Kelp Pilates is hosting the
MOVE Wellness
Pilates Instructor Training Program
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Develop your skills and unique teaching style as you prepare to become a competent, confident, and
in-demand Pilates Instructor.
COURSE OVERVIEW
Kelp Pilates is hosting the MOVE Pilates Instructor Training Program this spring. The MOVE Program has been running in Ann Arbor, Michigan for a decade. The program at Kelp consists of three week-long in-person training modules. In addition, trainees will receive mentorship, practice teaching and personal practice opportunities, plus access to Kelp Pilates studio and classes at a discounted rate.
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The MOVE Team will provide you with a depth of knowledge that prepares you for a successful career as a Pilates trainer. The MOVE Comprehensive Program includes three modules: Mat, Reformer, and Cadillac, Chair & Barrels. The MOVE Pilates Instructor Training Program satisfies the requirements for students to sit for certification through the National Pilates Certification Program.
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The Program is led by MOVE studio owner and Program Director, Elaine Economou, and will be hosted and assisted by Kelp Pilates studio owner, Anna Alcorn. Please note, this is an in-person training located in Bonsall, California.
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Whether you’re interested in teaching private sessions, group classes, or a combination of both, our program will provide you with all the tools needed to teach a variety of populations in different fitness settings. You’ll join a network of individuals committed to changing lives through movement.
OPEN HOUSE EVENT
Join us for a virtual Open House event on Zoom January 26th, 2025 at 2pm. Get to know the MOVE Wellness and Kelp Pilates teams.
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Open House Agenda
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1. Meet the Studio Teams (15 mins)
2. Course Overview (15 mins)
3. Early Registration Specials (5 mins)
4. Q&A (15 mins)
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The Open House will also be recorded if you cannot attend the event live.
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SCHEDULE
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Mat Module
May 21-26, 2025
Mat Exam: July 2, 2025
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Reformer Module
July 3-8, 2025
Reformer Practical Exam: August 20, 2025
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Cadillac, Chair, Barrels Module
August 21-26, 2025
CCB Practical Exam: TBD
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Course Times
TBD​
FREE PROGRAM GUIDE
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The MOVE Program guide provides you with all the details you'll want to know as you're planning your teacher training journey. Download the free guide and get information on the course modules, tips on how to prepare for your training, what to expect after, and answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.
PAYMENT DETAILS
​COURSE COST
$6,499​
EARLY REGISTRATION
$500 off the comprehensive course if deposit paid by March 15, 2025.
Deposit is $500 (non-refundable)​
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REGULAR REGISTRATION DEADLINE
April 15, 2025.
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We understand that training is an expensive undertaking, and we want to make it accessible to trainees. There are two payment plan options available (6 and 8 installment plans). Reach out for more information.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who can participate in teacher training? Anybody with a passion for movement. Pilates trainers can be any age, gender, body size, or body type. Some trainers have backgrounds in dance, gymnastics, and other athletics. Some trainers had no prior connection to sports or movement systems before discovering Pilates. What they all have in common is an understanding of what Pilates can do for a person’s health and wellbeing, and a desire to share it with others. Anyone interested in pursuing professional training and work as a Pilates instructor should be self-motivated, enthusiastic about Pilates as a movement system, and committed to obtaining professional certification and building their career. You must be 18 or older to participate. We do consider motivated candidates of high school age, but you must be 18 to sit for the National Pilates Certification Program (NPCP) exam. We recommend seeking out as much personal experience with Pilates as possible prior to beginning the MOVE Instructor Training (MIT) program. Instructor candidates can join our MOVE Prep program in the months leading up to the training program. The MOVE Prep program allows you to take unlimited online classes and weekly private sessions through MOVE at a reduced rate with the goal of increasing your strength, stamina, and knowledge of Pilates before starting your instructor training. Anyone who has committed to joining the instructor training program by completing the MIT application and paying the tuition deposit of $500 can join the prep program.
What happens after I complete my Pilates Instructor Training? After you have completed the MIT program, you will need to prepare for the National Pilates Certification Program (NPCP) exam. You must pass this exam to start teaching Pilates professionally. In preparation for the exam and to provide you with the structure and support you might need as a new Pilates instructor, MIT program participants are invited to become Kelp Pilates Apprentice trainers. Through the apprenticeship, you’ll receive: one-on-one sessions and support from a Kelp Pilates mentor, access to Kelp Pilates clients for training, promotional and networking opportunities via Kelp Pilates communications, and opportunities to learn more about the logistics of pursuing a professional career in Pilates and running a movement and wellness business.
Can I take individual modules or do I need to complete the whole program? You may choose to take the comprehensive course or individual modules. If possible, we recommend beginning with the Mat module (followed by Reformer) since that is where you will receive foundational information for the rest of your training. Mat and Reformer classes are often the most in- demand types of instruction at Pilates studios, yoga studios, and gyms. To sit for the NPCP exam, you will need to learn repertoire for all of the Pilates equipment. The NPCP offers a mat-only certification exam.
What is the course schedule and what equipment will I be trained to use? The MIT program consists of three successive modules. Participants are required to complete a minimum of 450 hours of instructor training as part of the comprehensive program. Training hours consist of class instruction, observation of other certified trainers, personal practice at home or in the studio, and practice teaching sessions.
Do you offer tuition assistance? If you’re committed to pursuing a career as a Pilates instructor, we’re committed to helping you get there. Please let us know if program costs are a potential barrier for you and we’ll talk through possible options to help you pursue your training. We currently offer two payment plan options for the program: 6 or 8 installments. Those are billed automatically every 30 days.
I have a physical condition that limits my ability to do certain exercises. Will I be able to participate in the program? Absolutely. While you are required to learn and understand the full version of each exercise, you are not required to physically execute everything in order to learn and teach it. Many program participants modify certain exercises as they are learning in order to accommodate their own bodies just as they would do with their own clients, which is one of the many beautiful aspects of this movement system. That being said, the program is physically rigorous and it will be helpful to build your strength and stamina in the weeks and months before beginning the program.
After I complete the MOVE Instructor Training Program, will I be certified to teach Pilates? At the end of the program, you will be issued a certificate of completion, but you will still need to take and pass the National Pilates Certification Program (NPCP) exam. Our expectation is that program participants pass the NPCP within six months of completing the MIT program.
When and how can I start teaching Pilates? Some gyms and movement studios will hire instructors-in-training as long as they are on track to finish and plan on completing certification. It largely depends on where you would like to teach.
Can I teach Pilates part-time or is it a full-time job? One of the great things about pursuing a career as a Pilates instructor is that you can shape it into whatever you want and need it to be. Some trainers teach full-time while many others teach part-time alongside other full- or part-time jobs.
How much money can I make as a Pilates Instructor? How much you can make as an instructor varies considerably depending on your experience, levels of certification, geographic location, and preferred teaching schedule. Newer trainers can expect to earn around $20-$25 per hour, while experienced trainers with additional certifications and areas of specialization can earn much more. The average salary for a certified trainer in the US is $35 per hour, and Kelp Pilates pays premium rates above that.
Will I need to take any more coursework or complete any additional training after my initial certification? Yes, Pilates instructors should expect to enroll regularly in continuing education courses (CECs). Further developing your overall knowledge base and expertise, as well as developing additional areas of specialization will allow you to better serve your clients, broaden your client base, and increase the amount of money you can make over time. Most instructors take at least one course per year, and most certifications require that you take a course at least once every two years. Courses can be as short as a one-day or weekend workshop, while others might take place over the course of a week or two.