The Speir Pilates 500-Hour Comprehensive Certification is an immersive, industry-leading training designed to develop world-class Pilates instructors. Over seven intensive weekends, apprentices gain mastery in mat and apparatus work — from beginner through advanced — along with anatomy, teaching methodology, programming strategies, and professional development to excel in today’s fitness landscape.
This program teaches classical Pilates foundations, with some contemporary applications to prepare instructors for a variety of teaching environments, including boutique studios, private training, and group fitness.
In addition to live weekend modules, apprentices complete self-practice, observation, and practice teaching hours under the mentorship of our experienced education team.
COURSE CURRICULUM
This program teaches classical Pilates foundations, with some contemporary applications to prepare instructors for a variety of teaching environments, including boutique studios, private training, and group fitness.
In addition to live weekend modules, apprentices complete self-practice, observation, and practice teaching hours under the mentorship of our experienced education team.
COURSE CURRICULUM
- Learn the classical exercises and sequencing exactly as Joseph Pilates created it
- Study the Pilates Principles and Speir Teaching Principles to deepen your understanding of the exercise beyond the technique
- Develop teaching skills, establish your teaching voice, learn how to command a room
- Establish effective and efficient cueing skills
- Learn to teach of every piece of apparatus (Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Tower, Wunda Chair, High Chair, Barrels, Prop Infusion)
- Basics of functional anatomy
- Group fitness skills
- Understand the “why” of the exercise and its purpose in the order
- Business 101 for the fitness industry
- Music Psychology
APPRENTICE PERKS
- 10% off all personal sessions and 20% off all other Speir Pilates purchases (including group classes and semi-group classes) beginning at program start date.
- Access to Speir’s network of instructors and continuing education opportunities.
- Video library of training materials
WEEKEND TRAINING MODULES
WINTER 2025 COHORT- Beginning in January
WEEKEND 1 – Beginner/Intermediate Mat 1
- Friday, January 23: 4-7
- Saturday, January 24: 12pm-6pm
- Sunday, January 25: 12pm-6pm
Course Objectives
Core Pilates principles
Beginner and intermediate mat repertoire (Part 1)
Cueing fundamentals & movement sequencing
Modifications and progressions for varying abilities
WEEKEND 2 – Beginner/Intermediate Mat 2
- Friday, January 30: 4-7
- Saturday, January 31: 12pm-6pm
- Sunday, February 1: 12pm-6pm
Course Objectives
Beginner and intermediate mat repertoire (Part 2)
Flow building & transitions
Anatomy focus: core stabilizers, spine, and pelvic alignment
Introduction to class formatting for private and group settings
WEEKEND 3 – Beginner Reformer
- Friday, February 20: 4-7
- Saturday, February 21: 12pm-6pm
- Sunday, February 22: 12pm-6pm
Course Objectives
Beginner reformer repertoire and safety
Spring settings and resistance principles
Integrating props for accessibility
Programming for new clients
WEEKEND 4 – Intermediate Reformer
- Friday, March 20: 4-7
- Saturday, March 21: 12pm-6pm
- Sunday, March 22: 12pm-6pm
Course Objectives
Intermediate reformer repertoire
Cueing and tactile feedback techniques
Spring progressions for strength and endurance
Jumpboard Training: Immersion into this popular training prop for both group and private training
WEEKEND 5 – Cadillac, Tower and Magic Circle
- Friday, April 17: 4-7
- Saturday, April 18: 12pm-6pm
- Sunday, April 19: 12pm-6pm
Course Objectives
Full repertoire for beginner through advanced levels
Safety protocols for springs and apparatus
Unique Cadillac/Tower exercises not found on other apparatus
Programming for rehab and athletic clients
WEEKEND 6 – Chairs & Barrels
- Friday, May 1: 4-7
- Saturday, May 2: 12pm-6pm
- Sunday, May 3: 12pm-6pm
Course Objectives
Wunda Chair and High Chair exercises
Spine Corrector, Small Barrel and Ladder Barrel exercises
How to integrate chair and barrel work into private and group formats
Strength and flexibility progressions
WEEKEND 7 – Advanced Reformer & Mat
- Friday, May 29: 4-7
- Saturday, May 30: 12pm-6pm
- Sunday, May 31: 12pm-6pm
Course Objectives
Advanced-level repertoire and flow sequences on the reformer and mat
High-intensity classical and contemporary variations
Athletic programming and advanced modifications
Additional Program Training (Videos & Virtual Apprentice Meetings)
Functional Anatomy
Music Psychology
Prop Infusion
Pre/Postnatal programming
Business + entering the fitness market
PROGRAM STRUCTURE & REQUIREMENTS
- TOTAL HOURS: 500 hours (includes in-person training, observation, self-practice, and practice teaching)
- FORMAT: Seven in-person weekend modules + independent hours completed between modules
- LOCATION: Speir Pilates Mar Vista, 12821 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90066
- FACULTY: Led by Speir Pilates Education Director Kristen Matthews, Co-Founder Andra Speir, and senior teacher trainers
ADDITIONAL COST:
- 20 personal or semi-personal training sessions required for completion of certification
- Pricing structure modeled after premium industry certifications, ensuring exceptional value and training quality.
