Pilates teacher
Pilates teachers help clients change and improve their body strength and posture through breathing, stretching and conditioning exercises.
Working Hours
32–34
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
As a pilates teacher you could:
- work with clients, either one-to-one or in groups
- design exercise routines that suit the needs and abilities of each client
- teach exercises which are done on a mat, or using equipment
- break down exercises and help clients to establish good movement skills to target problem areas
- keep detailed client records
- maintain your own level of fitness through regular practice
- teach clients how to handle stress and to relax more easily
- advertise and market your classes
Skills needed
- knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
- customer service skills
- the ability to work on your own
- leadership skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- specialist courses run by private training organisations
Career progression
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 might work with health professionals, like physiotherapists, to help athletes or dancers with rehabilitation following injury.
You could also specialise in:
- antenatal pilates (for pregnant people)
- pilates for lower back pain
- pilates for older adults
- pilates using specialist equipment, like a reformer