Your Guide to Pilates Instructor Certification

How Long Does It Take to Complete Pilates Instructor Training Courses?

The time needed to complete Pilates instructor training can range from a few weeks to over a year. Your timeline depends on the STOTT PILATES® modules you choose, whether you study in an intensive format or a spaced schedule, and how quickly you complete your self-practice, observation, and teaching hours.

Mat Pilates Instructor Training (Mat-Based)

• Total training hours: ~70 hours

• Typical modules: Functional Anatomy (30 hours) + Intensive Mat-Plus (40 hours)

 Mat + Reformer Pilates Instructor Training

• Total training hours: ~150 hours (approx.)

• Typical modules: Functional Anatomy (30 hours) + Intensive Mat-Plus (40 hours) + Reformer (50 hours), plus optional workshops and additional practice/observation

Comprehensive / Full Studio Pilates Certification

• Total training hours: ~200–220 hours (approx.)

• Typical modules: Cadillac (25 hours), Stability Chair (15 hours), Barrels (10 hours), Injuries & Special Populations (24 hours), plus advanced modules and required practice/teaching/observation hours

Key Differences between STOTT Pilates® Training and Other Pilates Courses

STOTT PILATES® is a contemporary evolution of Joseph Pilates’s original method, developed to reflect modern exercise science, biomechanics, and rehabilitation principles. The method uses a range of props—such as bands, weights, and stability balls—and includes clear modifications, preparatory exercises, and progressions to support different skill levels, injuries, and special populations.

In contrast, other Pilates approaches—such as Classical Pilates—tend to follow Joseph Pilates’s original exercises and sequences more strictly, with less emphasis on modern adaptations or rehabilitative progressions.

STOTT PILATES®

• Spinal alignment approach
  Emphasises maintaining (or returning to) natural spinal curves and neutral alignment, with modifications provided depending on the exercise and client needs.

• Modern exercise science
  Integrates contemporary exercise science, functional anatomy, biomechanics, and rehabilitation-informed principles.
  

• Equipment and props
  Uses the full Pilates repertoire: Matwork plus Pilates equipment such as the Reformer, Cadillac/Trapeze Table, Stability Chair, and Barrels, and may also incorporate small props (e.g., bands, balls, light weights) to support goals and variations.
  

• Progressions and modifications
  Provides structured progressions, preparatory exercises, and modifications to suit different skill levels, injuries, and special populations.

Classical Pilates

• Spinal alignment approach
  Teaches the original Pilates method with traditional alignment cues that may vary by exercise and lineage, with a strong emphasis on control and technique.
  

• Traditional framework
  Follows the classical system and sequencing developed from Joseph Pilates’s original work, focusing on consistent order, rhythm, and mastery of the repertoire.
  

• Equipment and props
  Also includes the full Pilates system: Matwork plus classical apparatus such as the Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, and Barrels. Seldom incorporate props.
  

• Progressions and teaching approach
  Progression is often achieved through the classical order and exercise hierarchy; modifications can be used, but the approach typically prioritises working within the established repertoire and sequences.

Average Salary of Pilates Teachers in Singapore

The average salary of Pilates teachers in Singapore can vary widely based on experience, Pilates certification, and whether you teach group classes, private Pilates classes, or both. Instructors who add specialist training—such as Reformer Pilates, Clinical Pilates, or Prenatal Pilates / Post-natal Pilates—may also have access to a broader range of teaching opportunities.

Pay is typically structured in one of two ways:

• Freelance Pilates instructors are usually paid per class or per client, so monthly income depends on class schedule, private-client load, and studio demand.
  

• Full-time Pilates instructor roles generally provide a more consistent monthly income and may include additional responsibilities (e.g., programming, mentoring, corporate wellness classes), with pay often reflecting the studio’s size and the instructor’s experience level.

At Breathe Pilates, our STOTT PILATES® teacher training courses are led by experienced Instructor Trainers who are committed to developing confident, knowledgeable, and industry ready instructors. Enquire about our upcoming STOTT PILATES® teacher training intakes to secure your place.