Everything You Need to Know About the Fitness Pilates Training Course

Are you a qualified fitness professional thinking about adding Pilates-based classes to your timetable?

Perhaps your clients are asking for Pilates, you want to expand your teaching skills, or you’re looking for a contemporary programme that you can teach face-to-face, in a studio, in the community or online.

The Fitness Pilates Training Course gives qualified fitness professionals the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to teach creative, contemporary and highly effective Fitness Pilates classes.

Created by Rachel Holmes in 2002, Fitness Pilates is a modern group exercise programme based on the traditional principles of Pilates and Contrology developed by Joseph Pilates. It combines established Pilates principles with current exercise and movement science to create accessible and functional classes for today’s participants.

And more than 3,500 instructors have now trained to teach Fitness Pilates, with classes being delivered in gyms, health clubs, leisure centres, studios, community venues and online.

What is Fitness Pilates?

Fitness Pilates is designed specifically for the group exercise environment.

It is taught to music and combines exercises from the traditional Pilates matwork repertoire with:

• Standing exercises
• Functional movement
• Mobility
• Core training
• Strength and balance
• Flexibility
• Stretching
• Relaxation

This creates a complete and balanced class that feels contemporary, accessible and adaptable to the participants in front of you.

Fitness Pilates views the body as an interconnected kinetic chain and uses Pilates principles and techniques to help improve posture, movement quality, mobility, flexibility, core strength, concentration and everyday function.

Who is the Fitness Pilates Training Course for?

Fitness Pilates is a CPD and instructor-training programme for already qualified fitness professionals.

You can attend if you hold an appropriate recognised qualification, including:

• Level 2 Group Training or Exercise to Music
• Level 3 Pilates
• A recognised Yoga teaching qualification

Your qualification should be Ofqual regulated or recognised by CIMSPA, REPs or EREPs, and you must have appropriate insurance to teach group exercise.

I’m a fitness instructor but have never taught Pilates. Can I attend?

Yes.

You don’t need previous Pilates teaching experience if you already hold an appropriate fitness qualification.

However, we strongly recommend attending Pilates or Fitness Pilates classes before your training so you can become familiar with the exercises, terminology and teaching style.

Is Fitness Pilates the same as a Level 3 Pilates qualification?

No – and this is an important distinction.

The Level 3 Pilates Diploma is a regulated qualification and provides a pathway into teaching Pilates for people who do not already hold an appropriate qualification.

Fitness Pilates is a branded CPD and instructor-training programme for qualified fitness professionals.

If you are already suitably qualified, Fitness Pilates enables you to add this established class format to your teaching portfolio.

If you currently have no fitness qualification and your goal is to become a Pilates teacher, please contact us and we can advise you on the Level 3 Pilates pathway.

How is the Fitness Pilates course delivered?

The main training is delivered as two full days of live online tuition via Zoom with Kelly Reed and Rachel Holmes.

But your learning doesn’t begin and end with the two live days.

When you enrol, you also receive access to the Fitness Pilates online learning dashboard, pre-course materials and your comprehensive training manual, so you can begin preparing before the live training.

The course is highly practical, giving you opportunities to practise teaching, receive feedback and develop your confidence throughout the training.

What will I learn?

We cover everything you need to begin planning and delivering your own Fitness Pilates classes.

Fitness Pilates foundations

You’ll learn:

• The history and development of Fitness Pilates
• Traditional Pilates and Contrology
• The Fitness Pilates principles
• The aims and benefits of Fitness Pilates
• How Fitness Pilates differs from traditional Pilates
• Fitness Pilates as a group exercise format
• Professional responsibilities and scope of practice

Posture and movement

You’ll explore:

• Posture and alignment
• Common postural imbalances
• Movement quality
• Musculoskeletal balance
• Functional movement patterns
• The kinetic-chain approach

Breathing and core connection

You’ll learn about:

• Pilates breathing techniques
• Breathing patterns during exercise
• Core activation and stability
• Pelvic and spinal alignment
• Integrating breath with movement
• Effectively cueing breathing

How to structure a Fitness Pilates class

We look at how to bring everything together into a balanced session, including:

• Warm-ups and movement preparation
• Mobility
• Standing exercises
• Functional movement
• Matwork
• Active and passive flexibility
• Stretching
• Relaxation
• Creating an effective class flow

The complete syllabus takes you from the foundations of Fitness Pilates through to practical teaching and class planning.

Standing and Functional Fitness Pilates

One of the elements that makes Fitness Pilates so versatile is the inclusion of standing and functional exercises.

You’ll explore standing strength and mobility exercises, balance and stability, functional movement patterns, lower-body conditioning, upper-body mobility and effective exercise transitions.

