5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BECOMING A PILATES INSTRUCTOR

When I think back to the time I did my very first teacher training, I did it based on pure gut instinct. I wanted to immerse myself into the practice that I loved, that helped me feel good in my body.  I had no intention of teaching; I thought that was for the actual teachers and people who were much better at their Pilates practice than me. If found out that all my preconceived ideas about who a Pilates teacher is and what they need to be exceptional were so off the mark.

As I moved through my Pilates career and began hiring and training teachers, I quickly learned that my thoughts and feelings were common industry myths, and it’s time to bust them…

1.      YOU CAN MAKE A LIVING AS A FULL-TIME PILATES TEACHER

This is a big one! Investing in quality teacher training is time and money that is well spent. Pilates studios are multiplying with no sign of slowing, and studio owners will fight for good teachers that know their stuff!

2.     YOU DO NOT NEED TO HAVE LOADS OF EXPERIENCE TO BE A PILATES TEACHER

This one pops up in questions a lot! ANYONE can be a Pilates teacher if they want and work for it. With some skills in teaching movement effectively, some Pilates repertoire and a good amount of practice – you can become a fantastic Pilates teacher. Many people join teacher training because they have just discovered Pilates and had a revelation that this is what they want to do with their life – go with that feeling, and you won’t regret it!

3.    YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL THE ADVANCED REPERTOIRE TO BE A GOOD TEACHER

This can be a big blocker for a lot of potential teachers. Every teacher I know has some repertoire that they find challenging. Pilates is a practice; your students don’t expect you to be a ‘perfect practitioner’ (whatever that is). They expect you to be skilled in teaching, be relatable and care about their practice.

4.    YOU CAN FIND A TRAINING MENTOR THAT HAS AN OPEN-DOOR POLICY

Knowing you can continue to learn from your mentors is really important! Teacher training is fun and fast, and…then what? To be able to reach out for help and advice after the training is complete means you’re never alone, and it can feel a little lonely if you don’t have a great community around you. We have an open-door policy to ensure our students always feel supported and part of our community.

5.    ACCREDITATION IS NOT REQUIRED TO BECOME A QUALIFIED PILATES TEACHER

There are two types of Pilates accreditation, Government accreditation is offered by RTO’s and they deliver Certificate and Diploma courses. Then there are private accreditation companies like Fitness Australia and the PAA.

Neither of these options is a Governing Body in Pilates, and you don’t require training or membership to become a qualified Pilates teacher in Australia or internationally.

We decided to have our course accredited with Fitness Australia so that fitness professionals requiring CECs can add teaching Pilates to their skill set and gain the CECs they need to keep their memberships current.

As a studio owner who has hired loads of teachers, I can tell you that we hire based on your personality and the quality of teaching. Where you did your training and what memberships you’re a part of are not our considerations in hiring you.

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Belinda is a Gold Coast born and bred mother of three, Co-Owner of Pilates & Co and Founder of Pilates & Co Teacher Training. She found the benefits of practising this wonderful method of movement invaluable, allowing her the strength and confidence to take back her health and giving her the tools to empower others to move fearlessly and step into their full potential. She is a movement optimist and strongly believes that movement is medicine, no matter your age or past experiences. Qualified in Yoga and Pilates, with experience in teaching large group classes, Belinda also specialises in Clinical Pilates sessions and finds great joy in working 1:1 with clients to overcome imbalance, fear and pain associated with movement.

In 2018, Belinda stepped into the role of training Pilates instructors in both Certificate IV in Pilates and Diploma in Clinical Pilates courses. Since then, she has trained and mentored close to 1000 students, guiding them on their journey to becoming amazing Pilates teachers.