If you enjoy teaching and helping people reach their fitness goals, earning a Pilates instructor certification could be the right choice for the next step in life’s journey.
Do you want to teach group mat sessions? Is your goal to train students while using Pilates equipment?
Each choice you make dictates your journey toward teaching Pilates. Before paying the tuition at a local or online institute, here are five things you’ll want to know.
1. Numerous Certification Programs Exist
You’ll find numerous popular certification programs globally that can help you to start teaching Pilates. Each one delivers specific pros and cons you’ll want to review to see if it is the right course to take for your needs.
The certification provider offers different descriptions to let you know what to expect from the course. Some classes are meant more for physical rehabilitation, while others look at specific techniques, such as percussive breathing.
2. Specialty Areas Can Increase Your Base Pay
When you earn your comprehensive or mat certification, it is possible to pursue advanced coursework that can let you specialize in specific areas. Some of the specialty tracks include spinal care, osteoporosis, scoliosis, and athletic performance.
Most specialty niches focus on helping fitness professionals, support therapy, or general recovery needs.
3. Your Certificate Isn’t Enough
Once you earn your Pilates certificate, your dream of teaching starts in the business world. You’ll need to obtain a license from your local community, county, province, or state to begin your instructional duties.
Most studios require instructors to provide liability insurance. That makes you an independent contractor, which means you get paid without having the taxes taken out of the check. You’ll need to check on local expectations to know what documentation you’ll need to pursue.
4. Beginners Classes Often Feature the Same Exercises
Pilates follows an established set of moves that are commonly performed during entry-level or beginner classes. You’ll become well-versed in leg circles, rolling like a ball, the Roll-Up, the Hundred, and the Series of Five.
Once your students become familiar with those moves, you can help your class build on them with progressions to keep challenging their muscles.
5. There’s a New Language to Learn
Pilates has its own set of terminology to learn. For some new teachers, learning this language is sometimes more difficult than understanding the different movements and exercises. The best instructors use cues in various ways to bring your anatomy to life.
If you hear someone refer to a person’s “powerhouse,” it refers to the body’s center where the power for movement originates. Another fun one is to have someone “peel through their spine,” which refers to slow movements through the vertebrae.
If you want to teach Pilates, it’s essential to review the entire experience to ensure it is the right fit in your life. Since it is a lengthy time and monetary commitment, take a few extra moments to look for potential complications now so that you can put everything you’ve learned into practice one day.