Types of Pilates Teacher Training

I’ve talked before about how Pilates isn’t a patented form of exercise, which has given rise to a variety of “types” of Pilates. This means there are different ways to become a Pilates teacher, too! If you’ve been thinking about learning to teach Pilates yourself, it’s important to understand the different types of Pilates teacher training out there.

Pilates in the 90’s

When I first started doing Pilates, it was mat Pilates at the gym. I took the class because it was convenient, but I had no idea what I was doing. Like many people, I thought Pilates was kind of like yoga, and I didn’t know anything about its history as a system of exercise that also had a variety of apparatuses. 

At the time, Pilates was beginning to get popular – even trendy! I recall before I ever attended a class, some gym members were gushing over a substitute teacher’s Pilates class. Apparently, her classes were amazing, despite her not having any training in Pilates. It seemed suspicious to me at the time, but now that I’ve learned so much more, it really makes no sense. You should always find a fitness instructor who has training and knows how to safely do and teach the exercises. 

I didn’t take her class, but I did enjoy the mat Pilates I was doing. Looking back now, I know that I was doing Contemporary Pilates. But it wasn’t until I started my own teacher training that the world of Classical Pilates and the whole system started to open up for me. 

Beginner Pilates Teacher Training

When I was asked to start teaching Pilates at my gym, I found a teacher training program through BCRPA. It was 40 hours of training and taught us how to safely teach thirteen of the mat Pilates exercises, along with a few pre-Pilates exercises. We learned safety, modifications, some anatomy, and a bit of the history of Pilates. We had to take written tests and also be tested on our teaching before we were certified.

This was an excellent way to dip my toes into teaching Pilates and to start to learn about the Classical method. That’s because the teacher I learned from was Classically trained herself and she owned a fully-equipped Pilates studio. While the course was just a snippet of what Pilates is, we also got a peek into the system of Pilates – the order of exercises and how the apparatuses helped you to be more aware of your movements to build more strength, and do the mat work (and life in general) with more ease. 

It was there that I fell onto the path of Classical Pilates, and I’m grateful for that. But what about the teachers who didn’t start on the classical path? 

Bridging to Classical Pilates 

There are lots of Contemporary Pilates teacher training programs out there, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Many teachers learned Contemporary, love it, and teach it. In fact, several of my own teachers started out with Contemporary, but bridged over to Classical. 

My second Pilates teacher was originally STOTT trained, but after a few years she became more curious about the origins and other aspects of Pilates. She felt that something was missing, so she went on to do comprehensive training in Classical Pilates. She still draws from what she learned in her first training, but keeps expanding her knowledge based on the original Pilates method. While this person did full, comprehensive, Classical training, there are also “bridge” programs that build on what you know without having you start at the very beginning. 

Finding a Pilates Teacher Training For You

There are so many options out there for Pilates teacher training, from shorter courses like the one I started with, to comprehensive courses over hundreds of hours. And then, whether you choose Classical or Contemporary, you can always bridge over to the other form to learn more. For a solid, comprehensive course, you’ll want to find a program with a minimum of 450 hours (or more). This way you’ll learn all of the apparatuses and will have the option to write the NCPT exam to become certified.