This is a 600 hour course from start to finish.

proj·ect noun /ˈpräˌjek(t)/ an individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim.

verb /prəˈjek(t)/ extend outward toward something else.

I believe in the benefits that this system brings to those who put in the work, for both teacher and student! Pilates is a sought after modality and there is a real need for committed and educated Pilates teachers. This program will fill a need for comprehensive Pilates teacher training within the community of East Texas, as well as the surrounding areas.

The PILATES PROJECT program strives to be a learning lab and classroom that will produce competent, caring, and confident movement educators. We will scaffold your learning process by using current teaching science and learning psychology.

The program’s goal is to pass down the legacy of Joseph Pilates exercise system through knowledge, experience and the development of critical thinking skills and then extending the experience beyond into the community.

Upon completion of THE PILATES PROJECT, you will be equipped to safely and effectively teach the Pilates exercises using the reformer, Cadillac, tower unit, chairs, spine corrector, high ladder barrel, and other small accessory apparatus.

Additionally, the transitions, intentions, and all necessary modifications for those needing accommodations will be taught. Learning to teach Pilates as a system is a serious and fulfilling endeavor! Trainees will be expected to prepare for the course work and come ready to invest in their education and the experience of fellow trainees.

This is a “start to finish course” that allows continuity of education and consistency of training. If you live in East Texas and are participating in the program with the intent of making STUDIO B PILATES+BARRE your teaching home, you will begin on the apprentice level after completion of the first level to those with no major movement restrictions or limitations. This helps assure you get maximum exposure to our community and clientele while also helping you see return on your investment in a timely manner. If you live outside of our area, I will collaborate with your studio owner on getting you started.

Tyler movement enthusiast and teacher, Sarah Burton discovered the genius of Pilates before the birth of her last child in 2004 while working as a personal trainer.

After working at local gyms and Pilates studios for many years, she opened her current location in the growing Mosaic District area off Earl Campbell in Tyler Texas.

East Texans have the opportunity to experience Pilates as a complete system of movement at STUDIO B PILATES+BARRE.

She has developed helpful tools while working with her students, her commitment to personal study, and continuing education. She also has developed relationships with medical professionals and enjoys a collaborative relationship with mentors and colleagues.

Sarah works with those who have had joint replacements, scoliosis, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, students with hyper-mobility syndrome, neurological conditions, spinal fusions, spinal cord injuries, spinal stenosis, and other disorders.

She enjoys teaching both ends of the age spectrum equally; and that opportunity brings more learning avenues for her. Each student comes to Pilates with a unique set of challenges and opportunities for growth and knowledge yet leaves each session feeling one step closer to reaching their goals.

Sarah Burton’s mission for the PILATES PROJECT teacher training program is to equip the next generation of Pilates teachers to listen, to watch closely, and to collaborate to help each individual have the most productive experience possible.

She loves teaching her students and operating STUDIO B PILATES+BARRE in Tyler Texas. Sarah also works in the Tyler Junior College Dance Department as one of the pre-ballet teachers as well as the dance conditioning and Pilates teacher in the pre-professional program. This has put her in the mentoring role for those who are learning not only a specific skill set, but are also learning that their own unique anatomy will project a unique movement pattern. And that is a beautiful thing.

With over 25 years of movement education experience, she will not only teach you the Pilates system thoroughly, but will also show you how to pivot and adapt to the inevitable humanity each student brings with them each session.

After completing your pre-requisites (which will be discussed within individual meetings), agreeing to the terms of the teacher training program, and acceptance into THE PILATES PROJECT you will

1. Learn to teach a well balanced class using the system of Pilates. You will learn the skills to introduce new concepts, break down exercises into manageable parts, use your judgment to advance a student or when to pull things back. You will feel capable using basic scientific principles in your sessions/classes such as progressive load, range of motion, and learning aptitude.

2. Learn to teach varied populations within your scope of practice. New Pilates teachers will have the skills to teach each student using the Pilates system with equal confidence and continued curiosity. Develop into an inspirational, confident, and empathetic educator. Each teacher trainee will have a step by step guide walking them through the stages of learning as both an educator and through what a student experiences. We will be creating a new generation of Pilates teachers who will have the ability to honor where each student is starting and also know how to progress their students to achieve real life benefits and results.

3. Cultivate your leadership and teaching skills within a safe environment. Learning is most effective when the student is allowed and expected to make mistakes, evaluate, make new choices, test drive a theory, sound awkward, and try again. Your weekends will be classrooms where both imperfection and mistakes will be expected. That is the culture that breeds progress.

