A modern, FITNESS-FOCUSED program from the studio that made athletic pilates famous in los angeles

We love Pilates. Like, a lot. And we recognize that we can introduce Pilates to more people if it's taught the way today’s customers want it: as a sweaty, heart-pumping workout that delivers on fitness goals.

This 420-hour program is comprehensive. And comprehensive means more than equipment - it means skill. Where other certification programs are outdated, our program is different:

• Master both Classical and Contemporary repertoires

• Understand fitness, not just Pilates

• Train on the most popular equipment, not just the Reformer

• Learn how to coach, not just recite cues

• Get experience programing classes and Privates

• One-stop shop - everything you need is included

You’ll graduate studio-ready, confident, and in high demand. Because Athletic Pilates is what today’s clients want, and what today’s studios are hiring for.

Are you ready to become a Certified Athletic Pilates Trainer? Of course you are.

ENROLL NOW

FALL 2026 KEY DATES

• Enrollment Opens: Monday, June 15/TBD

• Information Session: Sunday, June 21/TBD

• Early Bird Pricing Ends: Sunday, July 12/TBD

• Enrollment Closes: Sunday, August 9/TBD

• In-Studio Coursework Starts: Friday, August 21/TBD

Sign up for our emails below, or follow us on Instagram at @pilatesmith for updates. If you have a question now, email us!

we build confident trainers

This program is different in that we'll approach teaching Pilates through exercise science and help you actually understand exercises and their impact on the body—not just memorize springs, rep counts, and cues.

This program goes beyond the exercises. Instead of just learning proper technique, you’ll also learn leveling and loading strategies, how to program, how to own a group room, and how to ace a Private session so you graduate confident and ready to conquer any format, at any level, at any studio.

Everyone is paired with a Pilatesmith Trainer for 1:1 mentorship and coaching so you always feel supported.

a COMPRehensive program

This 450-hour program is comprehensive in that you’ll learn to teach the Classical repertoire and Contemporary exercises across the most popular apparatus: Mat, Reformer, Chair, and Cadillac. You’ll find a detailed syllabus of the in-studio coursework below.

Similar to other programs, this one consists of in-studio coursework hours, "on-your-own” hours, and testing hours. But with our program, you have access to our studios so practicing and studying for your tests is easy.

• 105 hours In-Studio Coursework

• 245 hours Self-Practice, Observation, Practice Teaching

• 50 hours Programming

• 30 hours Supervised Tests, “Real-World” Teaching

• 20 hours 1:1 Coaching

Each trainee who graduates from the program earns the credential of Certified Athletic Pilates Trainer (CAPT). This certification will qualify you to teach at any Pilates studio.

SCHEDULE

Tentative dates for the Fall 2026 semester are:

• Weekend 1: August 21-23/TBD

• Weekend 2: August 28-30/TBD

• Weekend 3: September 4-6/TBD *Note that this is Labor Day weekend

• Weekend 4: September 18-20/TBD

• Weekend 5: September 25-27/TBD

• Weekend 6: October 9-11/TBD

• Weekend 7: October 16-18/TBD

There are 7 weekends of intensive studio coursework. Each weekend is 15 hours: 3-6pm on Fridays, 1-7pm on Saturdays, and 1-7pm on Sundays. Odd numbered weekends are at the Culver studio, and even numbered weekends are at the Santa Monica studio.

All in-studio coursework has to be completed in order to graduate, so if you miss coursework you will schedule to make it up at the rate of $50 an hour, or forfeit the course. If you miss 30% or more, you can defer those modules to the semester immediately following yours. If you miss 50% or more of the coursework, you forfeit the course.

Cost

Total cost for the entire program including coursework, mentorship, and studio access is only $4,500. Unlike other programs, everything is included and there there are no hidden costs.

There are two payment options:

1. Pay in Full (avoid the credit card convenience fee by paying with a bank account)

2. Payment Plan - 4 payments:

   • Pay $1,000 to reserve your spot

   • Then, 3 monthly payments of $1,1667.67 will be charged on the 15th of each month

Space is limited so once enrolled you are committed to the full cost. No cancellations or refunds at any time for any reason (no exceptions).

In-studio COURSEWORK syllabus

• Program Overview

• Introduction to Athletic Pilates

• Anatomy

• Kinesiology 101

• Fitness Training 101

• Athletic Pilates Foundations

• Mat Classical & Contemporary Exercises

• Reformer Classical & Contemporary Exercises

• Cadillac Classical & Contemporary Exercises

• Chair Classical & Contemporary Exercises

• TRX, Accessories & Props

• Athletic Pilates Programming

• Athletic Pilates Leveling

• Athletic Pilates Loading Strategies

• Prenatal & Postnatal

• Common Medical Conditions

• Mobility

• Recovery

• How to Own a Group Room

• How to Ace a Private Training Session

• How to Lead a Flawless Virtual Session

• Music Psychology & Playlist Curation

• I'm Certified! Now What?

PREREQUISTIES

We’ve found it’s very helpful to your learning if you have a basic understanding of Pilates. We teach concepts within the context of Pilates so without a level of foundational understanding of the practice, there may be things that are hard to understand.

While we do not require it, we strongly suggest taking as many Pilates classes as you can before the program begins, whether that’s at Pilatesmith or another studio.

studio locations

Pilatesmith Santa Monica: 2110 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA. 90405

Pilatesmith Culver City: 12450 Washington Blvd., Los Angeles CA. 90066

REVIEWS

Questions?

We’re here to help! Emailing is the best way to reach us, and if you prefer a phone call we can set something up!