Pilates Teacher Association

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Pilates Teacher Association The professional body working Comprehensive Pilates Teachers, teachers in modular training Pilates What is the PTA? What do you do for Teachers and the public?

The Association, which is not for profit, has the primary drive to work in the interest of the independent Comprehensive Pilates teacher working in their own studio, freelance for others or teaching in halls and gyms. Our overall goal is to create a distinct occupation listed with a global occupation code. We raise awareness of the occupation, provide trade services such as insurance and discounts

on booking systems and, most importantly, represent the views of our members to the Government and Government bodies such as Sport England/Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland. We are an independent voice in discussions with the Fitness industry Bodies serving the interest of the teacher and the public. We also have members worldwide and while teachers may speak different languages and have independent teaching styles, the integration of the system of Pilates exercises on specialised Pilates equipment is universal. Our public register offers a list of teachers worldwide and those who offer teacher training. What does "Protect the Public " mean? The association works to protect the public and service users to ensure that a Pilates Teacher member has the appropriate skills and knowledge, ethics and integrity to deliver a Pilates lesson. Comprehensive Pilates Teaching has been practised consistently since the 1920s with formal teacher training programmes starting around 1981. Today there are studios around the world in most cities and towns which have a variety of offerings in name of pilates. Our registrant members work to a code of conduct and can only be listed if they have passed a qualification in person under supervision in the full system of Pilates, are in the process of training or teach mat from a school which offers Comprehensive Pilates education. What does "Protect the Method mean"

Joseph Pilates created and developed his system of exercise and apparatus from the mid 20th Century until his death in 1967. During this time many individuals trained with him and his partner Clara in their New York Gym. Several of those students became teachers of the method and many added their own particular styles and research to the work. Regardless of whether they added a small ball between someone's heels, some additional floor exercises or a noisy breath, they had learned the exercise system on all apparatus inside and out for their own body. After Pilates death, the studio was sold on several occasions and a trademark which had been put into effect, but not properly controlled, was taken to court in the late 1990s by a new owner of the business who was hoping to resurrect the mark and the protection it should have offered. The court case stated that apparatus, including Reformer, Cadillac, chairs, barrels, mat, and accessories such as magic circle, foot correctors etc., was an essential part of the exercise method. https://h2o.law.harvard.edu/cases/4808 but they did not uphold the trademark as there were now so many people teaching Pilates to others under different brand names and styles. Following the release of the “Pilates “name as a generic exercise method by the US courts in 2000, the fitness industry globally developed short pilates based training courses offering exercise on mats to existing personal trainers and fitness instructors. Pilates based mat exercise became commonly seen in gyms and leisure centres and often bore no resemblance to the work delivered by those who defended the right to use the name Pilates. The PTA work to ensure that anyone wishing to enter the profession is fully informed on the history, schools and the opportunity for individuals to research choices of training providers without bias. How does the PTA remain unbiased? We do not accept sponsorship, corporate funds or tie to any training provider. We work in a collaborative and evidence based way without commercial practices and are led by teachers views and needs, not those of a brand. "Pilates" appears frequently in academic literature but there is no consensus on the effectiveness of one style over another but there is often poor methodology ( what was studied as pilates) and sometimes bias ( where the researcher is paid for or works for a brand). Following qualitative research of the comprehensive Pilates teaching community in 2016-2017, a paper was published proposing a framework of descriptors for exercise classes with "pilates" in the title. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1360859219300762?via%3Dihub. It was proposed that academics and practitioners describe what they are researching or teaching as Comprehensive Pilates ( using the system of apparatus) Pilates Based ( using some exercises and some part of the apparatus combined with branded or creative exercises) Pilates matwork ( teaching the mat ) or not Pilates ( using generic exercises and fitness equipment such as bands, swiss balls etc.) Literature does not show clear effectiveness of one over another. How does the PTA collaborate? Our members come from a wide range of schools and many have additional qualifications from industry and the arts. We ask our members to review and discuss proposals and share their ideas and needs. The Board and members shape the Association. We also share and discuss our ideas with other independent Pilates associations globally and survey the community. In 2018 we invited every training provider in the UK to a meeting in Lancaster to discuss the future of the still unclassified and unrecognised occupation "Comprehensive Pilates Teacher". While some schools did not engage with the discussion, over 80 individuals including teacher trainers from several independent and global schools collaborated and discussed what constitutes a sound Pilates training provider and began to consider what a qualification could look like. The information on school criteria is due for publication later this year (2021) with further discussions in the pipeline for professional recognition. What do I need to do to become a member and what are your rules on CPD

