If you want to become a Pilates instructor, this is usually the first big question: Should you start with a Mat certification, learn Reformer next, or go straight into comprehensive training?

The short answer is that Mat is the foundation of Pilates, but if you are serious about teaching Pilates as a career, we recommend comprehensive training from the beginning. Let’s get into why.

The answer to this question depends on the type of certification you’re working towards, who's training you, and how quickly you complete your hours. In general, a comprehensive Pilates certification usually takes about one year to complete. If you have a more open schedule and can consistently work on your self-practice, observation, and teaching hours, you may finish in closer to six months.

That is the simple answer. But a 500-hour certification is not 500 hours sitting in a classroom. You will have training weekends, then time outside of those weekends to practice, observe experienced teachers, and teach real people.

There are a lot of training programs out there: weekend certifications, comprehensive certifications, national programs, local programs, Mat programs, varying costs, and it’s hard to know which will result in the career you’re envisioning for yourself. 

Here’s our short answer: if you want to teach Pilates professionally and have the widest range of job opportunities, look for a comprehensive program with at least 450 to 500 hours of education and in person, hands-on practice.

If you’re a studio owner, odds are you’re always looking for more qualified teachers. Starting your own teacher training program can be the perfect way to train and mentor your own teachers who could potentially work for you. 

But before you add it to the schedule, it’s worth thinking through what you’re taking on. Teaching someone to teach requires time, attention, and a different kind of planning from teaching a good class.

It also requires a curriculum, qualified educators, time and space for students to practice, and a clear way to assess their progress. You’ll also need to decide how enrollment, scheduling, and student support will fit into the studio you’re already running.

Pilates instruction can be an excellent career if you enjoy teaching, working closely with people, and are interested in continued learning. As wellness and fitness become a rising priority in people’s lives, the demand for qualified instructors continues to increase.

Teaching is a flexible career that can follow you through many stages of your working life. Whether or not it’s a good fit for you depends on the schedule you desire, the income you need, and how much you enjoy working in-person, hands-on with people.