Standards & Ethics
The Ethical Guidelines of the Pilates Association of Canada emphasize personal responsibility and integrity to the clients, to other members, and to the practice of Pilates. Instructors and Practitioners of the Pilates Method bring a wealth of complimentary information to their teaching. Implicit in any ethical practice is the acknowledgement of personal limitations.
(The Ethical Guidelines are designed as a framework for professional conduct. The guidelines have been constructed with the understanding that society as a whole and the practice of instructing the Pilates Method are multi-faceted and subject to continual change and development. Therefore, it is understood that situations posing ethical dilemmas and questions not covered in these guidelines will inevitably arise. The Pilates Association of Canada retains the right and responsibility to interpret its Ethical Guidelines and to censure any member who is found to have violated their provisions or whose conduct is unbecoming to the profession.)
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CLIENT
Instructor and Practitioner Members of the Pilates Association of Canada:
- will practice/instruct the Pilates Method to the best of their ability for all clients regardless of the client's race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, ethnic origin, language, political affiliation, societal or health status
- will respect the client's rights, dignity, needs, wishes, and values
- will treat all information received from a client, or about a client as wholly confidential. Such information will not be released to a third party without full consent of the client
- will only teach exercises that are wholly suitable for the age, experience, and physical condition of the client
- shall continue to develop their professional knowledge and competence/skills in Pilates and related subjects by attending a minimum of 10 hours of recognized events, seminars, workshops each year, supplemented by studying and developmental work with other teachers
- will practice in a fashion that is above reproach and will not take physical, emotional, financial, or sexual advantage of a client
- will recognize their professional limitations and level of competence as well as the special skills of others and, when appropriate, recommend to the client that alternative options and services be obtained
- where a member leads a group Mat class, such classes shall have a recommended maximum of 12 participants; for equipment classes, a recommended maximum of 4 clients per instructor
- will inform clients, in advance, of the fee schedule for all services offered
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PROFESSION
Instructor and Practitioner Members of the Pilates Association of Canada:
- will abide by the bylaws of Pilates Association of Canada and support its mission and philosophy
- will promote and advance the Pilates Method
- will ensure that their professional judgment and integrity are not compromised by motives of profit
- will ensure that any promotion of their services is accurate and acceptable according to legal, social, and professional norms and does not bring the profession into disrepute
- will acquire and maintain appropriate insurance, current CPR and First Aid certification
- will conduct themselves in a manner that garners respect for the Pilates Association of Canada members by the public
- will avoid impugning the reputation of a colleague
- will act in a way that is beyond reproach and will report to the appropriate authorities, any member of the Pilates Association of Canada who appears to incompetent or whose professional conduct appears to be unethical, illegal, or in general, unbecoming to the profession
- will avoid using Pilates Association of Canada membership status when advocating any product
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE SOCIETY
Pilates Association of Canada Members:
- will recognize their responsibility to improve the provision of their services in the community
- will share the profession's responsibility to society in matters relating to the well being of the community
- will refrain from using membership in the Pilates Association of Canada to further pursuit of the trademark of the name Pilates