Our Pilates Instructor Training Program will open your mind to the magic of movement and the joy of teaching. Our master instructors are experienced, caring and passionate Pilates instructors who love teaching. Their rich diversity of experience and perspectives allow us to offer courses appropriate for studio, fitness and rehabilitation environments. Our curriculum is rooted in classical work with branches that reach into every corner of the Pilates family tree. You will learn the work that Joseph Pilates taught as well as variations and modifications developed in response to scientific advances and the needs of today’s student for work that is safe, effective and fun.

HOW THE PILATES INSTRUCTOR TRAINING PROGRAM WORKS

Becoming a Pilates instructor takes time and effort. Balanced Body has designed our world renowned program to make the process easy to understand, flexible and affordable. Modules are taken in sequence to complete the Mat, Reformer or comprehensive Pilates training program and additional hours of practice are required before you can test out and receive a certificate of completion. Depending on your goals, you can take modules individually or in sequence and you can take as long as you need to complete the program.

Every module includes a certificate of completion for that course. The module certificates establish you as a Balanced Body student teacher. Additional personal practice, observation and student teaching hours are required to become a fully qualified Balanced Body Pilates Instructor.

The five (5) levels of Pilates Instructor within Balanced Body are:

Movement Principles
Balanced Body Mat Instructor
Balanced Body Reformer Instructor
Balanced Body Mat & Reformer
Balanced Body Comprehensive Pilates instructor

Enables you to teach the complete Pilates repertoire on the Mat, Reformer, Trapeze Table, Chair, Barrels and Small Apparatus.

Here is a breakdown of each level of training and what is included at each level.

Movement Principles (16 hours)

Prerequisite for all Pilates course work (starting 1/1/2019).Foundation course for the Balanced Body® Movement Specialist Certification.

The Movement Principles provides a solid foundation for training in any environment, with any equipment. You will come away with a complete tool box for effectively training clients to recover from injuries, improve their general fitness and enhance their performance.

The movement principles course includes five sections:

Whole Body Movement
Trunk Integration
Lower Body Training
Upper Body Training
Mobility and Restoration

The focus on practical understanding of common movement patterns prepares instructors to be excellent at problem solving, goal setting and learning new exercise techniques with ease.

Program includes:

General discussion and overview of anatomy including bones and joints in specific relationship to movement
Exercise instruction in foundational exercises which apply to any movement and fitness setting
A detailed, full color manual with 5 accompanying DVDs and streaming video to enhance your learning experience
Cueing, coaching and teaching tips

Balanced Body® Mat Instructor Training

From fundamentals to advanced movement, and wide array of variations in between!

Mat work is the foundation of the Pilates method. The Balanced Body Mat program includes the full repertoire of Pilates exercises, along with modifications and variations to make your program successful for a wide range of clients. By incorporating the Balanced Body movement principles, we give you the power to be a transformative teacher.

Mat 1 (16 hours)

Introduction to Pilates & Beginning/Intermediate Exercises
Prerequisites: Movement Principles, 10 Mat classes. 6 months experience teaching movement and anatomy recommended.
Mat 1 forms the foundation of the Pilates method. This course includes an introduction to the history and principles of the Pilates method and the beginning and intermediate level exercises. Each exercise includes training on modifications, challenges, the purpose of the exercise and any precautions for injuries and special populations. How to design and teach group classes and guidelines for teaching seniors and pre and post–natal classes are included.

Mat 2 (16 hours)
Intermediate/Advanced Exercises
Prerequisite: Movement Principles and Mat 1
Mat 2 teaches the remaining intermediate and advanced level Mat exercises for a complete understanding of the Pilates Mat program. Lectures include progressive skill development to achieve the advanced exercises, programming for intermediate and advanced classes and creating successful Mat classes.

