As teachers, we often see clients who need more than purely Pilates. Some require strength training to improve bone density, others need cardiovascular conditioning for heart health, and many benefit from mobility work beyond the Pilates repertoire. The question is: When do we stop being purely a Pilates teacher and become an integrated wellness educator?
What is an Integrated Pilates Educator?
An integrated pilates & wellness educator blends multiple disciplines to create a well-rounded movement practice. This doesn’t mean abandoning Pilates, it means enhancing it with complementary training methods. Pilates remains at the core, but you might incorporate elements of strength training, functional movement, cardiovascular fitness, or even breath work and mindfulness.
However, whether or not you need to take on this role often depends on your environment.
Does Your Location Influence Your Role?
If you’re teaching in a large city, your clients likely have access to gyms, personal trainers, strength coaches, and various other specialists. In this case, your role may remain purely Pilates-focused, and you can confidently refer clients to other professionals for additional movement or fitness needs.
But what if you live in a small town or village where these resources are scarce? What if your clients come to you not just for Pilates but for everything movement-related? In these situations, you may find yourself naturally stepping into the role of an integrated wellness educator—a leader who helps bridge the gap between Pilates and the other areas of movement, strength, and wellness that your clients need.
When Do You Cross the Line from Pilates Teacher to Integrated Wellness Educator?
This depends on how much you integrate other training methods into your teaching. Let’s break it down:
Pilates Teacher with a Holistic Approach
Pilates remains your main framework.
You incorporate mobility exercises, breath work, or lifestyle advice but always within a Pilates-based session.
Clients come to you for Pilates, and that’s what they receive—though with some added insights from other disciplines.
Integrated Pilates Teacher
You still identify primarily as a Pilates teacher, but you regularly incorporate additional movement disciplines into your sessions.
This might include resistance bands or small weights for strength work, dynamic mobility drills, or cardiovascular elements like jump board work or standing functional movements.
Your clients experience Pilates, but in a way that acknowledges their broader movement and wellness needs.
Integrated Wellness Educator
Pilates is just one tool in your toolbox.
Your sessions may include structured strength training, dedicated cardiovascular work, or functional movement drills outside the traditional Pilates repertoire.
Clients don’t necessarily come to you for Pilates alone; they come for a well-rounded, multi-disciplinary approach that supports their overall wellness.
Do You Need to Be an Integrated Wellness Educator?
Absolutely not. Many Pilates teachers prefer to specialise purely in Pilates, and that is perfectly valid. However, if you find that your clients’ needs extend beyond Pilates, you have two options:
Refer Out – Recognising when a client needs strength or cardiovascular training beyond your expertise and referring them to a specialist.
Expand Your Skill Set – If you’re passionate about supporting clients in a broader way, training in complementary disciplines could enhance your teaching.
Bringing Integration into Pilates Without Losing Its Identity
If you want to integrate other wellness elements into your teaching without becoming an entirely different type of educator, consider:
Strength Training : Use resistance bands, hand weights, or bodyweight exercises alongside Pilates movements to support muscle development.
Cardiovascular Training: Reformer jump board work, dynamic sequences, or off-the-mat functional movement patterns can increase heart rate within a Pilates session.
Mobility and Functional Movement: Adding drills that complement Pilates principles can improve range of motion and movement efficiency.
Breath and Recovery Work: Techniques from yoga or meditation can support stress relief and nervous system regulation, enhancing Pilates' mind-body connection.
Final Thoughts: Define Your Role on Your Terms
There is no right or wrong path, some teachers choose to stay purely within Pilates, while others evolve into integrated wellness educators, depending on their environment and their clients' needs. The most important thing is to stay true to your expertise while ensuring your clients receive the best support possible for their overall health and movement journey.
If you find yourself working in a small town or village where people rely on you for more than purely Pilates, then stepping into the role of an integrated wellness educator may be the best way to serve your community. If, however, you're in a place where clients have access to a wide range of wellness professionals, you may prefer to keep your focus purely on Pilates and collaborate with other specialists.
At the end of the day, it’s about knowing where your strengths lie and how you can best support your clients' movement and wellness needs.
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