Teaching Pilates in a gym can have a bad rep, but there are so many benefits including client leads, expanding your clientele, excitement and opportunities, and employment benefits.

Oh geez… did I just open up a can of worms with the title, Teaching Pilates in a Gym?   Sometimes Pilates instructors think of ‘gym Pilates’ as not the real thing or that gym-goers don’t really care to learn the method and are trying to fuse everything HIIT with Pilates so they can get their sweat on. But the thing is, people are people, and we are all capable of enjoying the Pilates method, and let’s face it- we all NEED Pilates!

I feel like working in a gym, or even ‘gym Pilates,’ can get a bad rep, but I am here to write about the reasons I LOVE it.

From the Pilates Teacher’s perspective:

Tons of leads and the perfect opportunity to expand your demographic! – At many of our gyms, we have 3,000-6,000 members.  This means 3,000-6,000 potential Pilates clients. They are standing right there in front of you, in gym shoes, warmed up and ready to work out!

Gyms get a wide variety of people through the doors. Most gym members sign up for treadmills and weights and they might not necessarily know that they want or need Pilates.  This means that they are the PERFECT opportunity for you to expand your reach and spread the love of Pilates to even more people who can really benefit from it.

Stimulation!–  Working at a gym is exciting.  There is music, lots of energy, and lots of opportunity for engagement with people and with exercise.  You will be surrounded by knowledgeable trainers, and group fitness instructors and club managers. You will teach what you know and be exposed to many opportunities to learn things you don’t know!  It will pep you up and keep you feeling young!

Employment benefits and professional growth. – Being a part of a bigger organization, like a gym, has a multitude of employment benefits.  You can qualify for health insurance, HSA, Flex accounts, and 401k benefits…and my favorite, PAID TIME OFF!  In addition, there are likely department or club-wide bonuses that you can earn.

Let’s also talk about career growth and longevity- A gym will often promote its staff to lead trainers, department managers, directors and more! Pilates Instructors are often encouraged to communicate their skills with the leadership team and expand their roles within the organization!

If you like to be in an energetic environment that thrives on the growth of its members and its employees, a gym is a great place to teach Pilates!