Mat 3 – Enhanced Mat and Props (16 hours)

Enhanced Mat + Props
Prerequisite: Mat 1 and 2 or successful completion of comparable Pilates mat program.
CEC course: Take for continuing education credits or simply to add infinite variety to your current Mat programming. Students who have taken Mat training, either from Balanced Body or another provider are welcome.
Enhanced Pilates Mat completes the mat training by adding rings, rollers, bands and balls to the traditional Mat exercises. In addition, Enhanced Mat includes functional exercises for the upper and lower body expanding the Mat work beyond the core to develop whole body strength and flexibility. The Balanced Body Programming System is introduced to make class design easy, effective and fun. Adding props to a mat class makes them more dynamic, creative and accessible and clients love toys!

Mat Program Includes:

Instruction in the complete pre–Pilates and Balanced Body Mat exercises.
A detailed, full color manual with accompanying video support to enhance your learning experience.
Mat class design and delivery based on the Movement Principles and Balanced Body Programming System.
Development of cueing, coaching and teaching skills.
Safety information for teaching older adults, pre and post–natal women, and clients with back, knee, neck and shoulder conditions.

Requirements for Completion – Mat only

To become a fully qualified Balanced Body Mat Instructor, students must complete the following:

Anatomy (strongly recommended)
Balanced Body Movement Principles (16 hours)
Balanced Body Mat 1 – Course work and module test (16 hours)
Balanced Body Mat 2 – Course work and module test (16 hours)
Balanced Body Mat 3 – Course work and module test (16 hours)
20 Mat personal sessions, 15 observation hours and 35 student teaching hours.
Final written and practical test.

Total hours for completion of Mat program: 134 hours.

Upon completion of all requirements, a certificate of completion as a Balanced Body Mat Instructor will be issued.

Balanced Body® Reformer Instructor Training

Learn to use the iconic Pilates apparatus to power your programming potential!

The Reformer, developed by Joseph Pilates, is an extraordinarily flexible piece of exercise equipment. Learn how to use the Reformer and Pilates exercises to create powerful programming designed to optimize your clients potential.

Reformer 1 (16 hours)
Introduction to the Reformer & Beginning Exercises
Prerequisites: Movement Principles and 20 Reformer classes. 1 year experience teaching movement. Anatomy required prior to testing out.
This course introduces the Universal Reformer, the center piece of the Pilates equipment studio and an invaluable training tool. Reformer 1 includes an introduction to safely using the Pilates Reformer for a wide variety of supine, seated and standing exercises for the beginning to intermediate student. Movement Principles include improving lower body alignment, creating balanced muscle development and learning a protocol for effectively training the upper body.

Reformer 2 (16 hours)
Intermediate Exercises
Prerequisite: Reformer 1
Reformer 2 expands the potential of the Reformer with intermediate and advanced exercises and modifications along with programs designs for special populations including pre–and post–natal clients and clients with osteoporosis and lower back injuries. Class design, dynamic assessment and correcting common dysfunctional movement patterns are also included.

Reformer 3 (16 hours)
Advanced Exercises & Programming
Prerequisite: Reformer 2
Reformer 3 is the pinnacle of the Reformer work and includes advanced and super advanced exercises to challenge clients to achieve their best. Progressive sequences designed to teach students advanced movement skills are included along with an introduction to the revolutionary Principle Based Programming System helping you to create successful classes for clients at any level.

Reformer Program Includes:

Exercise instruction in the complete Reformer repertoire.
A detailed, full color manual with video support.
Successful class design and delivery based on the Movement Principles and Balanced Body Programming System.
Instruction in observing and analyzing posture and movement.
Development of cueing, coaching and teaching skills.
Guidelines for teaching older adults, pre and post–natal women, and clients with common orthopedic conditions.
Equipment safety and maintenance.

