How to Become a Certified Pilates Instructor in Chicago
If you’ve been taking Pilates for a while and keep wondering what it would be like to teach, you’ve landed in the right place. Every instructor started exactly there, loving the movements, noticing how much more they were learning about their own bodies, and eventually wanting to share that with other people.
But 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.
Here are all the other details we’d recommend considering before you enroll.
First, do you need to be certified to teach Pilates?
Technically, no. There is no singular certifying body in Pilates, nor is there a specific legal requirement or prerequisite to teach Pilates in the United States. However, if you want to teach Pilates, you need to be certified, for the safety of both you and your clients. Whether that means a full, comprehensive certification is up to you, but any reputable studio will require a certification of some kind.
Pilates is not just knowing the exercises. You need to understand how to teach them, how to adapt them for different bodies, when an exercise may not be appropriate, how to make verbal cues and adjustments, and how to build a session or class that makes sense from beginning to end. A good training program should help you learn all of that, not just make you memorize choreography.
How much Pilates experience do you need before starting teacher training?
You don’t need to be a fitness instructor before you begin, but you should have experience taking Pilates classes. At The LAB, we asked that trainees have taken at least 10 sessions or classes before training has begun, so they know what they’re signing up to teach.
You don’t have to take every class with the studio you intend to train with, but it is beneficial so you understand their style, community, and approach to movement.
Try more than one studio if you can! You may find that you love a more classical approach, a more contemporary approach, or a program that combines the two (like The LAB). That is useful information to have before you commit.
You don’t have to already have any specific, detailed knowledge before entering your training program. Anatomy, breathwork, and everything else you need to learn will be taught throughout your certification. You also don’t have to already be flexible or have any specific body type. Pilates is for every body.
What is the difference between a weekend Pilates certification and a comprehensive certification?
A short, studio-specific certification is usually designed to prepare you to teach one particular format, often Reformer-only or Megaformer classes. These programs can be a good place to start if you are unsure whether teaching is for you, or if you know you want to teach at that specific studio. For example, Solidcore (or similar studios) have shorter certifications that train instructors to teach their classes, but you wouldn’t be able to work for a boutique Pilates studio with that same certification.
A comprehensive certification is broader, and the most detailed you can get. It prepares you to teach across the Pilates system, including Mat, Reformer, Cadillac or Tower, Chair, Ladder Barrel, Spine Corrector, and Magic Circle. After a comprehensive program, you should be able to teach about any format.
Mat-only certifications are also much quicker, but we’ve found that most of our Mat only graduates end up completing their full certification later. If you want flexibility in where and how you teach, comprehensive training gives you the most options.
At The LAB, our 500-hour comprehensive program includes six in-person training weekends, 75 hours of observation, 95 hours of self-practice, and 130 hours of practice teaching. You learn the full equipment repertoire, plus anatomy, movement principles, class planning, cueing, and how to work with a range of clients. The certification has also been around since 2018, and is taught around the country in our affiliate studios, meaning it’s been tested and refined through hundreds of graduates.
How long does it take to become a certified Pilates instructor?
Most comprehensive Pilates certifications take about one year to complete, although the timing depends on how consistently you can work on your observation, self-practice, and teaching hours. Some of our trainees continue to work full time throughout their training, and it usually takes them a bit longer than someone who doesn’t.
At The LAB, trainees who complete about five hours per week outside of training weekends can generally finish within a year. If you have more flexibility in your schedule, you may finish sooner. We have 6 weekends of in-person training, and the rest of the certification is on your own time. Other comprehensive programs run similarly.
It is a significant commitment, but that time is where the confidence comes from. Teaching your first few sessions is very different from taking a class. You need repetition, feedback, and experience seeing real bodies move. A bonus: your friends and family will get lots of Pilates instruction, since you’ll need to practice on someone!
What should be included in Pilates teacher-training tuition?
Ask this question before you compare prices. A lower tuition number does not always mean a lower overall cost.
Ideally, tuition should clearly explain whether it includes:
Training weekends and course materials
Manuals and assessment fees
Access to instructors for questions and mentorship
Studio time for self-practice and practice teaching
Observation opportunities
Written and practical examinations
Support after graduation
Sometimes, a lower tuition means there’s less costs covered by the studio that trains you. Make sure you’re not paying for your own printed manuals, studio time, or your access to instructors for questions.
Also ask what happens if you miss a weekend. Life happens. A defined makeup policy can make a big difference, especially in a program that runs over several months.
At The LAB, makeup sessions can be scheduled with studio instructors when needed, and trainees receive ongoing mentorship and job support beyond the certification process.
What should you look for in a Pilates teacher-training program?
One of the most important things to pay attention to is the people who will be training you. Their knowledge is going to become part of your foundation as an instructor.
Ask about or research their certifications, their teaching experience, their continuing education, and the kinds of clients they work with. You should also ask what support is available after you graduate. Certification is the very beginning of your career, not the point where you know everything.
At The LAB, our training combines classical Pilates foundations with contemporary movement science. We teach the full Pilates system, while also making room for anatomy, breath mechanics, class planning, pelvic floor education, pre- and postnatal basics, and the practical decisions that come up once you are actually teaching people.
Is Pilates teacher training worth it?
In our opinion, yes! It can be, if you choose a program that fits your goals and gives you the education, practice, and mentorship you need.
Before you apply, take classes at a few studios. Notice what kind of teaching you connect with. Ask direct questions about the curriculum, total cost, required hours, and what support looks like after graduation.
You do not need to have everything figured out before you start. You just need to choose a program where you can learn, practice, ask questions, and grow into the kind of teacher you want to become.
Ready to explore comprehensive Pilates teacher training in Chicago? Learn more about The LAB’s 500-hour certification program or reach out to Holly at holly@thelabpilates.com or Jacquelyn at jacquelyn@thelabpilates.com.