Pilates Mat Instructor training

Hearts and Bones Pilates Mat Instructor training prepares you to teach individual and group Pilates mat classes using the Classic mat exercises as well as small equipment pieces.

About the Mat Instructor course

The Hearts and Bones Pilates Mat Instructor course teaches the beginner to advanced mat exercises, some of which we modify to suit the needs of today’s Pilates classes. Our course also teaches you how to use small equipment pieces so your classes appeal to a wide variety of clients.

Subjects covered

Subjects covered include:

teaching beginner to advanced mat exercises and the use of small pieces of equipment
using best practice for teaching and structuring classes
cueing and language use for clients of differing ability
safe teaching for older adults, pre- and post-natal women, and clients with the most commonly seen back, hip, knee, ankle, wrist, neck, and shoulder conditions.

The course (and modules) also provides comprehensive, fully illustrated manuals.

Course outline

To become a fully qualified Hearts and Bones Pilates Mat Instructor, students must complete the course content outlined in the table below. You must also do some required reading.

Visit the Course content description page to find out more about the content below.

Total hours to complete standard course: 151 hours
Total hours to complete the Intensive training course: 140 hours

Content	Learning Method	Hours	Requirements to qualify
Introduction to Anatomy (Exemptions may apply)	Self-study	20–30	Study; pass written examination
Essentially Pilates Movement and Teaching Principles	Self-study and class	20-30	Self-study; attend 12 hours of class; pass written examination; practical experience
Mat 1	Class	18	Class attendance; completion of observation, self-practice, and student teaching hours; pass written and practical tests; practical experience
Mat 2	Class	18	Class attendance; completion of observation, self-practice, and student teaching hours; pass written and practical tests; practical experience
Practical experience	Observing classes	15	Proof of hours
Practical experience	Practising	20 (5 supervised, 15 unsupervised)	Proof of hours
Practical experience	Teaching	40 (20 supervised, 20 unsupervised)	Proof of hours
Final examination	Exam	2	Pass written and practical tests

Required reading

Return to Life Through Contrology by Joseph H. Pilates and William John Miller
Your Health. A corrective system of exercising that revolutionises the entire field of physical education by Joseph H. Pilates
Anatomy of Movement by Blandine Calais Germaine

Practical assessments during the programme

We assess your exercise performance and movement teaching ability during the contact course components of each module. This ensures that you're able to make appropriate corrections, communicate well with clients, and use best-practice teaching tools as required to graduate from the programme. Your teaching ability is honed during the 3-day supervised teaching weekend.

Professionalism topics

You'll also learn as part of your Pilates Mat Instructor training:

scope of practice and code of ethics
Pilates philosophy and history
exercise analysis
programme design
teaching techniques
movement science
anatomy and kinesiology
special considerations such as pregnancy and osteoporosis, and some precautions and contraindications to movements
Pilates engages touch for cueing and adjustment purposes. The programme will require some level of touch, but sensitivity is respected.

Upon completion of the programme you will receive a certificate of completion. This does not guarantee employment or certification.

Register now for training

Training timetable and registration gives our training dates, and how and when to register.

We look forward to having you on our Reformer Instructor training.

Any questions?

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Tania is approachable, friendly, welcoming, and respectful. I love the way she uses examples from sports, clients, and life and applies knowledge to individual needs. I especially appreciated the use of the skeleton to help me with anatomical understanding and gained new insight into the use of tactile, verbal, and imagery cues. " Rachel