Meet Your CPMS Board
West Coast: British Columbia, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories
Central: Ontario and the Prairies
East Coast: Quebec and the Maritimes
Board Charter
Our Purpose
The Board of the Canadian Pilates Method Society (CPMS) is responsible for advancing the Society’s mission to establish Pilates as a recognized, credible, and sustainable professional vocation in Canada.
Our role is to build the professional infrastructure that supports qualified practitioners, educators, studios, clinics, and the public through registration, education, standards, advocacy, collaboration, and responsible governance.
We are not simply administering a registry or organizing events. We are building the professional foundation for the future of Pilates in Canada.
Our Mission
To establish and strengthen Pilates as a recognized vocation in Canada through professional standards, national registration, education, public awareness, advocacy, collaboration, and accountable governance.
Our Strategic Priorities
The Board will focus its efforts on five interconnected priorities:
1. Professional Recognition & Registration
Maintain a credible, accessible, and meaningful national registry that establishes professional identity and public confidence.
2. Education & Competency
Support transparent educational standards, recognized Certifying Bodies, qualified educators, and pathways for professional development.
3. Advocacy & Public Awareness
Communicate the value of qualified Pilates professionals and advance understanding of Pilates as a legitimate vocation.
4. National Community & Collaboration
Unite Classical, Contemporary, Clinical, and Fitness Pilates communities while supporting regional, national, and French-language inclusion.
5. Governance & Sustainability
Ensure ethical leadership, financial responsibility, accountability, operational clarity, and long-term organizational sustainability.
How We Define Success
Success is measured by the degree to which CPMS strengthens the profession—not solely by registrations, revenue, or visibility.
We are successful when:
Professionals understand the value of CPMS registration;
The public can identify and trust registered professionals;
Educational programs demonstrate meaningful standards and competency;
Studios, clinics, and educators benefit from professional recognition;
CPMS is recognized as a credible national voice;
Partnerships expand opportunities for the Pilates profession;
The Society operates sustainably beyond any one individual.
Our Board Commitment
Every Board member serves as both a steward of the Society and an ambassador for the profession.
We commit to:
Acting in the best interests of CPMS;
Upholding the Society’s Code of Conduct;
Respecting diverse Pilates approaches and professional perspectives;
Contributing actively to strategic priorities;
Completing agreed-upon responsibilities;
Communicating with integrity, professionalism, and accountability;
Supporting collective decisions;
Protecting the Society’s reputation and resources;
Prioritizing national benefit over personal or regional agendas.
From Ideas to Action
Every initiative should have:
A clear objective → An identified owner → A timeline → Required resources → Measurable outcomes → Progress reporting
An idea is not an initiative until it has an owner, a timeline, and a measurable outcome.
Our Decision-Making Test
Before supporting a proposal, we ask:
Does this advance Pilates in Canada toward recognition as a credible, unified, educated, and sustainable profession?
If yes, we determine how to execute it effectively.
If no, we reconsider its priority.
Our Collective Commitment
We are building more than an organization for today. We are establishing the professional foundation that future generations of Pilates professionals in Canada will rely upon.
One Society. One National Voice. Shared Standards. A Sustainable Professional Future.
2026 Board Members
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.
Founder
1st West Coast Director
Rena Shields
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 opportunities through education 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.
Who We Are Looking For
We welcome individuals from across the CPMS registry who can demonstrate:
A commitment to the development of Pilates as a vocation in Canada
Professional integrity and sound judgment
A collaborative and respectful approach to leadership
Relevant professional, educational, financial, administrative or governance experience
A willingness to work within transparent and accountable governance processes
An ability to contribute to the national interests of CPMS rather than an individual business, school or methodology
A commitment to representing the diversity of the Canadian Pilates community
CPMS is intended to bring together Classical, Fitness, Contemporary, and Clinical approaches to Pilates within one Canadian professional community.
Help Shape the Future of CPMS
This is not simply an invitation to fill a position.
It is an opportunity to help establish the governance foundation that will support the CPMS registry, education, professional development, and national representation for years to come.
The proposed governance structure will be presented to the CPMS community for discussion and refinement. Following that process, the appropriate formal corporate procedures will be used to establish the governance framework and elect the next Board.
If you are interested in contributing:
We invite qualified individuals within the CPMS registry to express their interest in one of the proposed leadership positions.
Please include:
Building the Next CPMS Governance Structure
The Canadian Pilates Method Society is entering an important new chapter.
With the continued growth of the CPMS registry and our vision of Pilates established as a vocation in Canada, we are now inviting members of the Canadian Pilates community to step forward and help shape the governance structure for the next stage of the Society.
We are seeking individuals with the experience, integrity and commitment to contribute to a national organization representing Pilates professionals across Canada.
Proposed National Governance Structure
The proposed Board structure will include six key leadership positions:
National Treasurer
We are seeking an individual with experience in accounting, bookkeeping, financial administration, business finance or not-for-profit financial management.
The Treasurer will help establish transparent financial practices, financial reporting, and appropriate oversight of CPMS resources.
National Secretary
We are seeking an organized individual with experience in administration, governance, documentation, communications or corporate record keeping.
The Secretary will help ensure that CPMS maintains accurate records, clear meeting processes, effective communication and appropriate governance documentation.
National Education Director
We are seeking an experienced Pilates educator or professional with a strong understanding of Pilates education, teacher training, professional development and the diverse approaches represented within the Canadian Pilates community.
The Education Director will contribute to the development of CPMS education pathways, professional standards and opportunities for continuing education.
West Regional Director
British Columbia • Yukon • Northwest Territories
We are seeking an individual who understands the Pilates community within the West and can contribute a regional perspective while working within a national framework.
Central Regional Director
Alberta • Saskatchewan • Manitoba • Ontario
We are seeking an individual who understands the Pilates community across Central Canada and can provide regional representation while contributing to the national development of CPMS.
East Regional Director
Quebec • New Brunswick • Nova Scotia • Prince Edward Island • Newfoundland & Labrador
We are seeking an individual who can represent the diverse Pilates community across Eastern Canada, including the unique needs of Quebec and Canada's Atlantic provinces.
Together, we can build the next chapter of CPMS
Canadian Pilates Method Society
Working to establish Pilates as a vocation in Canada