When the Reformer Bubble Bursts

What’s going to happen when all these new teachers realise they can’t get a job?

Not because they lack passion or potential — but because their qualification doesn’t hold up.

It’s a question that’s beginning to echo across the Pilates world.

And it’s already affecting so many well-intentioned people who thought they were stepping into a new career — only to find themselves unprepared, unsupported, and disappointed.

The Dream That Starts It All

Most people who decide to train as Pilates teachers do it because they love Pilates.

It’s changed their life. It’s helped them move again, feel stronger, stand taller, or simply find calm in the noise of daily life.

So when a training provider promises a quick route into teaching — “qualify in a few weekends” or “teach Reformer straight away” — it sounds exciting. It feels like the start of something new.

People sign up with the best intentions. They want to share what Pilates has done for them. And at first, it feels possible.

The Moment of Realisation

Then comes the moment that so many don’t see coming.

They finish their course, certificate in hand, and start applying for jobs — only to discover that studios aren’t hiring.

Job ads ask for “comprehensive training,” “apparatus experience,” or the ability to “work with different bodies.”

That’s when the truth starts to dawn: the qualification they worked for doesn’t actually prepare them to teach real people.

They haven’t learned how to read bodies, how to adapt exercises, or how to understand the connections that make Pilates work.

The confidence they had at graduation quickly turns into self-doubt.

And the heartbreak of that moment is hard to overstate.

Who’s Really to Blame?

It’s not the teachers. It’s the industry.

Fast-track training has become a business model.

Courses are marketed with glossy promises and short timelines — “become a teacher in six weeks,” “start teaching immediately,” “build a new career fast.”

It sounds empowering, but it’s leaving people underprepared.

These courses may tick the boxes on paper, but they don’t give teachers the depth, mentorship, or embodied understanding that true Pilates education requires.

Meanwhile, studios are left trying to maintain standards in an environment where the word qualified no longer means what it used to.

The Reformer Bubble

Right now, Reformer Pilates is everywhere.

Gyms, franchises, and boutique studios are all rushing to open new spaces and meet the growing demand.

Social media makes it look effortless — sleek, fast-paced, and fun.

But bubbles don’t last.

And when this one bursts, it won’t be the training companies who suffer.

It’ll be the teachers — the ones who were full of passion and excitement, and trusted the process — only to find they were never given the proper foundation to begin with.

The People Who Deserve Better

Behind every “qualified” teacher struggling to find work is someone who just wanted to make a difference.

Someone who wanted to help others move and feel better — and believed their training would prepare them to do that.

They don’t need judgement.

They need honesty, mentorship, and a way to fill in the gaps.

Because this isn’t just about jobs — it’s about preserving the integrity of Pilates.

If we want this method to stay strong, it can’t be watered down into choreography or quick certifications.

It needs teachers who understand the work — who can see the body in front of them, not just the next exercise on a list.

The Way Forward

The Reformer bubble will burst — that’s inevitable.

But what comes after could be stronger and more sustainable.

We have a chance now to do better.

To prioritise depth over speed.

Mentorship over marketing.

And education over certification.

Because these teachers — the ones with heart, passion, and potential — deserve the opportunity to become the kind of instructors our industry truly needs.

They deserve better.

And Pilates deserves better.

If you’re a client looking for somewhere to begin your Pilates journey — or a teacher looking to deepen your knowledge — come and see us.

At EQ, we’ve been teaching Pilates since 2001, blending tradition, integrity, and care in everything we do.