I love teaching Pilates. I love watching the difference that Pilates makes to our clients. I love being a momtrepreneur and watching our clients and teachers at Rivercity Pilates use movement to #livebetter since we opened in 2009. We’ve had a teacher training program since 2011 and I have so enjoyed helping Pilates lovers become Pilates teachers.

Then along came the pandemic and on March 17, 2020 and our governor required us to lockdown and quarantine.
I’m going to get real with you. The past two years haven’t been easy. We had to make a lot of adjustments, even having to cancel our 2020 and 2021 Pilates teacher training program. But, the great thing about challenging situations is they encourage you to grow and create new opportunities.  I am so excited to tell you about a project I’ve been contemplating for years.


Rivercity Pilates has a Pilates Teacher Training Program and it begins in January 2022!

Today we are launching the Teach Inspired Pilates Teacher Training Program at Rivercity Pilates!  In previous years at Rivercity Pilates, I’ve taught a teacher training program that was developed years ago by my mentor. It is an excellent program and I’m forever grateful that I had the opportunity to teach it. With 20 years of teaching experience and 10 years of training instructors, I found myself wanting to create my own program that could help trainees have an even better teacher training experience.

The Teach Inspired Pilates Teacher Training Program is a 12 month program  based on learning the classical Pilates method created by Joseph Pilates.   The program focuses on growing teachers who understand the method and how to adapt it to any body that they are teaching.

It is a program that prepares all of our trainees to help each unique student move better in their own body, and experience the huge difference that movement can make in their lives.

Are you intrigued?    Ready to learn more?   I hope so!     Click the button below to download details & dates for the 2022 Teach Inspired Pilates program!   

When you think about what it takes to become a Pilates teacher what’s the first thing that pops into your head?  Did you immediately think that the person has to be fit, strong, and able to do the exercises really well?  If you answered yes…you are wrong.  

Fit, strong and able to do the exercises in your body are all things that will happen when you study and practice the Pilates method but they are definitely not prerequisites or important qualifications for becoming a Pilates teacher.  

Intelligence…. yep that’s right you need to be smart!  

  1. Not only do you need to be able to know how to do exercises in your body you need to be able to explain to another person how to do the exercises in their body.  
  2. You need to be able to understand basic anatomy and movement principles and then translate those ideas into a fun, motivating session while keeping everyone in your class moving safely.
  3. You need to learn to be an expert at deciphering how people learn the best and then presenting  information to them in the way that is most effective for them.  
  4. You need to be able to watch someone move and then based on what you see give them cues to help them engage and a move in a way that is more balanced.  
  5. You need to be able to plan movement sequences and take a group of people through those movements while constantly monitoring everyone’s movements to check for safety.   

If you think Pilates teachers just need to be good movers or good at exercise…think again.  It takes intelligence and the willingness to learn new knowledge and skills to become a Pilates teacher.  Do you love learning and moving? Becoming a Pilates teacher can be a great way to challenge your mind and combine your love of movement and helping others into a career or really fun part time hobby! 

Our Pilates Mat Teacher Training Program starts soon

If you’ve considered teaching Pilates or maybe just want to take the program to learn and progress in your own body there is still time to register!!  Contact Carey to learn more about the program details at 319.665.2499 or rcpilates1@gmail.com!  

Are you  surprised to know that many of the people that take our Pilates teacher training programs are in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s?  There of course are absolutely no age “rules” about how old you should be to teach Pilates.  I would guess that the average age demographic that most people start to add Pilates into their life is usually between 40 – 60, so I think it’s pretty fabulous to be able to train teachers who are in this same age demographic.  If you’ve thought about the possibility of teaching Pilates but ruled it out because you thought you were too old…think again! 

