How to Become a Successful Pilates Teacher: A Realistic Guide to a Career You Love

Becoming a Pilates instructor can be an incredibly rewarding career choice. It’s honestly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made . . . and I’d do the same thing again if given the option.

However, it’s essential that you go into things with a clear, realistic understanding of exactly what goes into building a successful and profitable career. Because if you go into it with a “pie in the sky” attitude or misguided beliefs, it’s easy to feel like giving up when things don’t quite go as planned.

In this quick guide, I’ll share what I’ve learned while building my Pilates business . . . so you can make a more informed decision about whether becoming a Pilates teacher is the right move for you.

In This Guide:

1. Can you make a living teaching pilates?
2. Do pilates instructors love their job?
3. How do you become a certified pilates instructor?
4. What does building a pilates business really look like?
5. What are the pros and cons of being a pilates teacher

Whether you’re a complete newbie to the Pilates teacher world or you have been teaching on the side for a while and are now considering a complete career change, my goal with this article is for you to walk away with solid, actionable advice — and a bit more confidence about your next move.

Can You Make a Living as a Pilates Instructor?

This is obviously one of the biggest questions people have when they’re thinking about becoming a Pilates teacher. Especially if they hope to make it into a full-time venture.

I’m happy to report that the answer is a resounding “YES!” You absolutely can make money as a Pilates instructor.

But let’s get real about the financial aspect for a minute.

While you can definitely make a comfortable living as a Pilates teacher, the honest truth is that it’s not a career where you can expect to get rich. Not unless you venture into the realm of the world wide web, which requires a whole different skill set (besides teaching Pilates) which I’m happy to discuss in-depth in another article.

If you plan on taking on in-person clients (whether by working at a local Pilates studio or gym, or opening your own studio), there’s going to be a cap on how much you can earn, simply because there are only so many hours in the day and because you’re limited by how many people you can fit into a room.

This is the main reason why large group Reformer classes to have become so popular. They bring in a lot more revenue than one-on-one sessions or small group classes of 3 or 4 students. Naturally, Pilates classes of 6 to 12 or more students on Reformers is going to feel very different than a focused private session. I'm not saying worse, but definitely different.

For the sake of keeping this article focused and concise, we’ll only talk about income generated from teaching classes or clients. Studio ownership that includes managing other teachers is a whole different beast as well.

You also have to keep in mind that there are some “hidden” costs related to being self-employed (should that be the route you decide to take). When you work for yourself, you have to factor in expenses like health insurance and taxes, which will be your responsibility rather than that of an employer. Health insurance premiums in the U.S. can range from $300-$500 per month and you should plan to set aside money each quarter to prepare for tax season.

Take into consideration things like professional development (such as continueing education courses), marketing, a website, and other investments you may need to make to build and grow your business.

To get a clearer idea of your income potential, you should absolutely do your research and deduct those expenses from your gross pay.

If you're employed by a studio, you won't have these added costs, but your hourly wage will be slightly lower. As a general rule - and I'm sure there are exceptions - pilates teachers don't usually get the benefits that employees in other professions get, even if they have employee status. Since this totally depends on your employer, we can't make a general recommendation, but know that employers that DO pay benefits are rare and I would highly recommend you stick with them. :-)

Do Pilates Instructors Love Their Job?

Of course, I can’t speak for everyone, but as for me . . . Absolutely!

Teaching Pilates is a deeply fulfilling path that empowers you to positively impact people's lives. Not just while they’re in front of you, but for an indefinite amount of time afterward since they can take what you teach with them into their daily lives.

If you enjoy being around others (hello extroverts) and have a passion for helping people achieve their movement goals, teaching the art (and science) of Pilates could be a perfect fit.

However, it's worth noting that marketing yourself is a crucial aspect of being a Pilates instructor. While you don't need prior experience, promoting your services will be at least partially your responsibility (even if you work for a studio), so be prepared to invest time and effort into spreading the word about what you do and how what you do helps people. It may not be the most fun, but you definitely want to go into this knowing that it’s a must.

How Do You Become a Certified Pilates Instructor?

Typically, it takes 1-2 years of part-time study (alongside a job or parenting) to become a comprehensively trained Pilates teacher. Of course, this can vary depending on the individual. This kind of in-depth training ensures that you’re well-prepared to get out in the world, make a real difference in your clients’ lives, and help them achieve their goals (e.g. alleviating pain, improving their posture, becoming more flexible). There are a lot of certification options to choose from.

Depending on the type and the level of certification you pursue, this investment can run you anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand. 

By choosing to start with only one apparatus, typically the Reformer or the mat, you can keep the initial investment lower. This might be the best option for you if you're not sure you'll enjoy teaching and also if you're only planning on teaching a few hours per week on the side, next to your full-time job.