This gives you so much scope when programming classes for today’s participants.

Fitness Pilates Matwork

You’ll also work through exercises from the traditional matwork repertoire and learn how to teach them effectively.

The training looks at:

• Exercise set-up
• Alignment
• Technique
• Core strength and stability
• Spinal mobility
• Strength
• Flexibility
• Control
• Safe transitions

Progressions, regressions and mixed abilities

Every class is different.

That’s why a major part of Fitness Pilates training is learning how to adapt exercises for the people you are actually teaching.

You’ll learn how to progress and regress exercises appropriately, offer clear teaching options and manage mixed-ability groups while maintaining good technique and safety.

Do you teach Fitness Pilates to music?

Yes.

Fitness Pilates was created for the group exercise environment and music can be an important part of creating the right class atmosphere and flow.

During the course you’ll learn about selecting suitable music, teaching with and without the beat, choosing appropriate movement speeds and using music without compromising exercise technique.

Developing your teaching skills

Fitness Pilates isn’t simply about knowing the exercises.

It’s about being able to teach them brilliantly.

We work on:

• Verbal and visual cueing
• Anatomical coaching
• Imagery
• Demonstration
• Observation
• Correcting technique
• Inclusive language
• Developing your personality and individual teaching style

How is Fitness Pilates assessed?

Following the live training, you’ll film yourself teaching a Fitness Pilates exercise selected by your tutor.

We will be looking for:

• Safe and effective exercise technique
• Clear communication and teaching skills
• Appropriate anatomical cueing
• Effective use of imagery
• Suitable progressions and regressions
• Your own personality and teaching style

You’ll also complete an open-book assessment and receive practical feedback during your live training.

What do I receive when I book?

Your Fitness Pilates training includes:

• Two full days of live Zoom tuition
• Fitness Pilates online learning dashboard
• Pre-course learning
• Comprehensive PDF training manual
• Online eLearning portal
• Practical class-planning guidance
• Tutor support
• Lifetime access to your online course materials
• Certificate following successful completion
• The right to advertise and teach Fitness Pilates following successful assessment
• No monthly licence fees or ongoing tie-ins

Who teaches the course?

The live training is delivered by international fitness presenter and educator Kelly Reed, with additional training lectures and educational modules created by Fitness Pilates founder Rachel Holmes.

Kelly supports learners from booking through the live course and assessment process.

Rachel has 40 years’ experience as a fitness educator, international presenter and programme creator and continues to develop Fitness Pilates as exercise science and the needs of instructors and participants evolve.

Is Fitness Pilates recognised?

Yes.

Fitness Pilates is endorsed by CIMSPA and recognised by EMD UK.

Choreography To Go is an EMD UK Training Partner and CIMSPA Training Provider and also delivers Active IQ and YMCA Awards qualifications.

Again, it is important to remember that Fitness Pilates is a recognised CPD and branded instructor-training programme, rather than a standalone Level 3 Pilates qualification.

Can my employer pay for my Fitness Pilates training?

Yes.

We regularly work with leisure centres, health clubs, councils and other organisations that fund professional development for their instructors.

We can provide an invoice or pro forma invoice and work with your employer’s purchasing process, including purchase orders where required.

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes. Klarna is available at checkout, subject to eligibility, approval and Klarna’s terms and conditions.

Can I call my class Fitness Pilates after qualifying?

Yes.

Once you’ve successfully completed your training and assessment, you can advertise and teach your own Fitness Pilates classes.

And there are no monthly licence fees or ongoing tie-ins.

Where could Fitness Pilates take you?

Once qualified, there are so many ways you could incorporate Fitness Pilates into your fitness business.

You could teach:

• Weekly community Fitness Pilates classes
• Health club and leisure centre classes
• Online Fitness Pilates
• Small-group sessions
• Express classes
• Workshops
• Pop-up classes
• Specialist Fitness Pilates sessions

You can create a teaching style and timetable that works for you and your community.

Why train to teach Fitness Pilates?

Fitness Pilates has been developing since 2002.

More than 3,500 instructors have trained in the programme and Fitness Pilates can now be found across leisure centres, gyms, health clubs, private studios, community venues and online.

If you’re already a qualified fitness professional and would love to expand your skills, introduce Pilates-based exercise to your clients and add another established programme to your teaching portfolio, Fitness Pilates could be your next step.

Ready to Train To Teach Fitness Pilates™?

Our next live online training takes place on 26 & 27 September.

You’ll receive your pre-course learning, online materials and training manual, join us for two highly practical days of live training and then complete your assessment to become part of the Fitness Pilates teaching community.

Train. Qualify. Start teaching Fitness Pilates.