Since the introduction in the latter part of last year of national standards defining what it means to be a qualified Pilates teacher, a number of training organisations have come forward to have their programmes formally recognised as meeting these standards and enabling their candidates to be recognised by the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) with full status.

The teaching of Pilates is a level 3 activity – comparable to the current advanced instructor – and the name and title of Pilates is now “protected” at level 3.

Many group exercise teachers have done some training in the method of Pilates, but much of this was at level 2 and is called “exercise and movement” in the registration process. These teachers now need to upgrade their qualification to meet the new level 3 standard before using the name of Pilates in their classes.

The first two organisations to meet the new level 3 standards are Body Control Pilates and Future Fit Training and both are already running a number of courses.

Other teacher training organisations will shortly be following – the Pilates Institute, Yfit and Modern Pilates have already confirmed their position – and other providers have expressed their determination to run level 3 courses.

Central YMCA Qualifications have a Pilates qualification accepted onto the National Qualifications Framework which opens many possibilities for their approved centres.

Details of REPs approved providers are available on www.exerciseregister.org

Body Control Pilates - www.bodycontrol.co.uk or +44 (0)20 7379 3734

Future Fit Training – www.futurefit.co.uk to +44 (0)1329 829444 CYQ – www.cyq.org.uk or +44 (0)207 343 1800