Pilates Instructor Course

Are you interested in becoming a certified Pilates instructor?

At OptionsPilates, we provide a comprehensive suite of Pilates courses and certifications through Pilates Academy International, a globally recognized institution based in New York. Our programs include:

• 40-hour Matwork courses (All Populations Mat or APM)
• 50-hour Reformer courses (All Populations Reformer or APR)
• 50-hour Full Studio courses (All Populations Cadillac, Chair, and Barrels or APCCB)
• Advanced Courses (APM II, APR II, APCCB II)
• Rehab Workshops
• Pre/Post-Natal Workshops
• A variety of workshops and continuing education courses

Since 2007, we have certified hundreds of Pilates instructors who now teach in Singapore and across Asia. Many of our graduates have gone on to open their own studios or become Master Trainers. As Asia’s largest and most reputable Pilates training center, we offer diverse courses and workshops every year. In addition to Pilates certifications, we also provide supplementary courses to keep instructors current with the industry’s latest developments.

Which course do I take first?

To begin your certification journey with Pilates Academy International (PAI), your first step is the Anatomy Workshop, also known as Anatomy, Biomechanics, and Posture Analysis (ABP).

This foundational workshop is mandatory for all first-time participants in PAI courses. It covers essential topics like the structure of the human body, including bones, muscles, and joints. Completing this workshop will prepare you for subsequent courses such as All Populations Mat (APM), All Populations Reformer (APR), and Cadillac, Chair, and Barrels (CCB).

After completing the ABP workshop, we recommend starting with the All Populations Mat (APM) course, as it lays the groundwork for all Pilates exercises. However, you may also choose to take the All Populations Reformer (APR) course first, depending on your interests and goals.

Courses can be taken in the following order:

ABP → APM I → APR I → APCCB I → APM II → APR II → APCCB II

How to register

To register for the course, please fill the form at the bottom of this page.

We will send you further instructions via email.

Course requirements

To successfully complete our courses and receive certification, students must fulfill the following requirements:

Attendance:

• Mandatory Attendance: Students must attend all scheduled training hours.
• Missed Hours:
  • If any hours are missed, students must arrange a private review session with the master trainer to make up for them.
  • The private review fee is AED 580 per hour.
  • Private review sessions are more efficient and may require fewer hours than the group sessions missed.
  • The required make-up hours will be determined by the master trainer based on the student’s knowledge and learning pace.
  • Missing more than 12 hours of a course requires auditing the entire course during the next available session.
  • Course auditing is subject to availability, and if the course is full, it may be streamed online.
  • Students can audit courses as many times as needed, provided there is space available.

Outside class requirements: 
To qualify for the exam, students must complete the following:

Observation hours:Observe classes, private sessions, or videos from the PAI website (maximum 5 hours). Attending a class does not count as observation.

Practice teaching: Practice teaching the exercises verbally to another person to build teaching proficiency.

Personal study hours: Study the exercises in depth, including design, modifications, breath patterns, and muscle involvement. Attending classes can count as personal study hours. These hours must be logged.

Certification Test Preparation

• All outside class hours must be logged and submitted on the day of the test.
• Students are not eligible to take the certification test until all attendance and outside class requirements are fulfilled.

Course Prices

Mentorship Program

To qualify to take the exam, students must complete all observation, practice teaching, and personal study hours. We strongly encourage students to participate in our Mentorship Program, which provides comprehensive support to meet these requirements.

The Mentorship Program includes:

• Observation: Watching an instructor teach a session (subject to client approval).
• Practice Teaching: Using the studio space to practice teaching.
• Personal Study: Participating in group classes to study and analyze exercises.

The Mentorship Program is available exclusively to Options Pilates course students for a monthly fee of $380.

For students who do not wish to enroll in the full Mentorship Program, the following individual packages are available:

• 10 Hours of Observation: $190
• 10 Hours of Studio Usage: $230

Certification Exam Requirements

To achieve certification, students must complete the certification exam within one year of the final day of their course.

Exam Timing:
If more than one year has passed, students are required to schedule a review session with a certifying instructor to ensure they are prepared. The review will cover study progress and retention of course material.

Exam Components

All Populations Level I Courses:

1. • Includes both a written exam and a practical exam.
   • A minimum score of 80% is required to pass the written portion.
   • The practical portion is graded on a pass/fail basis.
   •  
   • All Populations Level II Courses:
     • Includes only a practical exam.
     • The practical portion is also graded on a pass/fail basis.

2025 Education Schedule

Private Courses

If our regular term schedule doesn’t fit your availability, we offer the flexibility of private courses with our master trainer, tailored to your schedule.

Private courses are available for the following programs, with the approximate classroom hours listed below:

ABP: 11 hours
APM I: 30 - 32 hours
APR I: 40 hours
Cadillac I: 22 hours
Chair I: 10 hours
Barrels: 6 hours

• Flexible Options
  1-on-1 Sessions: Tailored to your individual pace and learning needs.
  Group Sessions: Arrange your own group, and the course can be customized to suit the group’s dynamics and progress.
• 
  Please note that the actual classroom hours may vary based on:
• The number of participants in the group.
  The speed at which participants progress.
  Additional guidance required from the master trainer, which may extend the estimated hours.

If you're interested in private courses, please email us at [email protected].

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