There are many styles and versions of pilates on the market today, many of them sadly bearing little to no resemblance to Joseph Pilates’ actual work and what he intended for his method. Authentic Pilates is known for continuing Joe’s work with over 500 exercises, a particular teaching style, and specific equipment- all of which works together to create a pilates experience that is unparalleled in quality, integrity, and is most beneficial to the mind, body, and spirit.

Authentic Pilates teachers have a particular credibility in the pilates industry due to the high standards in training, rigorous certification process, and the connection to the history of the method.

After passing the final exam to become certified by The New York Pilates Studio®, eligibility to join The Pilates Guild® is available.

The New York Pilates Studio® not only originated the description, “Authentic Pilates”, but it is also the very training program that launched the impressive careers of the most well known classical pilates teachers worldwide- the ones who have gone on to become published authors, studio owners, starred in videos, and even started their own trainings based on this original program.

With The New York Pilates Studio® Teacher Training Program, you will learn:

• around 500 exercises
• how to teach and structure private sessions, duet sessions, small groups, and mat classes.
• how to teach beginner, intermediate, and advanced students
• how to teach on the reformer, mat, cadillac, wunda chair, high chair, magic circle, ped-o-pul, ladder barrel, spine corrector, and small barrel- all the apparatus commonly found in classical studios and that make for a well-rounded session.
• additional apparatus, may be taught during private sessions taken during the training period

These abilities are what both studios and students are looking for.

Sean Gallagher has a direct hand in teaching every training to ensure the highest quality and level of knowledge passed on to each apprentice. His 30+ years of both pilates and physical therapy allow him to bring an unparallelled perspective to anyone learning to teach pilates. The depth of knowledge and understanding of the how’s and why’s in pilates is what sets graduates of The New York Pilates Studio® Teacher Training Program apart from all others.

We all start our pilates teaching journeys somewhere. Perhaps you selected your first teacher training program based on convenience or location. Or, you didn’t realize there was such a thing as classical pilates, or even different types of pilates.

Taking lessons and classes with a classical pilates teacher is a great way to start learning the authentic pilates method, but becoming certified and experiencing the full training, with hands-on cueing, direct feedback from teacher trainers, and on authentic apparatus is the best and only true way to become confident  in your classical teaching.

To be eligible for the Bridge Program, teachers must already be fully comprehensively certified through another program and pass through the application process.  Please see the “Requirements” section below for more info, and use the Information Packet for all the details and to apply.

The seminar series were designed to teach the philosophical, technical, and academic aspects of Authentic Pilates™. Students are taught beginning, intermediate, and advanced-level movements for each apparatus over the course of 3, 3-day weekends. The movements are demanding, and you must be in good physical condition to participate. We also recommend that you be relatively active with decent flexibility and have body awareness for the best results in your training.

*A pre-requisite of 35 private sessions is required before training begins for this reason.

This program requires a total of 600 apprenticeship hours with a Pilates Guild® certified Teacher of Teachers or Training Center Director, in a Certification Center.

The 600 hours of apprenticeship are organized as follows:
First 200 hrs: Observation and practice
Second 200 hrs: Assisting a certified Pilates Guild® Instructor
Third 200 hrs: Teaching solo under the supervision of a certified Pilates Guild® Instructor.

Exams are given at the completion of each 200 hours. The three exams given are on the following systems and in the following order: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. The final exam consists of a practical and written test.

Progression through each phase develops your teaching skills and is completed according to your own schedule and that of the center. The apprenticeship must be finished in one year. Permission to extend an apprenticeship beyond one year is only given in extreme hardship cases.

Pre-requisites
75 private sessions: 35 before training begins/35 during apprenticeship

These private sessions must be completed with a pre-approved teacher and must be documented on the “Prior Session Log” sheet.

Full Teacher Training Requirements:
Other than the 600 hours of apprenticeship and tests listed above, additional requirements to become a fully certified teacher include:

• Exams and Testing:
  Beginner Test: (200 hours; $150.00) practical, oral Q & A;
  Intermediate Test: (400 hours; $150.00) practical & written, oral Q & A
  Advanced Test: (600 hours; $150.00) practical, written, oral Q & A
  (Each exam must be scheduled with a Teacher of Teachers and will take place in Rhinebeck, NY, depending on the Teacher of Teachers’ schedule and availability.)
• Additional Workshop Attendance
  Understanding Joe’s Contrology®, taught by Sean Gallagher is required before full certification is issued. This workshop may be taken live or virtual and is based on anatomy and scientific information that is imperial evolution to deepening the understanding of the work.
  This workshop may be attended at any point during apprenticeship at any training center where it is being offered: $275.00

Bridge Training Requirements:

Each Bridge Apprentice is assigned a number of apprentice hours after the advanced seminar, based on their level of experience and observed skills during all the seminar weekends.

Other than the hours of apprenticeship and tests listed above in the “Phase 2” section, additional requirements to the Bridge Program include:

• Exams and Testing:
  Advanced Test: (hours TBA; $200.00) practical, written, oral Q & A
  (Each exam must be scheduled with a Teacher of Teachers and will take place in Rhinebeck, NY, depending on the Teacher of Teachers’ schedule and availability.)
• Additional Workshop Attendance
  Understanding Joe’s Contrology®, taught by Sean Gallagher is required before full certification is issued. This workshop may be taken live or virtual and is based on anatomy and scientific information that is imperial evolution to deepening the understanding of the work.
  This workshop may be attended at any point during apprenticeship at any training center where it is being offered: $275.00

Together with Sean Gallagher, Elaine presents workshops based on Joseph Pilates’ original method and apparatus in addition to teaching at Rhinebeck Pilates and the teacher training program. In 2018 Elaine worked along side with Sean Gallagher to help bring his idea to create the yearly pilates conference at Jacob’s Pillow to fruition, Pilates at The Pillow®️. They continue to host and teach this yearly conference and that has been the first in the pilates community to present “lost” apparatus and original work, such as: The Lost Art of The Resister™, The Lost Art of the Ped-o-Pul™, and The Lost Art of the Bench Mat™.

Collectively, Sean Gallagher and Elaine Ewing have the largest collection of original pilates apparatus and vintage pilates apparatus in the world. Combined, their collections span decades of Joseph Pilates’ work, inventions, designs, dimensions, and details. During teacher training at Rhinebeck Pilates, apprentices are given the opportunity to not only train on Gratz apparatus, but also on the original equipment.

Since 1993 The Pilates Guild® has been an international organization dedicated to the preservation of Authentic Pilates passed on and continued through the New York Pilates Studio® and The New York Pilates Studio® Teacher Certification program.

The New York Pilates Studio® and The Pilates Guild® are in a unique position to transmit the teachings of Joseph Pilates through our teacher certification program. Because the Pilates Guild® links its trademarks with its Standards of Practice, Code of Ethics, and quality control, the public can be sure that their Certified Instructor meets these standards.

The Pilates Guild® promotes, unites, and creates a community of Pilates teachers from around the world. All Pilates Guild® teachers have been certified through Pilates Inc, New York Pilates Studio®, or USPA and teach Authentic Pilates.

The public should look for Pilates Guild® Certified Teachers™ and/or PGCT™ to be sure their instructor meets these standards.