Austin Pilates Barn 2

"Here's what I want to share about training for Level 2 Peak Pilates Instructors with Master Instructor Nancy Hurd of Austin Pilates Barn. Our very first day. We all arrive on time. Some of us know Nancy. Some meet her for the first time. Some know each other. Most - do not. And we are all adults, formed, shaped, set in our own ways....all to study and work together for the next couple of months. A huge challenge! Well, not for Nancy. She makes us feel welcomed immediately and after first ten minutes we are all talking and smiling - no longer strangers. It takes teacher's talent to melt what little ice there is, and get to work without wasting any time. The program is extremely demanding - mentally , emotionally, and physically. The days are 8 hours long. Information that is packed into the Course is brain draining. We begin. Nancy reads us all. She does not miss a page. She sees leaders and followers, and go getters , and doers, and class clowns. She uses individual approach for every one of us. We formed this orchestra with very different instruments but she is a seasoned master conductor. The melody is actually quite beautiful. We play well together. It would not be happening if our Instructor did not know her material. Oh but she owns it! We are not rushing, however under her detailed guidance we manage to accomplish each task in less time. And again back to a very talented teacher. Yes, we are working hard. Brain cells are clicking, our bodies are sweating, our muscles are aching. Nancy sees everything and everyone. She's very demanding. And yet it is all so much pure fun, pure joy, pure positive energy. She makes it all that. Time flies. First day is over. We get ready to drive home and look at each other in bewilderment - OMG!we have learned so much! And oh how we want to come back for more ( and of course we do). And we made new friends. And we feel so good about ourselves. One word, ladies and gentlemen - great teacher. (Ok, two.) As the Course continues we experience more of Nancy. She is superbly organized. Not a word, not a move goes wasted. She understands our abilities and keeps on challenging us, making us give just a little bit more every time ( it feels so good to know that you can). She is strict, she does not forgive sloppiness. But she is endlessly giving and caring, and absolutely fair. She never gives up, she works with each of us until we understand the topic completely. She accepts nothing but the best, and the way she teaches us cannot produce anything but the best. We feel in our minds and our bones that we are becoming better teachers ourselves. More confident, more experienced, more precise. Some of Nancy's wast knowledge transported into us. She made it happen. A magician at work. She is laconic when it comes to delivering clean lines of theory. She is patient and descriptive if we question her about something we do not quite understand yet. She makes us laugh. She makes us think. She is always there for us. She balances every day of our classes beautifully, alternating theory and practice, keeping us alert and working every second. She covers enormous amounts of material with ease. She never lets us know how exhausting it is for her ( yes it is exhausting to teach for 8 hours straight day after day after day) to be the center of our attention, to always watch and guide, guide, guide away from mistakes, and closer to the very perfection. What she lets us see and feel is how much she enjoys teaching us. And what could be better for a student than to see her teacher enjoying teaching? Passing the exam comes as next best. Well. We all passed successfully. Nancy taught us so exquisitely well that we would have passed with any examiner in the world... The experience was one of a kind. Enchanting, intoxicating, truly beautiful. Thank you, Nancy. From all of us. Written by Irina Frolina, LifeTime Fitness Pilates Instructor, Houston, TX"

"I highly recommend Austin Pilates Barn for Pilates teacher training. The Peak Pilates curriculum is very well structured and takes you on a journey to becoming an experienced instructor, giving you a solid foundation and building from there. Nancy Hurd is an excellent instructor! She is tough when she needs to be, nurturing when she needs to be, and her high expectations lead to high performance. She makes the classes fun and very enjoyable. If you're interested in becoming the best Pilates teacher you can be, this is the place for you!"

"After my first Level 1 Mat course, I knew I needed to get the full Peak Pilates Education. Nancy Hurd is an amazing instructor whom i believe prepared me to be the best pilates instructor that i could be with very little personal teaching experience. This facility is a great place to get away from the rest of the world and really dive into Classical Pilates. I built great life long friendships and alway look forward to working with Nancy and new students when asked. Pilates is part of my life and Austin Pilates Barn Teachers and fellow students are part of my family. I will continue to further educate myself and practice at the Austin Pilates Barn. Thanks Amy, Mark and Nancy!!"

"If you are looking to get certified in Pilates, this is the best place, best master trainer, and best education system and to lay your Pilates foundation with. Best place: This location provides a small group setting where you really get to connect with the people you are working with. It is laid back and welcoming, and it is the best environment to grow and learn with your master trainer and your colleagues that will become forever friends through this process of certification (because you will go through a lot together). Best master trainer: Nancy Hurd is one of a kind. The certification process is rigorous. It is not easy, and it takes a phenomenal leader with all around qualities to get you where you need to be as a Pilates instructor. She's so intuitive, so passionate, so knowleable. Here's what makes her different- she knows how to make a tough process one of the funnest times of your life. She will tell you what you need to hear, but she will hug you and ask you how you're doing. She will make you laugh and love what you're doing when things tend to get stressful. She's the perfect blend of qualities to make you successful with this certification process. Best education system: Peak Pilates teaches you how to become a good teacher. They have formulated a way to get you out in this industry so you can become not just a person who can cue the exercises, but who can educate their clients as to why or why not and how, etc. In my personal experience, Peak has provided me a very strong foundation of professional skills for my business, integrity with the work of Pilates, and the desire to build relationships with my clients and my fellow colleagues."

"I've studied Level 1 & 2 at Pilates Barn with Nancy Hurd. She is an amazing instructor and I have had so many aha moments with her. I highly recommend taking classes here, because Nancy makes learning a lot of fun. Peak Pilates has a really cool approach to teaching that has helped me grow as an instructor. There is no guessing. You follow the process. It works! Thank you Nancy! Xoxox"