Published by Angela Sanchez on September 7, 2022

The Hard Truth About Becoming A Pilates Instructor

Introduction

Pilates is one of the most effective forms of exercise out there, but it isn’t easy to become a Pilates instructor because you will undergo a lot of pilates teacher training Sydney. If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a Pilates professional, here are some truths you should know before committing yourself to this career path:

1. Being a Pilates instructor is not a money-making job.

Pilates instructors can make a living, but it’s far from the fast-money, high-paying career that many people think it is. In fact, many instructors end up quitting within their first year or two of teaching because they get discouraged by how much they’re earning.

The truth is that there are simply not enough Pilates studios to meet demand in most major cities right now–and as demand increases and supply stays constant (or decreases), prices will go up with each new studio opening its doors. This means that your pay rate might be $50 per hour one year and then suddenly jump to $75 per hour next year when another studio opens down the street from your studio and suddenly there’s more competition for clients’ attention (and dollars).

What does this mean for you? If your only goal is to make as much money as possible doing Pilates training and nothing else, then perhaps becoming a personal trainer would be more beneficial than becoming a certified teacher.

2. Working on the floor all day hurts your back and knees, even when you’re in great shape.

Working on the floor all day hurts your back and knees, even when you’re in great shape.

One of the best parts of Pilates is that it’s an exercise that can be done at home by yourself or with friends. You don’t need any special equipment or a gym membership to practice its movements—just yourself, gravity, and an empty space to move around in (and maybe some props). The problem with this? It means you’ll spend hours every day with your body on the hard floor as part of your routine. This can cause problems for people who aren’t used to working out without any cushioning beneath them: soreness; aches; even permanent damage for those who have pre-existing injuries!

So what do we recommend? We suggest using foam blocks under your feet whenever possible during exercises where only one foot is in contact with the ground (like Bird Dog). If you’re using these blocks regularly enough so that they wear down too fast, consider investing in some eco-friendly “Vibram” mats which will last much longer than foam blocks but cost about $30 each versus $5-$10 per block—still way cheaper than buying new ones every month/year if they wear down too quickly!

3. The work is physical and demanding, especially if you are working with a large number of clients or teaching multiple classes back to back.

It’s likely that you’ll be on your feet all day, as most of the exercises are done standing. You will also be required to teach a lot of people per class: 15-20 is not unusual in beginner classes, but can reach up to 40+ for intermediate and advanced members. This means that you will be giving a lot of corrections and adjustments throughout each session.

4. If you have kids, it can be hard to have a regular schedule of clients because they aren’t available on your time off from your job-job.

If you have children, this can be a challenge. You won’t always be able to take your kids with you when you have client appointments, and often clients aren’t available on your days off from work. If they are, it’s likely that they’ll need an appointment at 9am or after 5pm when most child care centers are closed. This means that unless you can afford full-time daycare services or have family nearby who can watch them while you work, finding clients will become difficult because many people looking for Pilates instructors do so during their lunch hour or just before bedtime so that they don’t have to take time off of work.

5. You will probably be driving around from one gym to another in the beginning. That’s tough on your car and body to get both up at 5a for your first class, then drive 45 min to the next place for your 9a class and so on…

Here’s the bad news: you’ll probably be driving around from one gym to another in the beginning. That’s tough on your car and body to get both up at 5a for your first class, then drive 45 min to the next place for your 9a class and so on…

I’m talking about a lot of miles on your vehicle and long hours behind the wheel (and most likely a few nights out with little sleep). I’m not going to lie and say that it doesn’t suck, but there are some things you can do to make it better. For one thing, try learning how to do yoga at home before/after class if possible – or even during! This will save time AND keep you focused while working out (which is important because there will be times when other students’ poor form distracts me).

6. Working out at home for free isn’t as fun as it sounds — especially when you’re exhausted from teaching 15 people how to do the same thing (but slightly different for each person).

If you’re looking to make a career out of Pilates, then it’s worth it to invest in your education. A lot of people think that they can teach themselves through YouTube videos and self-study, but this is not the case. You will be putting yourself at a disadvantage by trying to learn on your own.

There are so many different things about teaching Pilates that you shouldn’t overlook: from knowing how to adjust each person so they can perform exercises correctly; or knowing whether someone has pre-existing injuries and making sure those areas aren’t overworked; or simply learning how to communicate effectively with clients when they ask questions while doing an exercise (especially if English isn’t their first language).

7. It’s hard not to compare yourself to other instructors who already make a living doing it full-time and teaching much more than you might be able to right away, or ever.

There will be times when you feel like a failure because you’re not making money from your teaching straight away. You may notice other instructors are getting more clients, or even just posting better photos of themselves on Instagram. But the truth is that it’s impossible for anyone to know if those instructors are actually doing better than you—and even if they were, there would still be so many factors at play (their personality, their location, how much time they spent on marketing). That’s why it’s important to focus on your own goals and ambitions instead of comparing yourself to other people.

If you’re having trouble with this one, try thinking about what success means to YOU: maybe it’s reaching a certain income level; maybe it’s being able to pay off debt; or maybe it means being able to buy that pair of shoes everyone else has been wearing lately but which has been beyond your reach because “you have no money.” Whatever your definition may be—stick with it! It can help keep things in perspective during those tough moments where we all struggle with comparisonitis (the urge/desire/craving/all-consuming need for self-comparisons).

If you are still interested in becoming a Pilates instructor after hearing these points, then you should definitely go for it!

You will love the feeling of helping people improve their health. You will love being able to work out in different locations. You will love the flexibility of working with clients at their homes or in a gym. You will love the feeling of being in control of your own schedule.

Conclusion

The best thing about becoming a Pilates instructor is the positive impact it can have on the lives of your clients. It’s amazing to be able to help people feel better, move better and be happier in their own bodies through this amazing work.