What do you think about Pilates as fitness system?
I did some pilates sessions with a friend a few years ago. It is surprisingly difficult: you don’t consciously exert yourself, but your muscles feel tired at the end. I found they were very friendly sessions, with people of all ages and abilities.
It is very good for your posture and breathing: I work at a computer all day, so I found it particularly useful. I would recommend having some lessons instead of teaching yourself, in case you injure your back. We did a lot of pelvic floor exercises - obviously women need to do these, but men often neglect their pelvic floor. You will sometimes see men at the gym with well-defined abdominal muscles, perched on top of a big beer gut 
As a martial artist, you may find it beneficial to work on your “core strength.”
I don’t go to Pilates sessions any more, because I need a tougher cardio workout these days. But I do incorporate some of the exercises into my stretches.
I think pilates is great!
During my sessions I came across some exercises that just floored me so I added them into my workout routine.
Pilates is quite new over here… and I’m afraid that the instructor might be an amateur… how can I see if it is so?
Hmm, I’m not sure. I tend to go by word of mouth: my pilates tutor was well-known locally and had a really good reputation. 
Hang on… [rummages through book case] I have a book by someone in the PilatesFoundation… OK, they have a website including a classfinder, but the international section is a bit limited 
Still, they have some questions to ask a teacher before you join:
I have seen some Pilates centres being set up that have all kinds of interesting apparatus. The version I did was mat work only: that way you can practise at home 
Some people also use those enormous bouncy balls: I had one instead of furniture when I moved into my first flat 
They make eating spaghetti interesting…
Pilates is fun… My aunts and I have girl bonding during our Pilates sessions… ( this is our moment to burn calories while having fun)