Nominees for your 2026 Board VOTE December 10th
West Coast: British Columbia, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories
Central: Ontario and the Prairies
East Coast: Quebec and the Maritimes
Why I Founded the Canadian Pilates Method Society
My journey in the Pilates industry began in 1997 when I completed my Mat certification through the PhysicalMind Institute, followed by my full certification with Polestar Pilates in Post-Acute Care Rehabilitation in 1999. Over nearly three decades, I’ve witnessed tremendous change with both the growth and the growing pains of our industry in Canada.
In 1999, I opened my first studio in Vancouver, offering Reformer classes long before they were a trend. From 1999 to 2005, that space was a place of innovation and learning, until pregnancy and shifting priorities led me to downsize and focus on private rehabilitation work, a practice I continue to this day.
Through these years, I’ve seen the Pilates community expand, but also fracture. The challenges became especially clear during the pandemic, when unsafe practices emerged, and when too many instructors and practitioners were left vulnerable, physically, financially, and professionally. My own experience with a life-altering injury brought this truth into sharp focus: as independent contractors, we have no safety net when our bodies, which are our tools, are injured.
These experiences revealed a gap in our industry. There is no unified Canadian association that represents and protects Pilates professionals across all approaches and levels of training. There is no registry to verify credentials, support ethical standards, or provide a foundation for community care.
This is WHY I founded the Canadian Pilates Method Society (CPMS)
The CPMS is being created to:
Establish a National Registry where instructors, practitioners, and educators can build and maintain their professional reputation
Ensure ethical standards for how apprentices, instructors, practitioners, and educators are treated within studios, clinics, and training programs
Create grants to support individuals who are unable to afford Pilates as no one in our community should be left without help when life happens
Create opportunities through education, grants, and recognition across the diverse approaches to the Pilates Method practiced in Canada
My vision is that the CPMS will give every Pilates professional, from apprentices to educators, a place to belong, to be recognized, and to be supported. This is not just about structure; it’s about care, integrity, and the sustainability of our craft.
Rena Shields
Founder/West Coast Director