To join as a member please go to our webpage http://www.pilatesteacherassociation.org/join-pta. Everything can be sent online. We do not prescribe or endorse CPD/CEC and leave it to the individual teacher to use reflective practice to identify what they need to develop and grow as a teacher. This is common within most health related professions. We recommend at least 12 hours of CPD per annum and at least 6 private lessons with more experienced teachers. We do offer a conference, online or in person which contributes to the CPD hours but is not compulsory to attend. If you are a Comprehensive teacher or in the process of training as a teacher and are committed to the Pilates method and want recognition for your occupation, are tired of tied cpd and want to see separate recognition from the Gyms and fitness sector, join the PTA. We are working for the teachers and led by the teachers.

The conversation sparked by The Guardian around the reformer boom highlights something the industry urgently needs to a...
08/04/2026

The conversation sparked by The Guardian around the reformer boom highlights something the industry urgently needs to address, risk, responsibility, and scope of practice.

The Reformer is a powerful tool, but it is not risk-free. The equipment introduces moving load, spring resistance, and instability. When used appropriately, it can be transformative. When used without sufficient training or control, it can significantly increase the risk of injury. One area of growing concern is the creation of “invented” exercises” movements that sit outside an instructor’s assessed training or what the manufacturer intended for their equipment.
This is not about creativity. It’s about risk management.
Under professional standards, including the PTA Code of Conduct:
• Instructors must work within the limits of their knowledge and skills
• Scope of practice is defined by assessed training, not short courses or attendance-only workshops or purely online training
• Participant safety must always come before commercial or creative interests
Creating or teaching exercises on the reformer without formal assessment introduces:
Unpredictable joint loading
Poorly understood biomechanics
Lack of safe progressions or regressions
Increased likelihood of loss of control on the equipment

From a legal perspective, this matters.

If an injury occurs, liability often depends on whether the instructor met a reasonable standard of care. But if exercises are improvised or unrecognised, that standard becomes harder to defend and easier to challenge.

There is also a consumer protection issue.
Under the CAP Code, enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority:
• Health and fitness claims must be evidence-based
• Services must not be misleading
• Practitioners must not imply therapeutic benefit without appropriate qualification
If high-risk, non-standard exercises are marketed as “Pilates,” this risks misleading the public particularly when Pilates is widely associated with safety and sometimes as support after rehabilitation or injury.

This is where clarity matters.
Growth in the industry is not the problem.
Unclear standards, diluted training, and blurred definitions are.
Participants and learners buying training deserve to know:

✔ what they are being taught
✔ who is qualified to teach it
✔ and that their safety is being prioritised over trends

The Pilates Teacher Association’s mission remains as relevant as ever:
Protect the Public. Protect the Method.

Because ultimately, this is not just a training issue. It is a public safeguarding issue.

We hope that injuries do not occur but if you have concerns on what is being advertised in any health and fitness setting, contact your local trading standards office, the company offering the training/classes and if in teacher training, the awarding body behind the qualification and professional body where membership is held. This blog explains the duty of care.

An active lifestyle is a key component to a healthy and balanced life and there are many thousands of people in the UK who hold gym memberships or go to fitness...

The conversation sparked by The Guardian around the reformer boom highlights something the industry urgently needs to a...
08/04/2026

The conversation sparked by The Guardian around the reformer boom highlights something the industry urgently needs to address, risk, responsibility, and scope of practice.

The Reformer is a powerful tool, but it is not risk-free. The equipment introduces moving load, spring resistance, and instability. When used appropriately, it can be transformative. When used without sufficient training or control, it can significantly increase the risk of injury. One area of growing concern is the creation of “invented” exercises” movements that sit outside an instructor’s assessed training or what the manufacturer intended for their equipment.
This is not about creativity. It’s about risk management.
Under professional standards, including the PTA Code of Conduct:
• Instructors must work within the limits of their knowledge and skills
• Scope of practice is defined by assessed training, not short courses or attendance-only workshops or purely online training
• Participant safety must always come before commercial or creative interests
Creating or teaching exercises on the reformer without formal assessment introduces:
Unpredictable joint loading
Poorly understood biomechanics
Lack of safe progressions or regressions
Increased likelihood of loss of control on the equipment

From a legal perspective, this matters.

