How to Become a Pilates Instructor
If you’ve fallen in love with Pilates and want to share that with the world, consider becoming a Pilates instructor. Pilates instructors help teach others the fundamentals of Pilates to help them build muscle, improve core strength, enhance body awareness, and recover from injuries. They are knowledgable about the history and principles of Pilates, anatomy and movement, how to use equipment, and more.
We created a simple guide to get started on your journey to becoming a Pilates instructor.
Practice Pilates
The best teacher has experience with the practice they’re teaching. Even though you don’t have to be the strongest or most advanced Pilates practitioner, make sure you’ve taken enough classes to understand the fundamentals and how poses are supposed to feel. It’s best to also take classes from teachers you like and respect so you can passively learn from them while practicing. If you don’t live near a Pilates studio, you can take Pilates classes online on Alo Moves.
During this time, keep a journal and record any questions or observations after class. What did you learn after class? What did you like about the class, and what would you carry with you or change if you were teaching your own class? Start to embody the teacher mindset even before training begins.
2. Find a Pilates teacher training that matches your goals and style.
Once you know what style you like and what style you want to teach, you can narrow down your options for training. First, determine if you want to train online, locally, or travel for an immersion. There are pros and cons to all options.
Online
Pros: Flexible study schedule, train on your own time, good for busy lifestyles, could be more affordable in some cases, wider pool of training options and teachers
Cons: Self-paced structure means you must stay disciplined, some concepts are harder to translate online vs. in-person
LOCAL
Pros: In-person training is helpful for all learning styles, gain hands-on experience, learn and connect with community members and gain exposure to potential teaching opportunities after graduation
Cons: You must work with a fixed training schedule
travel IMMERSION
Pros: Explore new location, complete training faster, make new friends around the world, wider pool of training options and teachers
Cons: Can be expensive, must take time off, a lot of learning in a short amount of time
After determining which options suits your needs best, look into the teachers, schools, or training methods that resonate with you the most. This is why it’s important to take many classes before committing to a training. Maybe you’ve fallen in love with the Pilates Reformer and want to teach those classes, or perhaps you’re more into matwork. If Classical Pilates calls to you, look for more traditional schools of training. But there are many programs that offer more of a fusion or hybrid approach. If you plan on teaching after graduation, you might also look into what certifications or experience those locations or studios require from their teachers.
3. COMPLETE YOUR TRAINING & PASS THE TEST
Most Pilates certification programs will require you to take a final exam. This might involve a written test and a practice teaching component, and could look different depending on whether it’s online vs. in-person, or matwork vs. equipment-based training. Don’t be nervous — by this point, you’ll have all the information and experience from your training to prepare you for this exam.
4. FIND A PLACE TO TEACH
If you’re interested in teaching Pilates, look into online job postings and local Pilates studios, gyms, fitness centers, and even yoga studios that might be interested in hiring new Pilates teachers or diversifying their class options. If those spots in your city are particularly competitive, you might try reaching out to community centers, your friends and family, or even online to set up free or donation-based classes to begin gaining experience. You can also try recording yourself practice teaching or post your videos online.
For many studios, networking is essential and studios want to know who you are and understand your experience before even granting an audition. Show up to the places you want to teach, take classes, talk to teachers, and put your name out there as someone who is interested.
5. INVEST IN CONTINUING EDUCATION
Before teaching, make sure you’re CPR/AED-certified and have appropriate teaching insurance before setting foot in the classroom. This will give you, the studio, and the students peace of mind in event of emergency.
In your journey as a teacher, make sure you’re continuously learning from other teachers, books, workshops, and trainings. It will shine through in your teaching and prevent you from experiencing burnout by keeping the spark of curiosity alive.
FAQ
How much do Pilates instructors make?
It all depends on where you’re located. If you’re in the United States, you might get a range between $20-$70 an hour based on your experience, your market, and your clients. You could make even more — some studios pay an additional amount on top of your base pay for extra students in class, and you can expand your earnings if you have private clients or teach private or public events. Remember, in some places you can negotiate your salary. Once you have experience under your belt or you notice your classes grow in popularity, don’t be afraid to ask for more, especially if you’re able to get paid more in another location close by.
How much does it cost to become a Pilates instructor?
Online Pilates trainings tend to cost less than in-person trainings, but programs can range from $850 to upwards of $10,000. The more specialized or popular the training program is, the more you’ll end up paying. It’s important to weigh the balance of what you will receive from the program with what you initially invest to see if it’s worth it for you.
How long does it take to become a Pilates instructor?
Depending on whether or not you do an online, in-person, or immersion program, the amount of time it takes can vary. It can be as little as a weekend for some trainings plus online follow-up work, but you’ll also see programs with 14-day immersions, multi-weekend commitments over 9 months, or online self-paced trainings. There are many different trainings you can explore that will cater to your unique schedule.
Want to try online Pilates workouts for free? Get full access to 21-Day Pilates Strong on Alo Moves with a free two-week trial.