4. Receive constructive direction that moves you to a deeper understanding. Feedback that is given during the course is not close ended. Purposeful feedback should always be a two-way conversation so that the new teacher is guided in a direction that benefits their skills and also the results of their future students. Giving concrete strategies for progress is always the goal of conversations.

5. Collaborate with your fellow trainees. Each weekend will include time for team work, strategizing, practice teaching and memory skills.

6. Learn and explore anatomy and biomechanics. You will have access to guest presenters within the medical and wellness community to enhance your understanding of learning styles, injuries, and special populations. You will learn basic anatomy, biomechanics, common injury misconceptions, and working within our scope of practice.

7. Address the inner workings of studio life. We will discuss several topics that will foster your professionalism in any work environment. Some topics include ethics, common movement misunderstandings, student conflict, internal studio professionalism, internal studio communication, spotting and touch cues, scope of practice, and insurance coverage, among others.

• You are a current Pilates student with a desire to teach the work to others.

• You are a fitness professional wanting to broaden your understanding of Pilates. and want to work in a classical Pilates studio.

• You are an athletic trainer or strength and conditioning coach/ professional wanting to bring a Pilates program to a sports training facility.

• You currently are a Pilates teacher and love the idea of not only continuing your education, but doing it with a group of others who share your passion.

• You are a physical or occupational therapist or assistant who is working at a clinic with Pilates equipment and want to complete a teacher training.

• You are a college student studying the field of movement and have a desire to help others through the lens of the Pilates system.

PREPARE

This rigorous curriculum is designed to provide a 600 hour classical Pilates exercise education to future teachers. Teacher trainees must be prepared before each weekend begins and commit to participate in the entire course. Each trainee is allowed one weekend absence. Reading material, course review, and personal practice and exploration are all required.

PROCESS

We will use the layers of learning approach for each exercise and new concept. You will be allowed to go through the phases of learning as a new teacher, starting at the parrot phase into developing your own teaching philosophy. This process allows you to adapt to each student’s needs and find your own unique voice in this industry. We will provide a productive learning environment to set you up for success.

Knowledge Acquisition. Experience Acquisition. Critical Thinking Acquisition. Learn it. Feel it. Teach it.

PRACTICE

Personal practice, observation, and practice teaching hours can all be done inside of STUDIO B PILATES+BARRE if you live near us. To teach Pilates, you must have a practice of Pilates as a student. Hours for teacher trainees who live in town can be scheduled upon availability. Personal practice and practice teachings hours must be tracked and personally recorded regardless of where completed.

PILOT

As lead teacher, I will give you information and guidance. The guidance and coaching will feel different through each stage as you grow and will look different depending on your individual progress and needs. A mentoring relationship that puts you in the pilot’s seat will encourage not only content retention but also critical thinking. Self-discovery will be valuable as you learn and grow. I am on your team, and you will be guided to find your own words and unique teaching methodology.

LEVEL ONE

MODULE 1

LAUNCH WEEKEND: FOUNDATIONS 
Friday, August 23 3:30pm-6:30pm

Saturday, August 24 9:00am-6:00pm

Sunday, August 25 10:00am-2:00pm

MODULE 2

Saturday, October 5 9:00am-6:00pm

Sunday, October 6 9:00am-3:00pm

MODULE 3


Saturday, November 2 9:00am-6:00pm

Sunday, November 3 9:00am-3:00pm

FIRST CHECKPOINT + ASSESSMENT WEEK

November 11

LEVEL TWO

MODULE 1

Saturday, January 4 9:00am-6:00pm

Sunday, February 5 9:00am-3:00pm



MODULE 2 (times will be as above)

Saturday, February 8

Sunday, February 9

MODULE 3


Saturday, March 8

Sunday, March 9

SECOND CHECKPOINT + ASSESSMENT WEEK

April 3, 2025

LEVEL THREE

MODULE 1


Saturday, May 3 2025

Sunday, May 4 2025

MODULE 2


Saturday, June 7 2025

Sunday, June 8

2025

MODULE 3

Saturday, July 12 2025

Sunday, July 13 2025

THIRD CHECKPOINT + ASSESSMENT WEEK

July 28, 2025

LEVEL FOUR

MODULE 1

Saturday, September 6

Sunday, September 7

MODULE 2

Saturday, October 4

Sunday, October 5

MODULE 3

Saturday, November 8

Sunday, November 9

FOURTH CHECKPOINT + ASSESSMENT WEEK

November 17, 2025

INDIVIDUAL TEST OUTS

Schedule to take your final test with the lead teacher between January 1 and April 10, 2026

Please refer back to this page for the 2026 program pricing.

I am ready to fill out my application and would love to schedule a time to chat!

THE PILATES PROJECT is a comprehensive and classical Pilates teacher training that spans twelve training weekends and will take sixteen months to complete start to finish.

