It is common for members to practice Pilates and/or yoga as a standalone service, and this is covered by the CSP PLI scheme when used as part of physiotherapy practice.
Frequently asked questions
Read our FAQs to find out more about Pilates/yoga and our professional liability insurance (PLI) scheme.
Can Pilates/yoga be part of physiotherapy practice?
Yes. Pilates/yoga is an exercise-based intervention that physiotherapists may use if they identify the evidence for its use is suitable for a specific individual or group of patients and their condition. If you choose to focus your physiotherapy practice on offering, for example, solely Pilates/yoga based services, you may do so provided that make it clear that you are working as a physiotherapist. The essentials of physiotherapy practice are that practitioners deliver the reasonable ‘standard of care’ that patients can expect of physiotherapists, which comprises appropriate examination, clinical reasoning and professional judgment in your activities at all times.
Do I have to make it clear I am a physiotherapist, even it’s not my job title?
Yes, if you want your Pilates/yoga based activity to be considered ‘physiotherapy’ and therefore covered by the terms of the CSP PLI scheme. Many clients may be reassured to know that their Pilates/yoga classes are being delivered by a registered healthcare professional and so you may find it useful in promoting your services.
What should I call myself?
You could call yourself a ‘physiotherapist Pilates/yoga instructor’. You don’t have to have the word physiotherapist in your job title but your clients must clearly understand that they will be engaging with a physiotherapist and that they can therefore expect the reasonable standard of care that a physiotherapist will deliver, so using it is practical.
Do I have to offer my Pilates/yoga classes in a physiotherapy department?
No. You can offer your services wherever you feel your clients would best benefit. This might be in their homes, in gyms, village halls, clinic rooms or physiotherapy departments, inside or outside. You can provide private practice classes or they can be part of your employed role if required.
Can I only offer Pilates/yoga to patients recovering from injury?
No. You can offer Pilates/yoga as an exercise-based intervention in whatever context you feel it has a physiotherapeutic benefit. Here are some examples, but you may think of others:
- You may wish to offer Pilates/yoga classes to patients recovering from injury or requiring other types of rehabilitation and offer the classes in private practice rooms or as part of your private practice that might be situated within a gym etc. You may wish to offer the one-to-one classes or group sessions.
- You may wish to offer Pilates/yoga classes in a village hall etc. as part of a wider ‘public health’ remit of physiotherapy. You may wish to offer Pilates/yoga classes to individuals or groups who are generally fit and healthy, but who wish to get more active or fit and address silent health issues such as obesity or a sedentary lifestyle.
- You may wish to offer antenatal and postnatal Pilates/yoga classes to women as part of the management of a healthy pregnancy and early motherhood.
- Pilates/yoga may be offered to either the fit and healthy (including pregnant and postnatal women) as part of the public health initiative to increase exercise for its positive health benefits OR to those with known or underlying illness/disease or injury considerations, such that both are seen as being equally within the scope of the profession.
Can I provide Pilates/yoga classes online?
Yes. If you are providing online classes to people who are physically based outside the UK, some countries require separate registration for this activity. Please see our webpage on digital, print, virtual and telephysiotherapy.
Am I a delivering a Pilates/yoga class as a Pilates/yoga instructor or a physiotherapist?
Only you can answer this question and you may wish to do both at different times. You must be aware that there is a difference between the two activities and how you practise will affect what insurance you need.
When you take classes as a ‘physiotherapist’ you must deliver the reasonable ‘standard of care’ of a physiotherapist, which will include appropriate examination, clinical reasoning and professional judgment in all your decisions relating to the participation of your clients in the Pilates/yoga programme. Record keeping is an essential activity to help you demonstrate, if challenged, that you were working as a physiotherapist.
The level and complexity of record keeping that you do will vary according to the context of the Pilates/yoga class and the background health status of your client(s). Particularly where the client group is inherently healthy with no underlying health issues, there is no reason why a client-completed screening checklist should not serve as adequate assessment, and retention of these assessments and/or a class/client register with space for comments can serve as documentation.
When you take classes as ‘Pilates/yoga instructor’ and make it clear that that you are a ‘Pilates/yoga instructor’ then you are not working as a physiotherapist. We cannot comment on the practise of Pilates/yoga instructors and you may wish to seek further advice elsewhere.
Is ‘Pilates/yoga’ covered by the CSP PLI scheme?
The CSP PLI scheme does not have a list of activities that the scheme covers. It simply covers ‘all activities within the scope of physiotherapy practice’. This is why it is essential that you work out for yourself if you are delivering your Pilates/yoga activities as part of physiotherapy practice or something else. When Pilates/yoga – like any other activity – is delivered as part of physiotherapy practice, it is covered by the terms and conditions of the CSP PLI scheme, and you do not need additional insurance.
When you are delivering your Pilates/yoga as part of another activity, such as your work as Pilates/yoga instructor or personal trainer, then it is clear you are not working as a physiotherapist and you will need separate insurance.
Why do I need to understand this difference?
This is because of the small print contained within insurance policies that often says cover under one policy will not be provided if cover is provided elsewhere e.g. by another policy you hold at the same time.
It is your responsibility to read and understand the terms and conditions of any insurance policy you currently benefit from before you take out any extra polices. It is also your responsibility to be clear which parts of your work are physiotherapy based and which are not. We provide help for you to do this on our scope of practice pages.
For example, the CSP PLI scheme may not provide cover for any claim if you have taken out another policy for the same activities. This could happen if you take out another insurance to cover ‘Pilates/yoga’. Remember, if you are providing Pilates/yoga programmes as part of physiotherapy practice, you do not need extra insurance.
For example, members have told us that some bespoke Pilates/yoga insurance policies only cover Pilates/yoga classes providing that no physiotherapy advice or treatment is given as part of the class.
So it is essential that you are clear how you are working in order to make the right decisions regarding your insurance needs.
What about if I offer Pilates/yoga but don’t want to say I am a physiotherapist?
You will not be covered by the CSP PLI scheme. You should make alternative arrangements for your insurance.
What about if I want to offer Pilates/yoga as part of my other work as, for example, a personal trainer?
You will not be covered by the CSP PLI scheme. You should make alternative arrangements for your insurance.
I’ve been told by my Pilates/yoga course provider that I need separate insurance to offer Pilates/yoga as a physiotherapist. Is this true?
No. When you are offering Pilates/yoga programmes as part of physiotherapy practice it is covered by the terms of the CSP PLI scheme. Your course provider may have learners who are not CSP members, or who are not physiotherapists, and it is correct to say that individuals should have insurance to practice, but as a CSP member you already have the benefit of insurance, subject to policy terms and conditions.
Do I need separate insurance if I provide classes or treatment privately?
If you are providing Pilates/yoga programmes privately, either as an individual or as a business, you will need to make sure you have the correct insurance cover. Individuals practising as sole traders are covered under the CSP PLI scheme, subject to terms and conditions.
The CSP and Physio First have produced an essential guide to private physiotherapy practice. This sets out the way in which you should structure your practice when working for yourself.
Further information
For specific insurance-related enquiries, contact the CSP insurance brokers:
James Hallam
Saxon House
Duke Street
Chelmsford
Essex CM1 1HT
email: promedschemes@jameshallam.co.uk