have a teacher directory. Here are a few organizations with a good reputation:

  • Polestar Pilates – this is where I did my comprehensive equipment training, it’s an approach to Pilates informed by modern physical therapy principles

  • Balanced Body – one of the biggest manufacturers of high-quality, contemporary equipment that also runs an extensive teacher training and continuing education program

  • Basi Pilates – another program that is contemporary, yet quality-focused. I couldn’t find a link to their list of certified teachers, but if you see someone who is certified, this is a good credential.

Keep an eye out for local ads and articles

More and more small studios and individual teachers are realizing that online and social media isn’t everything. You’re likely to see articles and ads in small publications, local newspapers and even flyers in coffee shops. For instance, I’ve written a few short pieces for the local Del Webb community publication and for Life Between the Lakes.

Ask around

If you’re in a smaller community, chances are, you can find someone you know who is taking classes with someone they like.

Try local organizations

Individual teachers may run a group class or two at a community or senior center. (I have taught at Del Webb at Lake Providence, for instance.) Or they may decide to join organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce or Lion’s Clubs.

Pilates Mat or Pilates Reformer?

Mat Pilates is very different from equipment Pilates. If you want an inexpensive, challenging group fitness program, mat may be ideal for you. If you are looking for Pilates on the equipment, however, you need to make sure your teacher has that available. Whether that is a reformer, a trapeze table (“cadillac”), ladder barrel or another piece of equipment. Also note that the equipment differs greatly depending on the manufacturer!

Find your fit

Think about what it is you want to achieve with Pilates. If you’re mostly looking for a fitness program, a bigger studio may well be a good fit. But maybe you’re like the kind of people I specialize in working with: You want to get out of pain. Protect your back. Work out safely with chronic conditions like arthritis or osteoporosis. Rebuild after an injury or a hospital stay. Or emphasize active aging.

Pilates teachers are not one size fits all. While big studios may make big promises, it’s a good idea to ask any teacher you are thinking of working with directly what their experience, expertise and emphasis is.

While it takes a bit of work, it’s well worth finding the right teacher for you for your long-term health and wellbeing. I hope this article gave you a few ideas!