Toronto pilates instructor Laura Helsel says someone interested in trying Pilates should not join a drop-in class at the local gym because the instructor may not have enough training.

“Pilates is popular, so management wants the people who work there to teach Pilates as well,” she says.

But this casual approach to Pilates does not work for a method that demands precision.

In fact, the popularity of Pilates may well be the very thing that hurts it, says Liam Day-Lavelle, president of the Pilates Association of Canada in Victoria. The association was launched in 1999, just as the fitness industry started zeroing in on Pilates, he says, adding that he and fellow West coast instructors were concerned this sudden zeal for the method would dilute it.

At issue: people were calling themselves Pilates instructors when they had no business doing so.

The industry lacks regulation, and that means that the onus of finding a reputable Pilates instructor falls on clients, says Helsel. So, how can you be certain your instructor knows what he or she is doing? Don’t be afraid to ask questions:

> Find Out How Long The Instructor’s Training Lasted. Day-Lavelle says that legitimate instructors encourage clients to ask this question.

> Ask To See Their Credentials. The Pilates Association of Canada, which is just beginning to build up membership beyond the borders of British Columbia, insists that members prove their training credentials before joining. In the U.S., the Pilates Method Alliance requires that members pass a set of exams in order to qualify for accreditation. There are 85 PMA members across Canada.

> Where Were They Trained And In What Method? Day-Lavelle says there are reputable training studios across Canada; as well, many instructors choose to train in the U.S. The PMA has a list of certified schools in the U.S. on its Web site (www.pilatesmethodalliance.org). He says the best way to ensure that a studio has sound training practices is to trace its lineage back to one of the so-called Pilates elders. (Details can be found at www.canadianpilatesassociation.ca. ) “See how direct their knowledge is and how many different teachers they have studied with,” he says.

> Who Are Their Clients? In-structors should be open to discussing their area of specialty and to providing opportunities for interested people to talk to other clients, says Helsel. She adds that if clients have a history of injury or pain, or have a condition such as sciatica or arthritis, they should make sure the instructor is familiar and comfortable with that. “Even among good instructors,” she says, “there are some that will be more qualified with certain conditions.” — WENDY CUTHBERT