09/04/2026
Predictable…I said this would happen a year ago. A article by the Guardian.
Poor training, no industry regulation, franchises set up to make money by investors, instructors teaching on a days training…this won’t be Pilates and doesn’t deserve the label. ‘Physiotherapist’ is a legally protected term and you cannot use it unless you have earned it…Pilates should be the same.
The sad thing is this is likely to impact on very qualified and experienced instructors insurance. Quality training is 1-3 years, with a huge amount of anatomy and movement dysfunction analysis.
What to check:
- Instructors qualifications, the school of training, the length of training, their background. If it’s not advertised stay away.
- Reformers should be taught 1-2-1 or small groups for safety and quality.
- Stay away from franchises or investor run studios.
- Stay away from large classes, you won’t be getting the correct teaching or feedback.
- Mat Pilates is control, hands on feedback, small groups for effective teaching, doesn’t smash out heavy weights or use a million pieces of equipment without focus or experience.
All our instructors are qualified Physiotherapists with 3 years anatomy and movement/biomechanics knowledge. We are used to looking and assessing, seeing issues a mile off, correcting and rehabilitating. Pilates training for Mat work 12-18 months, Reformer and large equipment add on 6-12 months, regular update training and professional development modules.
