60 Hours of Online Lectures with TPC Founders

Sisters Amy Taylor Alpers and Rachel Taylor Segel have been training classical Pilates teachers for more than 30 years. They have codified their lifetime of work as second-generation classical Pilates teachers in iTPC, their online teacher training curriculum, which pairs with in-person mentorship from their hand-picked Licensed Teacher Trainers. 

 iTPC allows you to work through the formal classroom learning portion of the Pilates teacher training program at your own pace rather than drinking from a firehose in a live weekend workshop format.

Private & Semi Private Pilates Lessons (live or online)

Your teaching is only as good as your commitment to your own exploration and practice of the Pilates method. For this reason, TPC's classical Pilates teacher training programs require 50-100 lessons, depending on which program you enroll in. 

Our trainee package includes 1-2 private lessons each month and 1-2 semi private lessons each week with Jessica Gowen. You also have acess to online classes with other TPC-trained teachers. Your lessons help fine-tune your practice in a 1:1 setting and gain independence and experience comraderie and flow in a small group setting. 

Observation Hours

During the program, you’ll observe Jessica Gowen and other experienced graduates of our classical Pilates teacher training programs while they teach clients. TPC requires 75-200 observation hours, depending on which program you enroll in.

Observation hours are invaluable for understanding how to structure a session, how to adapt to different learning styles, and how to modify exercises to meet clients’ needs.

You can observe teachers live at Activcore Druid Hills and at the Dancer Wellness Center in Ormewood Park. TPC also maintains an online library of observable sessions. 

Practice Teaching

The only way to learn how to teach well is to start teaching. Practice teaching is where you learn to  speak Pilates, More importantly, practice teaching is where you learn to read the body in front of you and customize your sessions accordingly.

Practice teaching volunteer clients in your third week of the program and continues through graduation.

Initially, you’ll practice teach other trainees. Eventually you will branch out to friends and family and to regular clients. TPC requires 100-250 hours of practice teaching depending on which program you enroll in. 

Personal Workouts

Your personal workouts are where you practice applying the information you learn in the online lecture series and in your 1:1 and semi private lessons. TPC requires 40-150 personal workouts, depending on the program you are enrolled in.

You’ll go from fumbling your way through your personal workouts with an exercise list in your hand to confidently and independently flowing through a workout on any of the Pilates apparatus. 

Advising Meetings & Observed Teaching

One feature of TPC’s programs that sets it apart from other classical Pilates teacher training programs is the frequency with which you receive feedback on your teaching.

You have 2-4 formal advising meetings with your teacher where you teach for feedback and discuss your progress in your program. Then, you’ll complete 3-10 additional observed teaching sessions to help you continue to fine tune your approach to session design as well as your verbal and hands-on teaching skills. 

Case Study

Our Intermediate Plus, Bridge and Advanced programs all require you to complete a case study.

During the case study process, you’ll teach one student 40 private lessons, progressing them through as much of the Pilates system as possible. You’ll build their movement skills across all apparatus and document their progress and get feedback from your advisor each month.

Trainees in our upper level programs report that the case study process is one of the most valuable parts of their Pilates teacher training process. 

Testing

All of our programs include written testing on the history and facts of the Pilates system, basic anatomy, and case-specific approaches to teaches. In order to graduate, you also have a performance assessment (evaluating your practice) and a practical assessment (evaluating your teaching).

At every step of the way, testing is designed both to make sure you are on track with your progress through the programs and to encourage you to deepen your understanding of the method and how to practice and teach it. In short, even your testing is a learning experience.