Pilates Encyclopedia Teacher Training Program
Great Pilates instructors can work confidently with people of all abilities, skill levels, and challenges.
That's why we teach the ADAPT Pilates™ Method
Are you passionate about Pilates and ready to step into the teacher’s shoes?
Whether you're looking to teach part-time or full-time, our innovative training program is designed to turn you into an exceptionally skillful Pilates instructor.
Start a Fulfilling Career By Helping People Move Better
Pilates is here to stay. Since its start in the US in the 1930s, the Pilates method has been successfully used by thousands of people worldwide for building core strength, flexibility, balance, and for post-rehabilitation purposes and has been a vital part of training for professional dancers and athletes.
Pilates is for just about everyone. It’s challenging enough for the best athletes and gentle enough for people with injuries or seniors. Pilates works by helping students develop focus and direct their energy towards a desired result -- a uniformly developed musculature, optimal posture, and improved mental focus. Through the powerful collaboration and integration of mind, body, and spirit, a practitioner of Pilates experiences improved body awareness, confidence, and a lifted spirit.
The Pilates method has continued as a living system that traditionally has been taught directly from one person to the next in a kind of oral/visual/kinesthetic fashion. Joseph Pilates trained his apprentices through immersion in the craft at his studio, not by sticking their heads in books or sitting in a classroom.
Watching and assisting students with real limitations in a real-life studio setting will prepare you for the real world of teaching Pilates.
The ADAPT Pilates Teacher Training Program in collaboration with Pilates Encyclopedia is designed to create knowledgeable, thoughtful, creative, and successful Pilates teachers. The program is based on the recommendations of the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA). Upon completion of the mat and comprehensive training program, you will be eligible to sit for the NCPT (National Certified Pilates Teacher) exam.
As a trainee, you will not only learn the movements and tailor them to suit your own body, thus benefiting personally on a high level, but you will learn to recognize movement strengths and weaknesses in your students and ways to balance and correct them, respectively.
Our comprehensive program will teach you the needed skills to address the specific and individual needs of a wide variety of students, from those seeking rehabilitation to others who are interested in improving their athletic performance.
Upon completion of the comprehensive program, you will be fully versed in the complete Pilates exercise repertoire on all apparatuses and be able to teach fun, safe, and effective group classes and private sessions to students of all levels. This program is richly rewarding and, combined with dedication and practice, will prepare you for a superlative teaching career.
Discover a New Way to Learn and Teach Pilates
The ADAPT Pilates™ program is not your typical Pilates instructor course.
Unlike traditional programs that focus on exercises first and anatomy later, we do things differently.
Instead of drowning you in a sea of exercises and anatomy jargon, we start by honing in on movement skills.
You'll master the art of movement first, then choose and learn exercises that work on those skills.
It's a game-changer that promises a deeper understanding of the human body in movement and a more impactful teaching strategy.
And let's be real, isn't that what it's all about? Helping your students achieve their goals faster, more effectively, and in a way that'll last.
The ADAPT Pilates™ Method
At the heart of the Pilates Encyclopedia Teacher Training program lies the ADAPT Pilates™ Method.
This method is a total game-changer, giving teachers like you the power to craft intentional and personalized programs that resonate with each student's unique journey. For group classes, you'll learn a crystal clear strategy to teach multi-level classes that support and challenge each client individually and appropriately.
Picture this: guiding your students through a tailored experience that speaks directly to their goals, strengths, and hurdles.
With the ADAPT Pilates™ Method in your toolkit, you're equipped to design programs that cater precisely to the needs of every student, ensuring they're fully engaged and seeing real results.
It's all about starting with a deep dive into each student's needs and aspirations, then using that insight to craft a program that's a perfect fit.
Then, with your expert guidance, you can help students identify and correct any movement habits holding them back, paving the way for perfect alignment and balance.
As your students progress, you're right there with them, tweaking their programs to keep them challenged and fired up for growth.
The best part?