If an injury occurs, liability often depends on whether the instructor met a reasonable standard of care. But if exercises are improvised or unrecognised, that standard becomes harder to defend and easier to challenge.

There is also a consumer protection issue.
Under the CAP Code, enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority:
• Health and fitness claims must be evidence-based
• Services must not be misleading
• Practitioners must not imply therapeutic benefit without appropriate qualification
If high-risk, non-standard exercises are marketed as “Pilates,” this risks misleading the public particularly when Pilates is widely associated with safety and sometimes as support after rehabilitation or injury.

This is where clarity matters.
Growth in the industry is not the problem.
Unclear standards, diluted training, and blurred definitions are.
Participants and learners buying training deserve to know:

✔ what they are being taught
✔ who is qualified to teach it
✔ and that their safety is being prioritised over trends

The Pilates Teacher Association’s mission remains as relevant as ever:
Protect the Public. Protect the Method.

Because ultimately, this is not just a training issue. It is a public safeguarding issue.

We hope that injuries do not occur but if you have concerns on what is being advertised in any health and fitness setting, contact your local trading standards office, the company offering the training/classes and if in teacher training, the awarding body behind the qualification and professional body where membership is held. This blog explains the duty of care.

An active lifestyle is a key component to a healthy and balanced life and there are many thousands of people in the UK who hold gym memberships or go to fitness...

Pilates Teacher Association looks at CPD from other professional perspectives like physiotherapy or school teaching. Wit...
06/04/2026

Pilates Teacher Association looks at CPD from other professional perspectives like physiotherapy or school teaching. With organisations in the UK like the Health and Care Professions Council or the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, CPD/CPE is absolutely required but it’s not tied to buying courses from the organisation itself, importantly it’s not used as a commercial endorsement pipeline. We don’t endorse “training” to sell to you.

Instead, CPD can be chosen from a wide range of independent sources. What matters is that it’s relevant, reflective, and maintains your competence and practice. The physio and school teaching regulators doesn’t “sell” their membership pathway to remain valid and “certificates” don’t carry an expiry date! Pilates has no “regulator” , but that doesn’t mean we are not professionals!

Pilates Teacher Association is quite different from what we see in parts of the Pilates industry, where CPD, endorsement, and professional recognition can sometimes sit within the same ecosystem blurring the line between maintaining standards and maintaining a commercial model.

The Pilates Teacher Association is more about separating ethical practice and professional identity from
commercial education pathways and endorsement cycles

The PTA are not asking you to do more courses, it’s recognising the level you’re already working at and helping make that clearer to the public.

If you want to stand out from the newer, short-course market and show that you are a Pilates professional , that’s really where the value tends to sit. If you value clarity, transparency, and protecting the comprehensive pilates teaching method, whether “contemporary” or “classical” , consider joining us as a member. Just head to our website!

When you have a sound, comprehensive training, years of teaching experience, running a studio and generally keep out of ...
05/04/2026

When you have a sound, comprehensive training, years of teaching experience, running a studio and generally keep out of “Pilates Politics” it gets frustrating to see short courses on Mat or single pieces of equipment offering a “pilates instructor” qualification.

Being a member of a professional body can set you apart from the mass market, here is one reason why Pilates Teacher Association is a different kind of professional body- we trust you to find your own continuing professional development/education.

Pilates Teacher Association looks at CPD from other professional perspectives like physiotherapy or school teaching. With organisations in the UK like the Health and Care Professions Council or the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, CPD/CPE is absolutely required but it’s not tied to buying courses from the organisation itself, importantly it’s not used as a commercial endorsement pipeline. We don’t endorse “training” to sell to you.

Instead, CPD can be chosen from a wide range of independent sources. What matters is that it’s relevant, reflective, and maintains your competence and practice. The physio and school teaching regulators doesn’t “sell” their membership pathway to remain valid and “certificates” don’t carry an expiry date! Pilates has no “regulator” , but that doesn’t mean we are not professionals!

