Course
Pilates
Our Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Pilates (Practitioner) course provides you with all the skills, knowledge and confidence you'll need to deliver quality pilates sessions in the industry.
Whether you're already a qualified fitness coach and want to add to your services or have decided on a change of career, our course can support you.
Next Course Dates
- Sheffield - Start Date: 28th Mar 2026
Click "Book Now" for full course dates
Cost: £1,250.00
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Course Summary
This YMCA Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Pilates (Practitioner) course is an industry-recognised qualification that allows you to start working as a professional pilates instructor.
Pilates is a popular exercise medium which is most commonly delivered in a group-based environment. It was invented in the US by German-born fitness enthusiast Joseph Pilates, who had trained in dance, martial arts, yoga, gymnastics and ballet. He used this experience and his name, to bring a new form of exercise to the fitness community in the 1920s.
Pilates sessions are based on 34 core body movements and have a strong focus on breath awareness and spinal alignment. The Pilates movement follows 6 essential principles:
- Breath
- Concentration
- Precision
- Flow
- Centring
- Control
On the course, you'll learn everything you need to feel confident delivering well-planned and progressive Pilates sessions to a wide variety of clients.
Become a qualified Pilates instructor and continue the work of Joseph Pilates in teaching the fundamental principles and movements of pilates to a range of clients.
How You're Taught
The course is taught in-person over 8 full days, starting at 10.30am on Saturdays/9am on Sundays and finishing at 5pm each day.
On course you will cover:
- How to explain, demonstrate and coach the Pilates exercises
- How to structure a Pilates class
- How to design a Pilates Progressive Programme for an individual client
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Information needed to complete two worksheets (also provided in the course manual)
Home study tasks:
- Worksheets x 2 (90 min per worksheet)
- Plan and structure a group class (2-3 hours)
- Work with an individual client of your choice to complete profile, goals, postural assessment, deliver sessions and collect feedback (5-6 hours)
- Plan sessions for the individual client (subjective to the individual)
- Anatomy & Physiology revision (subjective to the individual)
- Y-Mark online assessment workbook (4-5 hours)
Before starting the course, we will give you access to our online learning platform so that you can brush up on your anatomy and physiology knowledge. The platform also includes a video exercise library and other resources to support you with the course.
Assessment
There's a range of assessments integrated throughout this qualification. These include:
- Online Assessment Workbook
- Multiple-choice Theory Exam (Anatomy & Physiology)
- Worksheets
- Progressive Pilates Programme for an Individual Client (of your choice)
- VIVA (professional discussion with your tutor to discuss your progressive plan)
- Group Session Plan
- Practical Assessment (delivering your plan to a group of peers)
Progression
Once qualified, you'll be able to deliver group and individual-based pilates sessions to a range of clients. This could be on an employed or self-employed basis.
You may also be interested in delivering other group-based exercise classes using the skills and knowledge you have gained from this qualification.
Entry Requirement
You must be 16 or above to complete this qualification.
There are no pre-requisite qualifications for this course, however, some basic knowledge of anatomy & physiology is desirable. We will give you access to our online learning platform before starting the course so that you can brush-up on this topic.
You will also need:
- Pilates experience/attend classes on a regular basis
- Confidence working in groups as you need to deliver sessions during practical workshops
- 100% attendance, if possible, as there's lots of content to get through (difficult to catch up)
Modules
- Providing a positive customer experience in the exercise environment
- Lifestyle and health awareness management
- Applied anatomy and physiology
- Principles of planning and delivering group exercise
- Principles and fundamentals of Pilates
- Plan and deliver a Pilates session
Fees & Funding
The course fee is £1250.00.
A £100 deposit is required to secure your place on the course.
You can pay for this course yourself (self-funded) either in full or over a maximum of 6 interest-free monthly instalments (using an Envisage Payment Plan).
If you aged 19 or above, you may be eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan. More information about this is available in the "Payment and Funding" section of the website.
If somebody else is paying for the course on your behalf (e.g. your employer or another organisation), please select "Invoice" at the payment section of your booking and we will be in touch for more information about this.
How to Apply
Click the "Book Now" button on this screen.
You'll be taken to a booking details page where you will need to provide your personal information and choose your preferred payment method.
Payment methods include:
- Pay for your course
- £100.00 deposit, then pay the remainder before you start
- Or pay in full now
- Envisage Payment Plan
- Arrange a payment plan with us so that you can spread the payments over a maximum of 6 monthly instalments.
- 19+ Advanced Learner Loan
- You'll not be charged anything at this stage and a member of our team will contact you to arrange a loan sign-up.
- Invoice
- Is your employer or another organisation paying for the course for you? If so, choose "Invoice" and you'll not be charged anything up front, we'll then contact you for further details.
If you have any questions about booking a course with us, please get in touch.
FAQs
It is in your best interest to attend as much of your course as you can. However, if you do need to miss a day or two, don't worry, we will help you to catch-up. We will send you the work that you miss over email or you may even be able to pop in to our office so that we can go through the missing bits with you. All that we ask is that you notify us of your absence as soon as you can so that support can be put in place. If you miss a large chunk of your course, we may transfer you onto a later course so that you are able to attend as many days as possible.
Each day starts at 9am and finishes at 5pm at the latest. Sometimes you may finish a little earlier, but you will bever leave before 4pm as there is so much content to get through. Please arrive for 8.45am each day so that we can start on time.
Yes - this course is available on the Advanced Learner Loan scheme. When you get to the payment section of your booking, select "Advanced Learner Loan" and you will not be charged. A member of our team will then contact you to discuss the next steps. For more information about this payment method, click on the "Payment and Funding" tab and then "19+ Advanced Learner Loans".
- Wear clothing and footwear suitable for exercise
- Notepad and pen
- Food and drink (microwave and refrigeration facilities are available)
Yes, designated lunch breaks are provided. We advise that you bring lunch with you to save you having to leave the venue during your lunch break.
Click on the "Book Now" button above and all of the course dates will come up for you to view. Don't worry, you will not be booked onto the course at this stage.
It is recommended (but not a requirememnt) that you complete the Online Anatomy & Physiology Workbook BEFORE you start your course. Instructions to access and complete this task will be emailed to you upon booking this course.
No - there are no pre-requisite qualifications for this course, however, Pilates experience is ESSENTIAL (e.g. regular attendance to Pilates classes). Some basic knowledge of anatomy & physiology is desirable. We will give you access to our online learning platform before starting the course so that you can brush-up on this topic.