Is Pilates Instruction a Good Career? Demand, Flexibility, and What to Expect

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. 

If you’ve been taking Pilates for awhile, and love it, you might’ve thought about teaching. If you already enjoy being inside the studio, you’re curious about movement, and spending your day teaching sounds good, that’s a great starting point. But when you teach, you’re not doing a Pilates class. You’re watching clients, finding new cues and explanations when your first one doesn’t land, and teaching a wide variety of people. Let’s see if a career in Pilates will work for you. 

Are Pilates instructors in demand?

Industry survey findings suggest that yes, there’s demand for Pilates instructors. This reflects what we hear from our affiliate studios, and studios around Chicago. Opportunities will vary by location, the type of certification you get, and the local demand. 

In a late-2024 survey of 800 Balanced Body-affiliated instructors (Balanced Body makes the Reformers you probably use) worldwide, 77% of studios reported growth and 67% were consistently selling out classes. Almost 40% of studio owners indicated an urgent need for more instructors, and 30% were actively recruiting. (Read the survey findings.)

If you’re considering becoming a Pilates instructor in Chicago, I’d start by talking to studios where you might want to work. Ask which qualifications they look for, whether they hire newer teachers or offer apprentice classes, and what hours they need covered.

The opportunity needs to match the kind of teaching you’re prepared and available to do. A studio might need someone for early morning group classes while you’re hoping to teach midday private sessions. Knowing what schedule you can and cannot accommodate is important before you start. 

Can you teach Pilates part time?

Yes. Teaching Pilates can be part of your working life without becoming your only job. We have instructors come through the LAB who still work full time.

But flexibility deserves a little explanation.

Your available hours need to overlap with the hours clients want to come in. Depending on the studio, that could mean mornings, evenings, weekends, or a gap between sessions. Having some control over your schedule doesn’t necessarily mean every hour you want will be available.

Before you commit to training, think about:

• Which hours you’re willing and able to teach.

• How much income you need from teaching.

• Whether you want to work at one studio or travel between locations.

• How preparation and gaps between sessions would fit into your week.

If you plan to make a career from Pilates (which you absolutely can), you might want to consider how many classes you can teach in a week. Keep in mind that 40 hours of a desk job feels a lot different than 40 hours of teaching. 

Can you make a full-time career out of teaching Pilates?

A full-time Pilates career is possible, but you’ll need to look beyond the rate you’re paid per session.

For example, being available to teach 20 sessions a week doesn’t mean you’ll immediately have 20 paid sessions on your schedule. When you’re considering a position, ask how teachers build their schedules, how cancellations affect pay, and whether there are responsibilities outside teaching hours.

Build your income expectations around a realistic paid schedule. Include time off, expenses, and any benefits you’ll need to arrange yourself. Those details help you decide whether to move into teaching gradually or pursue it as your primary work.

What makes a Pilates instructor career rewarding?

Much of the satisfaction comes from helping clients learn about their bodies, seeing their progress over time, and being immersed in a community. In the same Balanced Body survey, 89% of respondents strongly agreed that they loved their Pilates career, and 92% would recommend it to others. Those are encouraging responses from the instructors surveyed. See the results.

You get to learn how someone moves, what frustrates them, and which explanation helps an exercise make sense.

Progress might look like a client needing fewer reminders or feeling comfortable asking a question they were embarrassed to ask a month ago. Those moments are part of the work, even when they don’t look especially impressive from across the room.

You have to be willing to repeat yourself, change your approach, and give someone time. If you enjoy that process, teaching is incredibly rewarding. 

What should you look for in Pilates teacher training?

Look for a program that gives you opportunities to observe experienced instructors, practice teaching, and receive specific feedback.

Learning the exercises matters. You also need practice making decisions while someone is in front of you: what to explain, what to change, and when to ask for help.

When comparing programs, ask:

• What equipment and teaching formats does the training cover?

• How much supervised teaching practice is included?

• Who gives feedback, and how often?

• What are the full costs and time commitments? This goes beyond tuition. Are the manuals included in the price? Do you have to pay for studio time?

• What support is available as you begin teaching?

• Are there opportunities for continued education, both in teaching skills and business skills?

Talk to graduates, too. Ask what helped them feel prepared and what they still needed to learn when they started working. We wrote a blog on how to become a certified Pilates instructor that includes what to look for.

How do you decide whether teaching Pilates is right for you?

Start by getting to know the teaching side of the studio you already enjoy. Talk to instructors about their schedules, how they got started, and what surprised them about the work.

You can build a career around group classes, private sessions, or a combination of both. Your interests may change as you gain experience, and you don’t have to become a studio owner to have a fulfilling teaching career.

If you’re exploring Pilates teacher training in Chicago, The LAB is one program to consider. Ask us about the training, the practice involved, and how it could fit into your life.

Resources

Balanced Body: Building a Career in Pilates. Online survey of 800 Balanced Body-affiliated instructors worldwide, conducted October 23 through November 6, 2024.