Pilates Teacher Association is quite different from what we see in parts of the Pilates industry, where CPD, endorsement, and professional recognition can sometimes sit within the same ecosystem blurring the line between maintaining standards and maintaining a commercial model.

The Pilates Teacher Association is more about separating ethical practice and professional identity from
commercial education pathways and endorsement cycles

The PTA are not asking you to do more courses, it’s recognising the level you’re already working at and helping make that clearer to the public.

If you want to stand out from the newer, short-course market and show that you are a Pilates professional , that’s really where the value tends to sit. If you value clarity, transparency, and protecting the comprehensive pilates teaching method, whether “contemporary” or “classical” , consider joining us as a member. Just head to our website!

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/apr/04/reformer-pilates-boom-injuries?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Behind the ex...
04/04/2026

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/apr/04/reformer-pilates-boom-injuries?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Behind the explosion of reformer studios and the glossy marketing of “Pilates’” workouts lies an unconsciously, uninformed qualification system being quietly bent to fit commercial needs. The professional development body,
CIMSPA, along with industry collaboration, developed a professional standard for Pilates based matwork. Many courses now flooding the market fall short of this standard and may yet still carry qualification endorsements intended to reassure consumers. Some qualifications can be completed in a matter of weeks or entirely online, and the word “reformer” has been bolted onto these qualifications without sector collaboration. The resulting landscape masks a reality in which training hours, assessment quality and technical depth are routinely diluted to meet quick-fix market demand.
Reformer fitness blurs the boundaries further, presenting high risk movements as “Pilates” despite bearing little resemblance to the method practised by Comprehensive Pilates teachers in fully equipped studios. This not only exposes the public to avoidable risk but also damages the reputation of those who have trained extensively in the traditional method. The consequences are already visible: expert witnesses describe injury cases collapsing because there is no agreed definition of what Pilates entails or what training is required to teach it. For a public that assumes Pilates implies safety, structure and rehabilitative credibility, the fitness industry’s ability to game the qualification system is more than a technical loophole - it is a growing public protection problem. The PTA’s mission statement, “Protect the Public, Protect the Method,” remains as urgent today as when the organisation was founded, and its work with trading standards, advertising standards and the sector’s professional body continues to push for clarity in occupational roles, education content and ethical practice”.
Thank you to
The Guardian for raising this issue and picture. Links in bio for the article and to join PTA.

We were approached by The Guardian for our input to this necessary article and delighted to have been given the last wor...
04/04/2026

We were approached by The Guardian for our input to this necessary article and delighted to have been given the last words. This was our full statement.

“Behind the explosion of reformer studios and the glossy marketing of “Pilates’” workouts lies an unconsciously, uninformed qualification system being quietly bent to fit commercial needs. The professional development body,CIMSPA, along with industry collaboration, developed a professional standard for Pilates based matwork. Many courses now flooding the market fall short of this standard and may yet still carry qualification endorsements intended to reassure consumers. Some qualifications can be completed in a matter of weeks or entirely online, and the word “reformer” has been bolted onto these qualifications without sector collaboration. The resulting landscape masks a reality in which training hours, assessment quality and technical depth are routinely diluted to meet quickfix market demand.
Reformer fitness blurs the boundaries further, presenting highrisk movements as “Pilates” despite bearing little resemblance to the method practised by Comprehensive Pilates teachers in fully equipped studios. This not only exposes the public to avoidable risk but also damages the reputation of those who have trained extensively in the traditional method. The consequences are already visible: expert witnesses describe injury cases collapsing because there is no agreed definition of what Pilates entails or what training is required to teach it. For a public that assumes Pilates implies safety, structure and rehabilitative credibility, the fitness industry’s ability to game the qualification system is more than a technical loophole - it is a growing publicprotection problem. The PTA’s mission statement, “Protect the Public, Protect the Method,” remains as urgent today as when the organisation was founded, and its work with trading standards, advertising standards and the sector’s professional body continues to push for clarity in occupational roles, education content and ethical practice”.

We welcome members from specialist Comprehensive Pilates. Join us to work towards sector clarity through collaboration. https://www.pilatesteacherassociation.org/about/our-mission-our-goals/

Thank you to The Guardian for raising this issue.

