The Evolution of a Pilates Teacher

Most Pilates teachers begin their teaching journey as a client. They try Pilates and soon notice how it’s helped them in some way. They learn to love Pilates and what it does for their mind and body, and a spark is lit: they want to help others with Pilates, too. 

Being a Pilates teacher isn’t just about knowing the exercises. It’s about learning the Pilates method and equipment, managing groups, and finding your voice and teaching style. Becoming a teacher takes time and practice.

My Own Beginning

For me, Pilates began as something I did weekly while working as a fitness instructor. I loved the classes and the way they made me feel. One day, when my teacher moved away, the studio manager asked me to step in. She didn’t know much about Pilates, and assumed I could just “teach it” the way I taught fitness.

I had the confidence to stand in front of a class, project my voice, and structure safe workouts—but I didn’t yet know that Pilates had a method and an order. Looking back, anyone with classical training would have immediately known I was just improvising!

Learning the Method

My first formal step was mat training, and I’m grateful that’s where I started. It gave me the foundation to understand Pilates more deeply before moving on to the equipment. From there, I committed to a full comprehensive training—a year of study that included anatomy, mat, reformer, chair, spine corrector, ladder barrel, cadillac, ped-o-pole, and the smaller apparatuses. 

Even with all that training, re-doing the mat training a few times, and doing every workshop my teacher offered, I truly didn’t feel confident teaching the apparatus in my first year of training. It took maybe two years until I felt comfortable doing it, but I’d still find myself stuck or confused about how to work with certain clients. Luckily, I had mentors I could reach out to for guidance. 

Why Mat Matters

Joseph Pilates’ original book, Return to Life Through Contrology, laid out 37 mat exercises. This was his starting point before he developed the apparatus to support and challenge clients further. I believe these exercises and the mat work are not only a great way to start learning Pilates, but that it’s important to revisit them often. 

Finding the Teaching Groove

Every Pilates teacher evolves at their own pace. Confidence comes with time, practice, and curiosity. As a client, if you’re working with someone who has completed a full comprehensive program, you can rest assured they’ve invested hundreds of hours in their training. And the more a new teacher teaches, the more they will learn what they still need to learn. So if you hear your teacher is attending workshops, conferences, or taking classes themselves—be excited! It means they are continuing to grow, which only benefits you.

Lifelong Learning

I love to see teachers seeking out more knowledge. Pilates training isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. Each step builds on the last, and the learning never truly ends. My advice to aspiring teachers is to research carefully before choosing a program. Look for one that prepares you not just to teach exercises, but to build a sustainable career helping people move well and live better.