Pilates trainer / Pilates instructor / Pilates instructor: What does your day-to-day work look like?

Pilates instructors work in sports or fitness centers or run their own studio.

They give courses for groups, teach individuals and monitor the trainees. They develop training goals with new customers and draw up individual training plans. In introductory classes, they explain the exercises, demonstrate them and guide the customers. They develop course offers for groups and run the courses.

In addition to the courses and training sessions, they ensure that the rooms and equipment are kept perfectly clean and hygienic. They take care of the administrative work, hold personal discussions with the trainees and sell passes and courses.

Target group and skills: Who is the Pilates instructor / Pilates trainer course suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?

The Pilates trainer course is aimed at the following people:

• Instructors from the health and fitness sector who would like to teach Pilates
• People with experience in Pilates who would like to learn more about it

Important personal skills for this profession are

• Interest in health and sport
• Personal fitness and training experience
• Enjoy accompanying people and passing on knowledge

Prerequisites for admission to the Pilates Trainer course:

No specific prior knowledge is required to join a Pilates course. Most schools require

• Age of majority
• Good state of health and fitness
• For advanced courses completed basic course
• Often: good knowledge of German

Subject matter and content of the training

The Pilates trainer training is not federally regulated, i.e. the course material is compiled independently by the respective schools; it can therefore vary from school to school.

The following topics are often addressed:

• Pilates history
• Methods in Pilates
• Pilates principles and concepts
• (Basic) exercises on various devices (setup and modification options)
• Safety guidelines for handling the devices
• Various exercises without equipment
• Music theory
• Posture and movement analysis
• Motion correction
• Designing and conducting Pilates lessons (methodology and didactics)
• Dealing with customers with special needs

Costs and financing of further training

The costs for a Pilates trainer training course are set independently by the schools. The amount of the tuition fee therefore varies greatly depending on the provider and the course offered.

You can expect the following costs for in-service training:

• Course fees:
  • For shorter courses (e.g. short introduction, (advanced) workshops etc.) between CHF 800.- and CHF 1000.-
  • For longer training courses (e.g. in-depth introduction/basic training) between CHF 4500.- and CHF 5000.-

As a rule, theExamination feesalready included in the course fees.

• Some providers requireExtra costsfor
  • Teaching aids
  • Training documents
  • Provision of equipment etc.

Please contact the provider of your choice directly for information on possible extra costs.

Duration of study, timetable, teaching format and learning effort

• DurationTraining to become a Pilates trainer / Pilates instructor is usually modular, and in any case designed to take place alongside work. It lasts between approx. 4 days and 2 years (depending on the provider and course offered).
• Timetable:The timetables are set independently by the schools. Lessons often take place one or two evenings a week (often also on Saturdays). However, there are also day and online courses.
• Teaching format:Depending on the course offered, the course takes place in classroom teaching or in an online format.
• Learning effort:Thanks to the extra-occupational concept of the course, you can apply and deepen the learning material in practice straight away. Nevertheless, you should allow sufficient time for preparation and follow-up of the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your prior knowledge, working style and learning speed. We recommend that you allow at least 4-6 hours per week as a precaution.

Degree, diploma and title

The modules of a Pilates trainer training course are usually completed with a theoretical and practical examination (teaching test). Those who can provide evidence of all module certificates and their own practice, training and coaching hours receive the school's own certificate/diploma.

Diploma and title

Successful graduates receive a certificate / diploma from the respective school: "Pilates Trainer [name of school] (cert.)".