Lack of regulation for specialist classes leaves UK fitness enthusiasts at risk, say professional bodies

02/04/2026

One of the fastest-growing fitness trends is also one of the most divisive. To its fans, it promises a stronger, healthier body; to its critics, it’s another way to make women feel insecure. Time to sort fact from fiction

Board member and Physiotherapist Megan Macgregor of The Core Factory - Yoga, Pilates and Complementary Therapies was in...
01/04/2026

Board member and Physiotherapist Megan Macgregor of The Core Factory - Yoga, Pilates and Complementary Therapies was interviewed by the Guardian on all things Pilates and Reformer Fitness. Our statement on reformer practice can be found here https://www.pilatesteacherassociation.org/2026/03/03/the-growth-of-pilates/.

It's great that so many people are moving more, but there is a crucial difference between tailored 1-1 or small progressive group work offered by a . Why not join us as a member and add your voice to creating clarity on all things "Pilates"

One of the fastest-growing fitness trends is also one of the most divisive. To its fans, it promises a stronger, healthier body; to its critics, it’s another way to make women feel insecure. Time to sort fact from fiction

https://www.pilatesteacherassociation.org/2026/03/03/the-growth-of-pilates/ Not everything taught bearing the name "Pil...
19/03/2026

https://www.pilatesteacherassociation.org/2026/03/03/the-growth-of-pilates/

Not everything taught bearing the name "Pilates" is Pilates. If looking for a full Pilates experience or a reformer experience taught by fully certified teachers, please email us at pilatesteacherassociation@gmail.com . If we don't have a member in your area, we will locate someone who is eligible for membership.

How safe is Pilates: and what does the evidence actually show?

A recent claim suggesting 45,000 Pilates-related injuries in Australia raised understandable concern. However, a review of AusPlay and national datasets shows that Australia does not currently collect injury data specific to Pilates.

In other words, that figure is unlikely to reflect actual injury incidence.

What the evidence does show is reassuring.

Across clinical trials and exercise research, Pilates demonstrates one of the lowest injury rates among common physical activities, with systematic reviews reporting very few adverse events (Australian Government Natural Therapies Review).

Compared to other activities:

Pilates: ~0.6–1.0 injuries per 1,000 hours

Running: ~6–12 injuries per 1,000 hours

Pilates is typically low impact, controlled, and delivered in supervised environments — all factors associated with lower injury risk.

As participation continues to grow, so does public attention, particularly around reformer-based classes. This highlights an important point:

Safety is not just about the exercise; it’s about how it is taught.

Instructor education, appropriate progression, and professional standards all play a key role in maintaining safe practice.

As outlined in “How Safe is Pilates?” (March 11, 2026), the evidence supports what many observe in practice — Pilates is a safe and adaptable form of exercise when delivered appropriately.

Full article: https://www.pilates.org.au/how-safe-is-pilates/

The focus for the profession moving forward is ensuring that quality and safety continue to keep pace with growth.

Why we released this statement on the growth of the fitness sector related to the growing number of reformer stud...
16/03/2026



Why we released this statement on the growth of the fitness sector related to the growing number of reformer studios and short, often online training courses.

Pilates is booming. Industry reports show "Pilates" has been the most-booked workout globally for three consecutive years, with bookings rising dramatically year on year, however this likely refers to fitness industry variations rather than the full method of Pilates utilising 1-1 or small groups on the full system.

As more studios open and more services use the word “Pilates,” confusion is increasing. The Pilates Teacher Association released this Position Statement to ensure:

✔ The public understands what they are purchasing
✔ Health professionals can refer with confidence
✔ Teachers are accurately represented
✔ The integrity of Joseph Pilates’ complete method is upheld

Clarity supports everyone. If you are a Comprehensive Pilates Teacher and concerned about these issues, please consider joining us as a member. Collectively it's what we can do to protect the Pilates Method and gain recognition for a 100 year old occupation.



The global Pilates & yoga studios market size is projected to grow from USD 161.98 billion in 2024 to USD 430.87 billion by 2034, at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 10.47% (reduced from 11.5% anticipated), according to a new report by Polaris Market Research.

04/03/2026

CIMSPA have a range of professional standards in their portfolio including Pilates Based Matwork. If looking for training in mat, check that your provider fully adheres to the standards

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