By embracing the ADAPT Pilates™ Method, you're not just teaching Pilates – you're giving your students the tools they need to thrive on every level, from physical strength to mental clarity and emotional well-being.
It's a total transformation, one session at a time.
Imagine how it would feel to . . .
✅ Say goodbye to the overwhelm of memorizing muscle and exercise names. Instead, get a clear kinesthetic and intellectual understanding of human movement.
✅ Access a treasure trove of uber-detailed Pilates knowledge, you could even call it an encyclopedia, filled with hundreds of exercises perfectly organized by apparatus, body position, and movement skills, so you can craft safe, effective, and personalized workouts that leave your clients craving more.
✅ Earn rave reviews from clients who are blown away by your teaching prowess and can't help but sing your praises to anyone who'll listen.
✅ Upon graduation, walk into any Pilates studio with unshakeable confidence, armed with a profound understanding of movement skills that sets you leagues ahead of the competition.
✅ Continually evolve and expand your horizons with ongoing support, a vibrant community of like-minded professionals, and resources that keep you on the leading edge of Pilates education.
All this can be your reality… and I want to make it happen! That’s why I created the ADAPT Pilates Teacher Training Program.
Apply Directly With One of Our Partner Studios
Jamie M.
"The Pilates Encyclopedia teacher training program has allowed me to conceptualize a second career path I hadn’t believed possible previously with other training methods.
As a mom and full-time educator, finding time to be away from my family is challenging. By allowing individualized access to the training through the online Pilates Encyclopedia, I am able to study when it is most convenient for me.
Developing a relationship with a studio owner as an apprentice allows textbook studies to gain real-life traction. I am being mentored through the application and refinement of my practice at the studio as a student (performance skills) and a teacher (teaching skills). This is an ongoing process and I suspect difficult to actualize within a traditional teacher training program.
I believe this program offers a balance of self-directed goal setting and relationship building with the community (studio) you will likely teach within. If you’ve researched options for trainings, you’ve come to realize the multitude of styles out there. Pilates Encyclopedia’s model will give you a solid foundation and allow you to develop the “style” that suits your goals and studio best."
Why I Created This Program
Hi, my name is Mara Sievers. I'm the creator of Pilates Encyclopedia.
Over the years, I've witnessed countless Pilates instructors grappling with self-doubt and uncertainty about their teaching abilities.
Traditional training programs often leave gaps in knowledge, leaving instructors feeling ill-equipped and overwhelmed.
I knew there was a better way.
That's why I set out to create a program that flips the script on traditional training methods.
Instead of focusing solely on exercises and anatomy, we prioritize mastering movement skills first.
By understanding the "why, how, and what" behind every exercise, you'll teach Pilates in a way that feels intuitive and impactful.
But it doesn't stop there.
Our program is designed to be flexible and accessible, with a comprehensive 52-week curriculum that you can start anytime, anywhere. It's a practical, hands-on training that fits seamlessly into your busy life and empowers you to take action.
I created this Pilates Teacher Training Program because I believe every instructor deserves to feel confident, knowledgeable, and empowered on their teaching journey.
This program is my way of giving back to the Pilates community and helping you create the career and life you've always dreamed of.
Is This Program Right For You?
This program is right for you if you want to be thoroughly educated and ready and confident to teach any type of person. Whether you're aware of it or not, Pilates attracts many people with limitations, pain, or injuries. These days, Pilates teachers MUST be prepared for clients of all ages and abilities. Being able to do all the exercises yourself is great and all, but it's not the most important qualification for being a successful Pilates instructor. Instead, you will need lots of curiosity to learn.
This program is NOT the best choice for you, if your main goal is to get better at doing Pilates. If you want to improve your personal practice - what a fabulous goal - then instead of taking a Pilates teacher training program (either from us or others), find a great instructor who knows how to challenge you. They'll provide the guidance to turn you into the best mover you can be.
But let me explain a bit more.