If you have not completed the program by the end of 12 months (to date of first weekend module date), you will be charged a delinquency fee of $50/week. If not completed 15 months after start of program date, you will not be eligable for certification, and will need to re-enroll in the next cohort certification program to retake the course.
PREREQUISITES
- 15 personal or semi personal training sessions (*does not need to be completed at Speir, but must be classically-based).
- You will be required to show proof of the completion of prerequisite sessions prior to program start date.
Questions? Email us at: education@speirpilates.com
Course Description
COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING
In-person
Speir Pilates Mar Vista
Become a certified instructor in all apparatus.
Payment Plan = $890/month for 10 months
OPTION 2
Pay In Full = $8,500
OPTION 1
Payment Plan = $890/month for 10 months
OPTION 2
Pay In Full = $8,500
OPTION 1
COURSE FEE INCLUDES
MISSED INTENSIVE WEEKEND POLICY
Being present for every part of the weekend training is essential to learn all material. Any missed hours must be made up in the form of purchased private sessions at Speir Pilates with an established Speir Pilates Teacher Trainer to cover the time lost and learn the missed material. For example, if one hour is missed, one private session will be required. This will continue until all missed time is made up to complete the program and obtain a certificate of completion. Private sessions can be in the form of a virtual session. For the mat program, this is upon pre-approval only as the program is based on consecutive learning. You cannot make up a whole weekend with hours.
WHAT IF I DON’T FINISH ON TIME?
All modules separately must be completed 2 months after the final day of lectured learning. If you do not complete this on time, you will be charged $50 per week until completed. If you are taking the entire Comprehensive program as a cohort apprentice, you have 12 months (one year) to complete the program (from Day 1 of the program). If you have not finished on time, you will be charged a delinquency fee of $50/week until the completion of program. If you have not completed the program at the end of 15 months, the delinquency charged will cease, and you will forfeit your ability to be certified in this cohort.
REFUND/CANCELLATION POLICY
Students are entitled to full tuition refund upon withdrawal/termination up to 14 calendar days before the start of the program. If withdrawal of the program happens within 14 calendar days of the start date of the program, there is no refund of tuition. The official date of termination/cancellation of a student will be determined in the following manner: The date on which the school receives written notice of the students intention to discontinue the training program. Tuition fees are non-transferable. Previous credit on account at Speir Pilates cannot be redeemed toward payment for tuition on Speir Pilates Teacher Training Program. If any training time is missed within the program without prior approval, the apprentice will not be certified due to incompletion of the work and no refund will be issued.
- One digital manual for module. Printed manuals available for purchase of $150.
- All n-studio hours that includes lectures, practice teaching, and mentoring
- Apprentice meetings
- Access to videos for apprentice hours
- Certificate of completion once all required test-outs have been successfully completed
- Testing and administrative fees
MISSED INTENSIVE WEEKEND POLICY
Being present for every part of the weekend training is essential to learn all material. Any missed hours must be made up in the form of purchased private sessions at Speir Pilates with an established Speir Pilates Teacher Trainer to cover the time lost and learn the missed material. For example, if one hour is missed, one private session will be required. This will continue until all missed time is made up to complete the program and obtain a certificate of completion. Private sessions can be in the form of a virtual session. For the mat program, this is upon pre-approval only as the program is based on consecutive learning. You cannot make up a whole weekend with hours.
WHAT IF I DON’T FINISH ON TIME?
All modules separately must be completed 2 months after the final day of lectured learning. If you do not complete this on time, you will be charged $50 per week until completed. If you are taking the entire Comprehensive program as a cohort apprentice, you have 12 months (one year) to complete the program (from Day 1 of the program). If you have not finished on time, you will be charged a delinquency fee of $50/week until the completion of program. If you have not completed the program at the end of 15 months, the delinquency charged will cease, and you will forfeit your ability to be certified in this cohort.
REFUND/CANCELLATION POLICY
Students are entitled to full tuition refund upon withdrawal/termination up to 14 calendar days before the start of the program. If withdrawal of the program happens within 14 calendar days of the start date of the program, there is no refund of tuition. The official date of termination/cancellation of a student will be determined in the following manner: The date on which the school receives written notice of the students intention to discontinue the training program. Tuition fees are non-transferable. Previous credit on account at Speir Pilates cannot be redeemed toward payment for tuition on Speir Pilates Teacher Training Program. If any training time is missed within the program without prior approval, the apprentice will not be certified due to incompletion of the work and no refund will be issued.
