Mbodies Pilates Instructor Training Academy

Many Pilates instructors struggle to describe what they do.  This article highlights why clear communication is vital to professional identity and client engagement.  It offers a concise Pilates definition, context-specific variations, and introduces a CPD training module by Mbodies to help instructors master their message.   I confess; there’s a part of me that feels slightly naughty when I ask this question in the title.  Not because I enjoy catching people out (well… maybe just a little), but because it reveals something genuinely important: "How would you describe Pilates to someone who has never heard of it?" I’ve posed this question to dozens, perhaps hundreds of instructors-in-training, and even fully qualified teachers.  And what follows is often the same: ·         A pause.... ·         A scramble for words.... ·         An apologetic ...

Pilates is frequently compared to a wide range of fitness and rehabilitation disciplines—yoga, Tai Chi, Personal Training, Physiotherapy, Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique, and Gyrotonic among them.  While it shares certain values with these practices, such as body awareness and alignment, Pilates possesses several defining characteristics that set it apart.  Understanding these distinctions is vital not only for practitioners and teachers but also for clients seeking intentional and effective physical conditioning. Discover how the Pilates method stands apart from yoga, physiotherapy, and other movement disciplines. With its focus on mind-body coordination , developmental sequencing, spring-based apparatus, and functional whole-body integration , Pilates offers a unique, intentional path to strength, control, and lifelong ease of movement. 1. Movement Quality over Quantity Pilates prioritises precision, alignment, and movement control over volume or intensity.  In co...

Reconnecting with Purpose, Creativity, and Community in Your Teaching Struggling with Pilates instructor burnout ? You’re not alone. Rekindle your passion and reignite your Pilates teaching through creative class planning, community connection, and continuous learning for Pilates teachers . Discover how to bring joy and purpose back into your sessions with support from Mbodies Training Academy. It’s a sentiment many Pilates instructors encounter: the initial spark that drew you to teaching feels dimmed.  Classes become routine, lesson plans repetitive, and the joy that once accompanied guiding clients through movement fades.  If this resonates with you, know that you're not alone and more importantly, there are pathways to reignite that passion. Recognising the Signs of Burnout Burnout in the Pilates profession often manifests subtly: ·         Monotony in Teaching: Repeating the same sequences without variation. ·    ...

 And why so few instructors today are equipped to do so Becoming a client-centred Pilates teacher means moving beyond choreography to understand real clients’ needs.  Current training often fails to prepare instructors for today’s diverse population.  Through Pilates education reform , Mbodies offers a new approach focused on assessment, empathy, and Pilates for real people . In an ideal world, every Pilates teacher would leave their initial qualification with the ability to confidently assess, understand, and adapt movement to serve real clients; not just theoretical ones.  Yet in today’s industry, many instructors, through no fault of their own, are simply not prepared for the very people they meet in class: older, stiffer, post-rehab, pre-surgical, arthritic, uncoordinated, and often anxious. It’s time we admit something uncomfortable:  Much of today’s Pilates education is robotic, reductive, and removed from reality. From Overcorrection to Under deliv...

  Why Mat-Based Teaching Might Be the Clogs and Flares of the Pilates World Fashion is famously cyclical.  What’s “out” today is often “in” again tomorrow.  We’ve watched flared jeans swing back into style after decades in the wilderness.  Clogs vanished from the high street only to return to catwalks and boutique studios alike.  The chunky trainer?  Once mocked.  Now mainstream. And so it is with Pilates... Matwork, the original, accessible, no-equipment format that introduced millions to the method has, in recent years, been quietly pushed aside.  In its place Reformer classes and Studio towers.  High-end equipment with sleek finishes and even sleeker price tags. But just like vintage denim and oversized blazers, Matwork is ready for a comeback: and it’s more than just a trend.  At Mbodies, we believe Matwork deserves a second debut this time, on your own terms, and in a way that reflects the clients you actually serve. Matwork I...

Beyond the Certificate: Why So Many Pilates Teachers Are Going Back to Learn What Really Matters There is a quiet but growing movement among Pilates instructors: a realisation that, despite holding a Level 3 Matwork qualification, something fundamental is missing in their teaching.  The confidence isn’t there.  The depth isn’t there.  And perhaps most importantly, the connection to clients and to “The Method” itself feels paper-thin. If you trained through a fitness-led provider or completed a course that was heavily assessment-focused and light on philosophy or real-world teaching tools, you are not alone.  And more importantly, it’s not your fault. It’s time to talk about re-education: not as a step backwards, but as a chance to reconnect with why you came to Pilates in the first place. The Problem with 'Qualified' But Not Equipped Since the introduction of the Level 3 Matwork Pilates standard in 2017, the UK has made strides in regulating entry-level tra...