Pilates Mat Instructor

The Pilates Mat Instructor Certificate prepares students to instruct Pilates Mat exercises in group classes and one-on-one private or semi-private training sessions at health clubs, fitness and wellness centers, community centers, corporate settings, or private studios. The program includes instruction in the principles, techniques, teaching skills, history, and movement theory behind Pilates training in addition to applied kinesiology and anatomy. Students are required to complete and document personal Pilates Mat sessions, observation hours, and student teaching hours.

20-25 annual completers

1. Identify and explain Pilates movement principles and applied kinesiology and anatomy fundamentals.

2. Demonstrate safe and effective use, instruction, and programming for teaching Pilates Mat to diverse populations, age ranges, and ability levels.

3. Utilize inclusive and effective communication and teaching skills through clear demonstration, appropriate verbal cueing, and proper use of Pilates terminology for a wide variety of participants.

The program requires 9 units of coursework in the area and practicum coursework. 

This certificate can be obtained individually or combined with other Pilates certificates for the comprehensive certificate of achievement that prepares students to take the National Pilates Certification Exam. In the future, we are seeking approval status as a Pilates Method Alliance approved school. This will take several years to obtain after launching the program, but we are modeling our program to meet these standards. The program requires 21 units of general education and 39 units of coursework in the area including electives and practicum coursework. 

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
KINES 80	Introduction to Applied Kinesiology and Anatomy	3.0	S1
KINES 90	Pilates Teaching Methodology and Principles	2.0	S1
KINES 91	Pilates Mat Instructor Training	3.0	S1
KINES 50.3	Pilates Mat Teaching Practicum or Work Experience	1.0	S2

There are two similar existing programs at SRJC: the Fitness, Nutrition, and Health Certificate and the Yoga 200-hour Teacher Training Certificate. Within the fitness industry, there is a variety of training techniques and modalities for personal and group instruction. The fitness certificate is a more general certificate for one-on-one personal and group fitness training. The SRJC Pilates program is designed to meet nationally-recognized certification standards. Many students that have graduated with the Fitness, Nutrition, and Health Certificate return to add Yoga 200-hour Teacher Training Certificate and may seek out Pilates training to add to their tool belt of instructional capacity in their career. There are many yoga instructors that also teach Pilates and vice versa.

Neither College of Marin nor Mendocino College has a similar program.