Requirements for Completion – Mat & Reformer

To become a fully qualified Balanced Body Mat and Reformer Instructor, students must complete the following:

Movement Principles (16 hours)
Balanced Body Mat 1 – Course work and test (16 hours)
Balanced Body Mat 2 – Course work and test (16 hours)
Balanced Body Mat 3 – Course work and test (16 hours)
Balanced Body Reformer 1 – Course work and test (16 hours)
Balanced Body Reformer 2 – Course work and test (16 hours)
Balanced Body Reformer 3 – Course work and test (16 hours)
Anatomy must be completed prior to testing
20 Mat personal sessions, 30 Reformer personal sessions, 45 observation hours and 125 student teaching hours
Final written and practical test

Total hours for completion of Reformer program: 332 hours (not including anatomy).

Requirements for Completion – Reformer only

To become a fully qualified Balanced Body Reformer Instructor, students must complete the following:

Movement Principles (16 hours)
Balanced Body Reformer 1 – Course work and test (16 hours)
Balanced Body Reformer 2 – Course work and test (16 hours)
Balanced Body Reformer 3 – Course work and test (16 hours)
Anatomy must be completed prior to testing
30 Reformer personal sessions, 30 observation hours and 90 student teaching hours
Final written and practical test

Total hours for completion of Reformer program: 214 hours (not including anatomy).

Balanced Body® Comprehensive Pilates Instructor Training

Learn how each apparatus works independently—and together as an exercise system—to enhance your practice!

The Trapeze Table, Chair, Barrels and small equipment complete the Pilates exercise system. Each apparatus adds an extra dimension to private or group work. The course is delivered 2 different ways, as individual apparatus modules or combined as Mixed Apparatus modules. Choose which works best for you.

Mixed Apparatus Course
Prerequisite: Movement Principles, Mat 1 and Reformer 1 or equivalent, 20 Pilates studio sessions.
1 year work experience in related field recommended.

Apparatus 1 (14 hours)
Apparatus 1 introduces the Trapeze Table, Chair and Barrels to provide a complete education on the Pilates system. Apparatus 1 includes beginning and intermediate level exercises on each piece of equipment along with safety, set up and their role in the Pilates studio environment. Each piece of equipment provides a unique training environment to create a well rounded experience for a client or class.

Apparatus 2 (12 hours)
Prerequisite: Apparatus 1
Apparatus 2 includes intermediate exercises on the Trapeze Table, Chair and Barrels as well as information on class design in the Pilates Studio environment. Information on working with special populations including lower back and shoulder problems included.

Apparatus 3 (12 hours)
Prerequisite: Apparatus 2
Apparatus 3 completes the comprehensive Pilates teacher training program with intermediate, advanced and super advanced exercises on the Trapeze Table, Chair and Barrels. The Balanced Body movement principle programming system is applied to the apparatus to create clear guidelines for class design.

Comprehensive PROGRAM Includes:

Exercise instruction on the complete Balanced Body Trapeze.
Table or Tower, Chair, Ladder Barrel, Step Barrel and small apparatus repertoire.
Detailed, full color manuals with accompanying video support to enhance your learning experience.
Successful class design and delivery based on the Movement Principles and Balanced Body Programming System.
Development of cueing, coaching and teaching skills.
Development of critical thinking and problem solving skills for common physical limitations and conditions.
Equipment safety and maintenance.

Requirements for Completion – Comprehensive only
To become a fully qualified Balanced Body Comprehensive Instructor, students must complete the following requirements:

Movement Principles (16 hours)
Balanced Body Mat instructor training coursework
Balanced Body Reformer instructor training coursework
Balanced Body Trapeze Table/Cadillac (or Tower) coursework (18 hours)
Balanced Body Chair coursework (14 hours)
Balanced Body Barrels coursework (6 hours)

Apparatus 1 (14 hours), Apparatus 2 (12 hours) and Apparatus 3 (12 hours) course work and module tests
Anatomy must be completed prior to testing out
20 Mat personal sessions, 65 Reformer and Studio personal sessions, 65 Observation sessions, 220 student teaching hours
Final written and practical test

Total hours for completing: 520 hours (not including anatomy)