OPTIONS PILATES STUDIO HONG KONG
Pilates Instructor Course
Do you want to be a Pilates instructor?
We currently offer the full range of Pilates Academy International – internationally recognised Pilates courses and certification from Pilates on Fifth in New York. Courses offered include 40 hour Matwork courses (All Populations Mat or APM), 50 hour Reformer courses (All Populations Reformer or APR), Full Studio courses (All Populations Cadillac, Chair and Barrels or APCCB), as well as a variety of workshops and interesting courses for continuing education. Since 2007 we have certified hundreds of Pilates instructors and our graduates are employed throughout Singapore and Asia – many have gone on to set up their own studios and a few have even gone on to be Master Trainers around Asia! OptionsPilates is the largest and best Pilates training centre in Asia with the most courses and workshops every year. We also regularly run courses related to Pilates for instructors to stay up to date with the latest developments in the industry.
Which course do I take first?
To get certification in Pilates Academy Internations, you must first take the Anatomy workshop (Anatomy Biomechanics and Posture Analysis or ABP).
This workshop is mandatory for everyone taking PAI courses for the first time. You will review the structures (bone, muscles, joints, etc) that form the support of the human body. It will help you prepare for the All Populations Mat / Reformer / CCB courses.
After taking ABP, we encourage you to take the All Populations Mat (APM) first because Mat is the foundation of all other Pilates exercises.
Courses can be taken in the following order:
ABP > APM I > APR I > APCCB I > APM II > APR II > APCCB II
*You can take APR after taking ABP, but you must take APM in order to take APCCB
How to register
Scroll down to the bottom of this page and fill our the form to register!
Course requirements
Class hours attendance: It is required that students attend every day of training. If a student has a conflict that cannot be resolved and must miss training hours, the student must notify PAI prior to the course. Make up hours must be scheduled with a certifying instructor at $160/hour. (Note that 3 hours of missed group training does not necessarily equal 3 make up hours as a student is often able to go through material faster in a one-on-one setting. The number of review hours will be decided upon by the certifying instructor and the PAI directors). If more than 12 hours of a course is missed, the course must be retaken. Outside class requirements: (shown in table below) Observation hours: Watch a class, private session, or videos from the PAI website (maximum 5 hours). Attending a class is not considered as observation. Practice teaching: Practice teaching the exercises on another person. Personal study hours: Study the exercises - exercise design, modifications, breath patterns, muscles involved, etc. Taking class can be considered personal study hours. These hours are to be logged and completed before taking the certifications test. The logs are turned in on the day of the test.
| Course | Class | Practice Teaching | Observation | Personal Review | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anatomy, Biomechanics & Posture Analysis | 12 | 12 | |||
| All Populations Mat I | 40 | 25 | 15 | 15 | 95 |
| All Populations Reformer I | 50 | 50 | 20 | 30 | 150 |
| All Populations Cadillac I | 25 | 20 | 10 | 15 | 70 |
| All Populations Chair I | 15 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 55 |
| All Populations Barrel I | 10 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 24 |
| All Populations Mat II | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 20 |
| All Populations Reformer II | 20 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 50 |
| All Populations Cadillac II | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 25 |
| All Populations Chair II | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 25 |
| All Populations Barrel II | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
Certification Exam and Fees
The student has one year from the last day of each course to take the certification exam. If the student takes longer than a year, a review hour must be scheduled with a certifying instructor at the rate of HK$950/hr. This hour serves to ensure the student is on track with studying and the information hasn’t been lost throughout the year. Exams for every All Populations l course includes a written and practical portion, All Populations ll includes only a Practical. A score of at least 80% is required to pass the written. The practical is graded as pass/fail. The first exam consisting of ABP and the student’s first All Populations l course Exam is HK$1800. All following exams or retakes are HK$600 per course.