If you're considering switching careers, comprehensive training is the way to go. For a comprehensive pilates certification (meaning on all equipment), you can look at 500 hours of training before you can start getting paid for your teaching. This gives you the best education and also the most options for teaching at different places, such as a dedicated Pilates studio, a gym, yoga studio, dance studio, etc. And you'll be able to confidently work one-on-one with clients. Partial certifications usually don't fully prepare you for individual needs, such as injuries and they also don't give you the specific tools to work with them effectively. 

After completing your training, you’ll be eligible to take the NCPT exam to become nationally certified. This exam is independent from your training school and can be taken remotely. 

When you first start teaching, you'll most likely (have to) teach any class or client at any time of the day. Over time, you should zoom in on a Pilates niche, which means narrowing down whom or with what you are especially talented to help (one-on-one vs. private, athletes vs. rehab vs general fitness, etc). We all have strengths and weaknesses in our teaching skills, and that's okay. Just know what your strengths are and choose more and more of those types of classes or clients. For example, if you're really great a teaching group classes, but don't enjoy the intimacy of private sessions, try to find more groups to teach and pass your privates on to colleagues you trust. Pretty straight forward, right? 

These decisions will have a big impact on your approach as well as which machines you invest in (should you go the route of opening your own studio). I highly recommend you become a great student of Pilates and do a lot of research before deciding so that you feel confident that you’ve made a choice you will be happy with for the long run.

What Does Building a Pilates Business Really Look Like?

As mentioned, I’m all about having realistic expectations around what being a Pilates teacher entails. And a big part of that is your schedule.

While it’s 100% possible to have a completely booked schedule filled with clients who love working with you, it’s not going to happen overnight. It takes time and effort to build your Pilates clientele. In fact, I think it’s wise to plan for a year of dedicated effort to get to the point where you can teach full-time. (Keep in mind that teaching Pilates can be physically and mentally demanding, so consider a 30-hour workweek to maintain a healthy balance.)

However, once you’ve put in the work to grow your skills, your reputation, and your client base, you’ll find that it’s easier to fill your schedule the way you want. You might even need to have a waiting list!

Education is in fact a big factor in how successful your business will be. Getting clients requires marketing (word of mouth is free and best overall), but keeping clients is a matter of your education. If you can help your clients make their strength and flexibility dreams come true, they'll stick with you for the long haul. Keeping clients is much easier (and more affordable) than getting new clients.

What are the Pros and Cons of Being a Pilates Teacher?

Like most careers, being a pilates teacher comes with both benefits and challenges. Let's explore some of them.

Pros of Being a Pilates Teacher

• Flexible schedule: As a Pilates instructor, you can custom design a schedule that fits both your lifestyle and commitments.
• Endless teaching opportunities: By being comprehensively certified you can teach at countless studios, gyms, etc; not just a dedicated Pilates studio; you can even rent your own space and be your own boss. You can be an employee at a studio or self-employed, whichever you prefer.
• Personal health benefits: It’s worth mentioning that Pilates teachers have the unique benefit of having the knowledge and skills to support their own physical health goals, maintain their physical wellbeing, and recover from musculoskeletal issues.
• Longevity: You can teach Pilates well into your 80s (there are several famous examples, such as Romana Kryzanowska or Jay Grimes, and Joseph Pilates himself, besides many passionate Pilates teachers all over the world who you've never heard of).

Cons of Being a Pilates Teacher

• Self-employment responsibilities: As a self-employed professional, you'll need to handle taxes, marketing, and other business aspects on your own (unless you hire people to do it for you).
• Initial business-building: You can't expect to launch your business and have a full-time income on day one. It will take time and effort to build up a steady client base and establish a thriving Pilates business.
• Physical and mental demands: Teaching Pilates can be mentally taxing (especially if you have a full client load). It's essential to prioritize self-care to avoid burnout. I would say teaching pilates is best for extroverts, as they gain energy from being with people. Introverts can definitely teach pilates, but might have to keep their teaching hours a bit lower, to allow for quiet recovery time. 
• You work when others play: Most people fit their pilates sessions in before or after work and on weekends; teaching at some of those times will be unavoidable (until you have grown your reputation and can choose when you teach). This means either early mornings or evenings (avoid teaching both on the same day.) Think about your current responsibilities (such as childcare), and know what hours will work for you. While you might have to work a bit harder in the beginning to find "your people" who have a similar schedule to you, doing this at the beginning of your career will serve you in the long run.

Becoming a Pilates teacher is a journey that requires passion, dedication, and a realistic approach. While the road may have its challenges, being able to create positive (and lasting) changes in the lives of your clients makes it all worthwhile!

If that sounds like a dream to you and you’re ready to put in the time and energy it takes to succeed, this could be the perfect fit for you . . . and I wish you all the beautiful things you need to make it happen!

Interested in learning more about the Pilates Encyclopedia teacher training program? We can connect you with a studio in your area.