  • One of the things that I believe makes a great Pilates teacher is being able to empathize and relate with your students and so many times this is easier when your students have similar life experiences.  If you are 55 and new to Pilates and exercise…would you rather learn from a 20 year old( who may be very knowledgable and a great teacher..)  or would you be more comfortable learning from a 60 year old who knows what it feels like to exercise and move in a body your age?  
  • Does the idea of having to take a training program intimidate you because you feel too old to “go back to school again”?  The Pilates teacher training program is a very hands on type of program and most participants find they actually enjoy the process of learning to teach Pilates no matter what their age.  Unlike the traditional school setting we grew up with this program can be very flexible to work around your schedule and the “training time” is often fun stuff like doing Pilates in your own body or teaching Pilates to others.  No matter your age you will actually find yourself enjoying “school time”! 
  •  The process of becoming a teacher includes keeping yourself healthy through your Pilates practice and learning how to use your experience to help others do the same!   What this means at any age is that becoming a Pilates teacher actually improves your physical and mental health!  (Who doesn’t want that?!) 

We believe that teaching movement is truly a way to change lives… both yours and the lives of your students!  Want to explore the possibility of becoming a Pilates teacher and sharing the power of a Pilates practice to change peoples lives for the better?  Contact us today and we’ll send you details about our teacher training programs so you can learn more!  

We’ll be starting a new training program session in early 2019!! 

My favorite client story this week: I was trying to be supermom this week and save a little time (not sure why I didn’t just make 2 trips!) I tried to carry all the grocery bags into the house all at once and by the time I made it in I was feeling tightness and pain in my hip and down my outer leg.   I got my roller out and spent 5 minutes rolling everything out and could just feel my sore hip ease back into place….  It didn’t bother me at all after that!

THIS IS SELF CARE!!!  And THIS is why I teach Pilates.  Don’t get me wrong… I love to move, I love to take people through a work out and I love to help people learn how to do Pilates.   But my passion for doing all of that is to help people on their journey of figuring out how to better take care of themselves.  And self care sometimes means making yourself go to Pilates class, do a workout, go for a walk, etc…. but many times it’s as simple as listening to your body and getting out your foam roller when something is tight!!  

Teaching Pilates is always more than just teaching Pilates! Here’s a quick list of some of the amazing things you can do as a pilates teacher:

  • Help others create a positive self body image
  • Teach people how to use movement as a self care practice
  • Help people use movement to de stress and relieve anxiety
  • Give people a sense of community and connection with others 
  • Give clients knowledge about how their body works and moves
  • Inspire people to make other healthy changes in their life just from being you and being an example

Want to learn more about how you can help others grow in their self care journey and in their life journey through movement?  Contact me today to set up a time to chat more about our Pilates teacher training programs and mentorship programs!! 

Rivercity Pilates Teacher Trainees 2016

Have you ever wondered if you could be a Pilates teacher?  And if so …why haven’t you pursued it?  

The number 1 question I get from people as they are considering becoming a Pilates teacher is:  Am I physically ready to go through the program?   This may be code for, “Do I need to lose weight or be better at Pilates to become a Pilates teacher?”  There are absolutely no rules about where you need to be in your body and life when you start the teacher training program!! If you are waiting be at the “perfect weight and shape of your life”, it probably will not happen! 

The beautiful thing about our teacher training program is that you are required to have a Pilates practice in your own body.  You are required to log in many hours of personal practice, private lessons with professional Pilates teachers, and group classes.  It honestly doesn’t matter where you are starting in your own body and it doesn’t matter if you have some things going on in your body that affect your movements.  If you commit to going through the program, by the time you are done you will have a consistent Pilates practice in your life and you will learn the knowledge and skills you need to help others create a practice in their own life.

So much more important than your starting place of your own Pilates practice, is your willingness to commit to getting all the program hours completed.

Instead of worrying about their weight or body size, I encourage those contemplating Pilates teacher training to ask themselves these questions:

  • Do you enjoy doing Pilates?
  • Does the idea of creating a regular Pilates practice in your life excite you?
  • Are you willing to put the time in it takes to continue learning Pilates in your own body?
  • Do you enjoy teaching and inspiring others to improve their quality of life?
  • Do you like learning about how your body functions and moves?
  • Are you looking to do something that makes a difference in other people’s lives?

If you answered yes to many of these questions…then we should talk!! We would love to talk to you in more detail about our upcoming Pilates Mat Training program starting this September!!  Contact us today to set up a time to talk to Carey about how you could become a Pilates teacher!