| DATE | DAYS | TIME | COURSE TITLE | SPACE AVAILABLE | STATUS | Master Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education Schedule 2025 | ||||||
| QUARTER 1 | ||||||
| 15 - 16 Feb | SAT - SUN | 12PM - 6PM | Anatomy Bio-mechanics and Posture Analysis - 12 hrs | Yes | Scheduled | Erick |
| 17 Feb - 20 Feb 22 - 25 Feb | MON - THU SAT-TUE | 1PM - 6PM | All Populations Mat - 40 hrs | Yes | Scheduled | Erick |
| 26 Feb | WED | 1PM - 5PM | Pre/post natal | Yes | Scheduled | Erick |
| QUARTER 2 | ||||||
| 7 - 8 Apr | MON - TUE | 12PM - 6PM | Anatomy Bio-mechanics and Posture Analysis - 12 hrs | Yes | Scheduled | Erick |
| 9 - 12 April 14 - 17 April | WED - SAT MON - THU | 1PM - 6PM | All Populations Mat - 40 hrs | Yes | Scheduled | Erick |
Course Descriptions
ABP (Anatomy, Biomechanics & Posture)
APM I
What makes great buildings? Great foundations! This course teaches the first three tiers of the Pilates Mat repertoire and how to modify exercises for all age groups and fitness levels. Emphasis is placed on maintaining variety and providing small challenges while safely progressing a client in order to avoid monotony. Students leave the course confident and capable of creating safe and effective workouts for today’s diverse client. 68 Exercises.APR I
APCCB I
This course must be preceded by the All Populations Mat course. Students will learn the first three tiers of exercises on the cadillac, chair, spine corrector and ladder barrel, and, more importantly, how to incorporate the barrel into a client's workout, and use it as a support or a challenge, depending on the exercise. Emphasis will be placed on the benefits of Cadillac exercises as stepping stones to more challenging exercises and utilizing chair and how to integrate this often under-used piece of equipment into clients' workout routines.Advanced Courses (APM II, APR II, APCCB II)
Other Courses & Continuing Education
Pre and Post-Rehabilitative Pilates
Teaching injured or deconditioned clients requires a different approach to the session and a different mindset throughout the client’s attendance. This course outlines the protocol for teaching post-rehabilitative clients, from the initial meeting and first session to ongoing sessions and a return to recreational activities. Key concepts and definitions of injuries, post-rehabilitation and healing are covered. Students will be taught the benchmarks to hit before progressing a client to more challenging exercises and the importance of maintaining a dialogue with the client’s treating physician(s). Anatomy is reviewed in terms of local stabilizers, global stabilizers and global mobilizers so that students both learn the terms used by physical therapists as well as understand how to safely progress these clients. Prerequisite: APM
Post-Rehabilitation: The Sacrum and Lumbar Spine
Subjected to forces from both the upper body, and lower body, the sacrum and lumbar spine are critical structures for maintaining healthy biomechanics of the entire body. This course first reviews the anatomy of the lumbo-pelvic region in terms of local stabilizers, global stabilizers and global mobilizers. Then, common injuries to the area along with suggested protocol for teaching are discussed. Finally, exercises specific to post-rehabilitating the lumbo-pelvic region are reviewed or taught on all equipment.
Prerequisite: APM, Foundations of Post-Rehabilitative Pilates
Post-Rehabilitation: The Cervical Spine and Shoulder
Though separate structures, the neck and shoulder are closely linked biomechanically, and thus are considered together in this course. Anatomy of the head, neck and shoulder is reviewed with special attention not only to the local stabilizers, global stabilizers and global mobilizers, but also to the muscles that cross the cervical spine and scapula and those that stabilize the shoulder joint. Common injuries to the neck and shoulder are covered along with suggested protocol for insuring a safe Pilates’ experience. Exercises on all equipment specific to post-rehabilitating the cervical spine and shoulder girdle are taught.
Prerequisite: APM, Foundations of Post-Rehabilitative Pilates
Post-Rehabilitation: Hip, Knee, Ankle and Foot
Healthy biomechanics of the lower extremity are essential to everyone as bipedal human beings carrying on our daily activities! For instance, gait abnormalities (problems with walking) due to any pain or injury in the hip, knee, ankle or foot may lead to even greater problems in the lumbo-pelvic region and spine. Anatomy of the lower extremity is reviewed with regards to local stabilizers, global stabilizers and global mobilizers and common injuries to the lower extremity are discussed. Most importantly, exercises for the hip, knee, ankle and foot are taught on all equipment with close attention to modifications that may be necessary.
Prerequisite: APM, Foundations of Post-Rehabilitative Pilates