In order for us to deliver a high level of education it also requires that our participants are on the same page and want to dive below the surface.
In all honesty, we’ve heard from countless new trainees that they felt their training program was lacking. Most schools cram way too much information into a short duration, so trainees finish their training quickly. The result is a poorly educated and highly self-conscious teacher, who is not prepared for the real world of dealing with humans with movement problems.
Teaching Pilates is NOT about demonstrating exercises. It’s about recognizing when exercises don’t work the way they should and knowing what to do about it.
If you have ever chosen a college degree for your career, I bet you didn’t go with the cheapest, shortest option (unless it was your only option, then I congratulate you).
Most likely, you wanted to choose the BEST option. The one that would leave you with the highest chance of being hired at a great company at a good salary. Or you chose the one that you knew would leave you feeling confident about your skills and prepared for the real world. We ask that you choose your Pilates training the same way.
If you’re just doing this for fun, we’re not for you. It’ll be too hard and you’ll lose interest. But if you are eager to go deeper and willing to work for it, you’ll be rewarded with a whole new worldview of the human body during movement.
Bethany F.
"I decided to go with the Pilates Encyclopedia program for multiple reasons. I could study at my own pace, I’d receive loads of one-on-one attention, and the location was convenient. Most Pilates trainings were scheduled on multiple weekends over several months, and far away from where I live, which would have made it a lot longer to complete the program.
This training has created a path for me to become a Pilates instructor, an adventurous journey.My mentor has helped me every step of the way by providing me with her top knowledge. She explains the movements clearly and has a "golden touch" when it comes to hands-on cueing. The Pilates Encyclopedia exercise library also has been a huge help during my training to help clarify any missing puzzle pieces while learning the exercises. This teacher training program is truly amazing."
What You Will Learn...
Fundamental, intermediate, and advanced Pilates exercises
Movement skills in theory and practice - the ADAPT Pilates™ way to teach experiential anatomy
Progressions, regressions, and modifications for all exercises
Verbal and tactile cueing skills to teach safe, effective, and inspiring one-on-one sessions and group classes
Sequencing guidelines for private sessions and group classes
Precautions and contraindications for the most common special populations
Be Prepared for the Real World
Learn Pilates in a real studio setting with people of all ages and abilities looking for help with their movement goals or struggles.
Teach Movement to People, Not Just Exercises
These days it's not enough to be able to guide students through exercises. As the standard in our industry rises, Pilates teachers have to be trained more thoroughly.
Learn Best Practices
By being a part of the day-to-day operations at your host studio you will naturally absorb best practices regarding client communication, managing expectations, selling class passes and packages, scheduling and cancelations, and other real-life situations that go way beyond the skills of teaching movement but are necessary for a successful career in Pilates.
Your Time Commitment
Your time investment over the course of the training will be 500 hours. This aligns with the requirement determined by the National Pilates Certification Program. This will allow you to sit for the NCPT exam certifying you as a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher. They consist of:
- Coursework: lectures, study, and homework assignments
- Unsupervised self-practice: your own practice, at home or at a studio
- Self-Practice check-offs: demonstrate your ability to perform all exercises (except those you have a contraindication for, if applicable) and receive feedback from your mentor
- Observation: watch certified teachers interact with students and classes
- Teaching practice: teach your friends, your volunteers
- Teaching check-offs: demonstrate your ability to teach all exercises and receive feedback from your mentor
- Assistant teaching: assist your teacher in her classes and sessions
- Supervised teaching: teach under your mentor's supervision
Download Our Detailed Program Guide
Locations + Cost
Training costs vary slightly depending on your location. Please inquire directly at the partner studio nearest to you.
If you don't see a location near you, please email [email protected] and we'll help you find one.
Interested in becoming a host studio for our training program? Please email [email protected] and request our host studio and mentor guide.
United States
Europe
Australia + New Zealand
Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions? Here are my answers to a few FAQs that may help provide some clarity. If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to me and my team at [email protected]