• BECOME A MAT PILATES INSTRUCTOR

    MOVE Wellness is teaming up with University of Michigan Recreational Sports to bring you a Mat Pilates Instructor Training Program right on campus in Ann Arbor this winter. Your Pilates Teacher Training journey starts here!

    SEE THE SCHEDULE
  • BECOME A MAT PILATES INSTRUCTOR

    MOVE Wellness is teaming up with University of Michigan Recreational Sports to bring you a Mat Pilates Instructor Training Program right on campus in Ann Arbor this winter. Your Pilates Teacher Training journey starts here!

    SEE THE SCHEDULE

MAT PILATES INSTRUCTOR TRAINING PROGRAM

COURSE CONCEPTS

In the Mat Training Program, trainees will learn…

  • The history & philosophy of Pilates
  • Musculoskeletal anatomy and kinesiology
  • How to teach the comprehensive Pilates mat repertoire
  • Postural analysis and practical applications
  • Modifications for injuries & special populations
  • Skills and tools for teaching group fitness classes and private sessions
  • How to program workouts to progress your class participants

LEARN MORE AT OUR VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE

Date: October 22nd at 7:30pm on Zoom

Join MOVE Wellness and the University of Michigan Rec Sports Teams to discuss the Mat Training program. In this virtual open house you’ll learn all the of the program details and requirements, plus have time to get all your questions answered.

P.S. Can’t make the event? Fill out the RSVP and mark that you’d like to be sent the recording and we’ll make sure to email it to you after the open house.

MAT PROGRAM SCHEDULE

2025

January 17 & 18

February 14 & 15 | February 21 & 22

March 14 & 15 | March 21 & 22

Exam: April 12th

Course Times

Fridays 3 – 8pm  |  Saturdays 9:15am – 5:15pm

Course Location

North Campus Rec Building

2375 Hubbard Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

PROGRAM COST AND PAYMENT OPTIONS

Course Cost: $1,200 (includes $200 deposit to register)

We understand that training is an expensive undertaking and we want to make it accessible to all passionately committed students like you. Recreational Sports offers tuition assistance for students interested in working at the Rec Sports facility. Plus, MOVE offers two payment plan options where trainees are able to split the course fee into three or five installments.

Application Deadline: December 20th, 2024

Deposit Deadline: January 3rd, 2025

*only 12 spots total in the Program*

READY TO APPLY?

Choose ONE of the following two options:

  1. Apply through University of Michigan Rec Sports if you are interested in becoming an on-site fitness instructor for the University.
  2. Apply through MOVE if you are interested in participating in the program but are not interested in working at Rec Sports.

After you fill out your application, someone from the MOVE or Rec Sports Team will reach out to you via email.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The program is only open to University of Michigan students and faculty members.

If that’s you — great, we can’t wait to meet you! Pilates trainers can be any age, gender, body size, or body type. Some trainers have backgrounds in dance, gymnastics, and other athletics. Some trainers had no prior connection to sports or movement systems before discovering Pilates. Anyone interested in pursuing professional training and work as a Pilates instructor should be self-motivated, enthusiastic about Pilates as a movement system, and committed to obtaining professional certification and building their career.

After you have completed the Mat Training Program and taken your exam, you should plan to prepare for the National Pilates Certification Program (NPCP) exam. This third-party exam will officially certify you as a mat Pilates instructor.

The MOVE Mat Training Program at U of M is specifically designed to give you all the tools, skill, and information you need to sit for and pass this exam.

Payment Plans: We offer two payment plan where you can pay for your training over time in monthly installments, making a total of three or five installments.

Tuition assistance is available through Rec Sports. If you are interested in becoming an instructor at Rec Sports, you may be eligible for tuition assistance. Your first step is to apply here. Please note you must be able to teach for a minimum of one year at Rec Sports to be eligible.

Absolutely. While you are required to learn and understand the full version of each exercise, you are not required to physically execute everything in order to learn and teach it. Many program participants modify certain exercises as they are learning in order to accommodate their own bodies just as they would do with their own clients, which is one of the many beautiful aspects of this movement system. That being said, the program is physically rigorous and it will be helpful to build your strength and stamina in the weeks and months before beginning the program.

At the end of the program and after your exam, you will be issued a certificate of completion. It is still highly encouraged that you sit for the National Pilates Certification Program (NPCP) exam. It is recommended to take the NPCP exam within six months of completing your program so all of the course material is fresh in your memory.

Some gyms and fitness studios will hire instructors-in-training as long as they are on track to finish and plan on completing a program. After you have your certificate of completion, you will be able to apply to gyms and movement studios.

Pilates instructors should expect to enroll regularly in continuing education courses. Further developing your overall knowledge base and expertise, as well as developing additional areas of specialization will allow you to better serve your clients, broaden your client base, and increase the amount of money you can make over time.

Most instructors take at least one course ever 1-2 years. Courses can be as short as a one-day or weekend workshop, while others might take place over the course of a week or two.

BENEFITS OF MOVE’S PILATES MAT PROGRAM

Unparalleled curriculum designed by our expert Instructor Trainers

Competitive edge in the Pilates world and fitness industry

Prepare for the National Pilates Certification Program Exam

Allows students to start earning income teaching Pilates

Training in a supportive and encouraging environment

Manageable and well-paced course schedule

What Students Are Saying

“With her gentle guidance, deep passion, and profound knowledge of Pilates, Elaine and her wonderful team of instructors led me through one of the most challenging, but by far, one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”

“As an experienced, passionate certified fitness and personal training instructor, adding Pilates to my repertoire has greatly enhanced my skill set allowing me to reach my clients in a smarter, more methodical and balanced way. The bonus of personal growth and new like minded friends I met along the journey was a blessing!”

“The MOVE instructor training was the best, most comprehensive training I’ve encountered. The program is full of the most caring and beautiful people. I felt so accepted, supported, and empowered.”

“The instructors are smart, encouraging, and have so much information on the body, movement, and personal experience with clients. It has given me the confidence to go out and teach on my own knowing I will have the information to teach them.”

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? ASK US ANYTHING!