Instructor Bridge programme
Train for an extra advanced Pilates instructor qualification (or review your existing skills) in just 3 weekends. Our Instructor Bridge programme is open to qualified instructors or those with significant, relevant experience.
Who the Instructor Bridge programme is for
The Hearts and Bones Instructor Bridge programme is designed for instructors who have been comprehensively trained by other Pilates training organisations or those with significant, relevant experience. Qualified Heart and Bones Comprehensive Instructors can also do the programme to review their learning and skills.
Who the Instructor Bridge programme is for
As a working professional, you may not have the time or money to do another full-length teacher training course. The Hearts and Bones Instructor Bridge programme enables you to train for a highly- regarded, advanced instructor qualification over 3 weekends.
You will learn some fundamental full-body movement patterning, key teaching methodologies and revisit Pilates principles and exercises in more depth. You will also review advanced work not often used in day-to-day teaching.
Hearts and Bones Pilates is the only instructor training organisation in New Zealand listed on Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) Registry of Schools. To be included on the PMA’s Registry, a training programme has to meet strict criteria set by this professional association and certifying agency.
Our Instructor Bridge programme is taught by Tania Huddart, the managing director of, and lead instructor at Hearts and Bones Pilates Centre. Tania is a highly skilled, PMA-certified Pilates Instructor and Master Pilates Instructor. She has many years of experience teaching clients and student instructors, and presenting Pilates workshops both nationally and internationally. Tania is well-recognised for her structured approach to teaching, her extensive background in movement education, and her passion for excellence.
Read more about Tania
Graduates from our Bridge programme will join our professional network. Tania also offers continuous workshops throughout the year so you can keep up to date and be inspired by new information.
You will learn some fundamental full-body movement patterning, key teaching methodologies and revisit Pilates principles and exercises in more depth. You will also review advanced work not often used in day-to-day teaching.
Hearts and Bones Pilates is the only instructor training organisation in New Zealand listed on Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) Registry of Schools. To be included on the PMA’s Registry, a training programme has to meet strict criteria set by this professional association and certifying agency.
Our Instructor Bridge programme is taught by Tania Huddart, the managing director of, and lead instructor at Hearts and Bones Pilates Centre. Tania is a highly skilled, PMA-certified Pilates Instructor and Master Pilates Instructor. She has many years of experience teaching clients and student instructors, and presenting Pilates workshops both nationally and internationally. Tania is well-recognised for her structured approach to teaching, her extensive background in movement education, and her passion for excellence.
Read more about Tania
Graduates from our Bridge programme will join our professional network. Tania also offers continuous workshops throughout the year so you can keep up to date and be inspired by new information.
Programme features
- An intensive review of individual work on Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Wunda Chair, Ladder Barrel, Step Barrel, Half Barrel, as well as auxiliary equipment.
- Introduction to the Hearts and Bones Pilates teaching methodology (including our Essentially Pilates Movement Principles) and application of Pilates to normal everyday movements.
- An overview of anatomy as it applies to Pilates movement. Muscle focus, objectives of the exercises and cueing guidelines are reviewed for each exercise or movement.
- Instructors who successfully complete the Instructor Bridge programme are eligible to take the Hearts and Bones Comprehensive Instructor course examination.
- Small groups of no more than 6 instructors to ensure you receive personal instruction.
Prerequisites
The Instructor Bridge programme is open to any Pilates professional whose qualifications or experience Hearts and Bones considers sufficient to be able to do the programme. The programme is also available to graduates of our Comprehensive Instructor training course.
To be eligible for the Instructor Bridge programme, you must be at least 18 years of age and meet one of the following criteria:
To be eligible for the Instructor Bridge programme, you must be at least 18 years of age and meet one of the following criteria:
- You must show us documents to prove you have successfully completed a recognized Pilates teacher training programme, including an anatomy component.
- This teacher training program must be a minimum of 450 hours, including training on all apparatus. Online training does not qualify.
- The training must have included practical assessment of movement and teaching skills
- You must have done an apprenticeship with a reputable Pilates instructor and worked in the field for a minimum of 5 years.
- You must have successfully completed the Hearts and Bones Pilates Comprehensive Instructor course.
Programme content and dates
The Instructor Bridge programme requires you to complete 3 modules over 3 weekends, and then sit a final exam.
Module 1
The module starts with a review of the biomechanical movement principles of the Pilates method. You then review the Classic Pilates mat exercises (beginner to advanced level), and apply the biomechanical principles, modifications (to simplify an exercise), variations (to create a similar or more complex exercise), and main muscle activations. You will progress to using small pieces of equipment (including the Swiss ball, foam roller, flex ring and Theraband) to vary, increase, or assist exercises.
Lectures will cover: postural assessment; teaching principles; evaluating your teaching practices; motivation; mat class structure; safety in the mat class; giving feedback; the use of imagery and touch; guidelines for modifying Pilates exercises; guidelines for using small pieces of apparatus; common injuries; exercise guidelines and contraindications for people with osteoporosis and for pre- and post-natal women.
Lectures will cover: postural assessment; teaching principles; evaluating your teaching practices; motivation; mat class structure; safety in the mat class; giving feedback; the use of imagery and touch; guidelines for modifying Pilates exercises; guidelines for using small pieces of apparatus; common injuries; exercise guidelines and contraindications for people with osteoporosis and for pre- and post-natal women.
Module 2
This module reviews beginner- to advanced-level Reformer exercises.
Lectures will cover: set-up and safety, teaching beginner-to advanced level exercises, and sequencing exercise programmes; assessing posture, muscle flexibility, and strength testing; teaching principles; class structure; contraindications to movement; teaching people with different levels of ability and physical limitation; how to evaluate common injuries with the Pilates repertoire in mind; programme tips, and strategies for teaching advanced level clients safely while challenging them.
Lectures will cover: set-up and safety, teaching beginner-to advanced level exercises, and sequencing exercise programmes; assessing posture, muscle flexibility, and strength testing; teaching principles; class structure; contraindications to movement; teaching people with different levels of ability and physical limitation; how to evaluate common injuries with the Pilates repertoire in mind; programme tips, and strategies for teaching advanced level clients safely while challenging them.
Module 3
You will learn how to add variety and challenge for clients by applying the principles you have learned in the previous modules to the Cadillac, Wunda Chair and Barrels. Joseph Pilates originally designed these ingenious pieces of small apparatus to provide variations for many of the Classic Mat exercises, such as Swimming and Roll-Over.
Lectures also cover: Cadillac and Wunda Chair safety and set-up; review of exercises on the Ladder Barrel, Spine Corrector, and Half Barrel. The barrel exercises can be integrated into mat or equipment studio workouts.
Lectures also cover: Cadillac and Wunda Chair safety and set-up; review of exercises on the Ladder Barrel, Spine Corrector, and Half Barrel. The barrel exercises can be integrated into mat or equipment studio workouts.
Final exam and qualification
To receive a Hearts and Bones Pilates Certificate of Completion, you must sit the Instructor Bridge exam at Hearts and Bones' Pilates studio. We will give you a letter of attendance if you don’t want to sit our exam.
The final exam will include written and practical tests.
The written test is open-book and done when you have completed all 3 programme modules.
The practical test is 3 hours.
The final exam will include written and practical tests.
The written test is open-book and done when you have completed all 3 programme modules.
The practical test is 3 hours.
I really like the opportunity for repetition of teaching practice of specific exercises. Helping us to make connections between similar exercises on the equipment was really useful. The courses were taught at a good pace giving time to absorb the information."