Studio B Pilates + Barre is hoping you join our teaching team when you’re done, if you’d like to work with us. Please inquire about the official interview and onboarding process if this is your intention. Please treat your time and efforts as part of your interview process.

EDUCATION

Topics of study include and are not limited to, client communication skills, ethics, professionalism, anatomy, the science and psychology of learning and teaching, working with a team, scope of practice, exercises on all apparatus, safety, tactile cueing, common challenges and modifications, building blocks, and progressions and variations.

The modules are comprehensive in nature from the very beginning. This approach allows our apprentices to teach the system to a beginner student from the completion of Level One: Module 3 in the first week of November. Apprentices will start charging for their services at a reduced rate after the Checkpoint Assessment at Level One. You will learn the art of crafting a well-balanced class as well as the ability to think on your feet during the many times things don’t go as planned.

Apparatus learned include but are not limited to: the mat, circle, tower unit, reformer, cadillac, wunda chair, high chair, spine corrector, ladder barrel, and ped-o-pul.

ATTENDANCE

You are allowed to miss one training weekend, but are required to watch the video content and collaborate with your colleagues to cover the material. There are 12 training weekends in the program that include 212 face-to-face hours, not including the Checkpoint Meetings + Assessments.

Knowing that some of our students have full-time jobs or other time constraints, we have tried to schedule our on-site training on days where it might not interfere with another workplace schedule. We acknowledge the fact that this endeavor will not be 100% convenient or easy, and we honor your commitment.

INDEPENDENT STUDY

Homework is a large part of any comprehensive Pilates education program. As a TPP student you will complete 600 hours of observation, personal practice and teaching. Your Checkpoint Meetings are designed to provide continued support along your entire journey so that you stay on track. Personal liability insurance must be obtained before the course begins in August of 2024.

200 OBSERVATION HOURS

These hours will be logged in your manual or on a digital device and can be obtained through in-studio observation with an approved teacher and time or through watching a class on an approved source such as the Pilatesology website.

200 PERSONAL PRACTICE HOURS

These hours will be logged in your manual or on a digital device and be completed with another TPP colleague or a comprehensively trained Pilates teacher.* You will also be required to video these hours and upload them into your digital file.

200 PRACTICE TEACHING HOURS

Please schedule your practice teaching hours during my office or teaching hours in the studio or under the supervision of another Pilates teacher on our team. These sessions must be recorded in Acuity.

PRE-REQUISITES

We highly recommend that you acquaint yourself with the fundamentals of the practice of Pilates and take at least 50 hours of Pilates sessions or classes on your own prior to your first training weekend.

Anatomy is a very important part of our training. We cover anatomy, biomechanics, alignment, pathologies, contraindications and modifications in depth throughout your education. An Anatomy and Physiology background is very helpful, but not required. There are many resources we will guide you toward if you need extra assistance and want to deepen your understanding apart from our in-studio training times.

PROVIDED REQUIRED READING

THE PILATES PROJECT Manuals

Return to Life by Joseph Pilates

Science of Pilates

Anatomy of Movement

PMA guide

OPTIONAL READING AND RESOURCES

How the Brain Learns

Make Just One Change

Organic Mentoring 

The Art and Science of Cueing Franklin

Pilates: An Interactive Workbook

Adam Grant Growth by Adam Grant

Mindset by Carol S. Dweck

As part of your 200 personal practice and independent study, it is important to budget accordingly. The cost associated with Pilates classes or sessions from a comprehensively trained teacher will vary based on the location and type (group class, semi-private, private) you choose.

OTHER COSTS

Our program facilitates collaboration among apprentices to significantly reduce these costs. Studio B offers limited spaces for observation and personal practice free of charge to all enrolled students. If you live near our studio, it is recommended that you connect with one that is closer to you if you desire. You may need to negotiate potential fees for utilizing an external studio’s facilities as part of your independent study requirements—some studios may charge whereas others may not.

Please account for travel and lodging expenses if you live outside of our area.

TESTING

We assess our students at four intervals. Each of the three Checkpoint Meetings will include an assessment, an overview and approval of recorded hours, and problem solving to keep our students on track and ready for the final test out. Your final TEST OUT will be scheduled with the lead teacher between the dates of January 1 and April 10, 2026. It will include a written exam, a case study, a personal practice evaluation, and a practical teaching test with someone from the community.

Upon completion of the PILATES PROJECT, you will be equipped to safely and effectively teach the Pilates exercises using the reformer, Cadillac, tower unit, chairs, spine corrector, high ladder barrel, and other small accessory apparatus. Additionally, the transitions, intentions, and all necessary modifications for those needing accommodations will be included in the final test out.