In-depth Anatomy, Hands-on Practice, Expert Mentorship and a Full Equipment Curriculum in Chicago

The LAB: A collaborative teacher training carefully designed to bring you both Classical and Contemporary exercises on a mix of traditional & contemporary Pilates equipment: Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, High/Ladder Barrel, Spine Corrector & Magic Circle.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Our 500-HR program includes 6 weekends of in-person training, 75 hours of observation, 95 hours of self-practice, and 130 hours of teaching. Throughout the duration of the program of study and beyond students will have access to all facilitators, studio space, on-going job support, and mentorship.

Our training program is composed of 4 main components.  

1 - In Studio Lecture: Over the course of 6 weekends we will learn Anatomy, History of Pilates/Scope of Practice (as required by the PMA®), and a breakdown of every exercise according to choreography, muscle focus, and contraindications. We also spend time learning how to put together programming for private sessions, duets and group classes.

2 - Self-Practice Hours: a minimum number of hours practicing on your own either in our studio, following your manuals, along with DVD’s/online or in other studios.

3 - Practice Teaching Hours: we encourage you after the first weekend to begin teaching to people. Anyone you can get your hands on: friends, significant others, and family. The more body types you see moving the better off you will be.

4 - Observation Hours: preferably done in one of our studios although not required, watching experienced teachers teaching others is one of the best ways to absorb information. See how they setup sessions, correct, & cue.

Upon completion of your hours, you will schedule a date to take your Practical exam. Upon passing both a written and practical exam you will be a Certified Pilates Teacher.

When you commit to The Lab training, we are also committing to be your mentors for not just the certification process but every moment thereafter. As you begin your journey into the teaching world you’ll come across questions but may not know where to get answers. That’s what we’re here for! We’ll make sure you have every resource you need to be a successful teacher!

500-HR Comprehensive Training

Must be completed to sit for the Pilates Method Alliance Exam 

·      History & Philosophy of Pilates (4 hours)

·      Professionalism/Scope of Practice & Ethics (15 hours)

·      Anatomy & Movement Principles (40 hours)

·      Mat Instructor training or equivalent- Includes Pre-Pilates & Stretching (35 hours)

·      Reformer Instructor training ~ Course work, written and practical test (50 Hours)

·      Cadillac/Tower ~ Course work, written and practical test (20 hours)

·      Chair ~ Course work, written and practical test (14 hours)

·      Ladder Barrel (8 Hours)

·      Magic Circle (4 Hours)

·      95 Personal practice hours, 130 Teaching hours, 75 Observation Hours. (We suggest 20 observation hours for each module)

·      Practical tests and written assessments (8 hours)

·      Program Design: Private and group (2 hours)

(Note about teaching hours: You must take 3 clients through 10 hours on the equipment, this is a part of the 130 hours)

UPCOMING TRAINING
FALL 2026 – Chicago, IL

  • 9.18  Friday: 5-8pm Pilates Principles + Anatomy

    9.19  Saturday: 1-6pm

    9.20 Sunday:  1-6pm

  • 10.16 Friday: 5-8pm Anatomy Review

    10.17 Saturday: 1-6pm

    10.18 Sunday: 1-6pm

  • 11.13 Friday: 5-8pm 

    11.14 Saturday: 1-6pm

    11.15 Sunday:  1-6pm

  • 12.11 Friday: 5-8pm Spine Corrector

    12.12 Saturday: 1-6pm

    12.13 Sunday:  1-6pm

  • 1.8 Friday: 5-8p Class Planning

    1.9 Saturday: 1-6pm

    1.10 Sunday:  1-6pm

  • 2.5 Friday: 5-6:30pm

    2.6 Saturday:  1-6pm

    2.7 Sunday: 1-6pm

Apply For Certification

What Makes Us Different

We go beyond traditional certification. By integrating perinatal care, physiotherapy & biomechanics into our training.

We prepare teachers with both the anatomical knowledge and confidence to work with a wide range of clients.

  • All of our instructors come from extensive backgrounds in physical therapy, pelvic floor function, perinatal care, and corrective exercise, bringing a depth of clinical knowledge into every aspect of the training. Our curriculum weaves these disciplines together to give trainees a deeper, more practical understanding of the body. Preparing graduates to work safely, confidently, and effectively with a wide range of clients.

  • We provide ongoing mentorship to support graduates as they step into teaching, helping them apply what they’ve learned in real-world settings. Through networking events, continued education opportunities, and access to experienced instructors, we create space for connection, feedback, and growth. Helping our teachers build confidence, refine their skills, and feel supported as they evolve in their careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Teaching experience, no!

    Experience taking classes, yes!

    We want to make sure you have a clear understanding of what you’re about to learn to teach. You don’t need to have extensive Pilates experience, but we do ask for at least 10 sessions/classes prior to beginning. You do not need to do those at our studio, but we recommend attending classes with our studios so you get a feel for how we work, the vibe, and the types of teachers we have. 

  • Yes! Our program takes place on weekday evenings and weekends only. You can work on your self-study hours anytime you’d like. 

  • The Comprehensive Program takes approximately one year to complete the 500- hour certification. Many people complete it within 6 months if they have a more open schedule to accommodate self-study hours. Completing 5 hours per week will allow you to finish in one year. (more hours = shorter timeline) 

  • Nope! Our program covers the foundations of anatomy. We focus on functional movement and anatomy in a very applicable way. We understand it can be intimidating to learn something new, but we promise you can do it. 

  • Yes. You learn class planning and cueing as skills of their own, so you can build a class rather than just demonstrate exercises, and you finish with 500 documented hours, which is the depth studios look for.

    Mentorship continues after certification, with job placement support and guidance toward a specialty like perinatal work, athletes, or recovery.

  • We’ve got you.

    Makeup sessions can be scheduled with studio instructors at the private rate of $125/hour. We typically try to group trainees who missed sessions together to save on costs. Makeups are not necessarily hour for hour because it takes less time to complete with fewer people. Budget about . of the number of hours missed. For example, if you miss Weekend 5 (13 hours total), you can plan to spend about 9 hours making it up. If we have more people, you will split the hourly costs.