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- Teach pilates to individuals or groups, often as a freelancer
- You'll need good subject knowledge and high levels of personal fitness and skill
- You'll normally manage your own working hours, but may need to work evenings and weekends to fit your clients' schedules
As a pilates teacher, you'll work with clients to improve their posture and well-being through stretching and conditioning exercises.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Working with clients, either one-to-one or in groups
- Designing exercise routines that suit the needs and abilities of each client
- Teaching exercises which are done on a mat or using specialist equipment
- Breaking down exercises and helping clients to establish good movement skills
- Using exercises to target problem areas
- Keeping detailed client records
- Maintaining your own level of fitness through regular practice
- Teaching clients to handle stress and to relax more easily
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You might teach several classes in a single day, so you will need to be fit, as teaching can be tiring. You'll work in a studio that focuses on creating a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. Some travel may be involved, especially if you're a freelance pilates teacher.
You'll need
To be a Pilates teacher, you'll need knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses, customer service skills, the ability to work on your own, leadership skills, thoroughness and attention to detail, the ability to come up with new ways of doing things, patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations, and excellent verbal communication skills.
You can do a course like the Level 3 Diploma in Mat Pilates, or Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Pilates. It may be useful if you have a background in teaching exercise.
You could start by doing an exercise and fitness advanced apprenticeship then move into pilates teaching after completing further training.
You can train as a teacher by doing pilates courses with a specialist training provider or a professional body.
Before starting work as a Pilates teacher you'll need appropriate insurance cover and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance.
CAREER PROSPECTS
You could find work in private health studios, commercial or council leisure centres to teach group classes. You could also find work as a private tutor, working in clients' homes. You could work with health professionals, like physiotherapists, to help athletes or dancers with rehabilitation following injury. You could also specialise in antenatal Pilates (for pregnant women), Pilates for lower back pain, or Pilates for older adults.