With a hybrid model, EYT Pilates makes becoming an instructor easier and creates a pipeline for new talent in the booming Pilates sector without compromising on excellence
Becoming a Pilates teacher used to be quite the task. Finding the right training program and completing the required time, energy and financial commitment. Logging prerequisite training hours stacked onto that. In some cases, aspiring instructors even needed to cross hundreds of miles just to achieve certification.
It was an outdated, sluggish process that dragged down both teachers and institutions looking to employ them.
EYT Pilates, the teacher-training organization founded and owned by Jessica Spillane, eventually had enough. By revolutionizing how Pilates education is delivered, the brand is clearing longstanding obstacles from the pathway to a career in Pilates while driving industry efficiency in the process.
“It became clear that if Pilates education didn’t evolve, there would be no one to replace the Gen X and boomer teachers as they retired,” Spillane said. “The industry needed a way to reach the future generations of teachers that was more accessible and that didn’t sacrifice the high touch support essential to their development.”
Pioneering a New Model
EYT touts its hybrid semester model as a first-of-its-kind program that mirrors how top educational institutions operate — featuring the accessibility that comes with online learning and the communal benefits of in-person education.
EYT covers traditional, on-site learning with its array of host or affiliate studios placed around the world. There, students attend in-person seminars, practice teaching and receive feedback. For those preferring virtual learning, it also makes lessons, workshops and homework available for completion online.
The hybrid semester model also features:
Master Teachers who serve as lead educators and deliver high-impact, live and virtual lectures
Studio Hosts who act as teaching assistants — supporting students in small group settings
Student Advisors who provide individual mentorship, office hours and guidance throughout the program
Weekly assignments and assessments to build skill development progressively
“This structure allows us to train an unlimited number of students at once, without compromising educational quality,” said Spillane. “Each student has access to multiple layers of support to help them develop their skills consistently and progressively.”
Removing Barriers
Thanks to its flexible model and growing list of 75 host studios, the EYT program delivers a complete educational foundation while alleviating all the aforementioned issues dragging down the Pilates educational process.
For many aspiring instructors, location and travel costs became significant barriers standing in the way of certification. Now, EYT addresses them, delivering the same rigorous, high-quality education to students far from traditional training hubs without the burden of travel expenses or relocation.
Spillane noted that traditional teacher training programs can run anywhere between $8 to $10K in education alone.
“If you add airfare, hotel stays or apprenticeship sourcing, it becomes out of reach,” she said.
EYT brings everything closer. Its program costs $4,250 for Classical Reformer & Mat program with Cadillac, Chair & Barrels sold separately and includes payment options at a slightly higher collective cost.
“Whether you’re a parent balancing family responsibilities, a professional making a career pivot, or someone in a rural area — EYT opens the door for you,” Spillane added.
Empowering Brands
Removing those barriers also alleviates pain points for gyms, studios and wellness centers, as those institutions can use EYT’s program to build their own education platforms. The platform’s white-label nature allows them to make professional-level comprehensive education available under their brand name.
Brands can also run programs themselves, and EYT provides training which enables them to tie their core principles into the instruction. Collectively, this allows institutions to train and retain staff from within their existing communities while building a new, scalable revenue source.
More often than not, gym or studio owners don’t have the time to retrain staff or refresh themselves on modern Pilates teachings. EYT’s program and its flexibility were crucial to keeping them on track for success amid those circumstances.
“As a studio owner and the main instructor, I have a lot on my plate, so hosting a certification program seemed like such a lofty goal with so many moving parts. I didn’t know where to even begin,” said Heaven Ferrel of Align Pilates. “Jessica made it such a seamless process. The program is mapped out in a way that makes life so much easier. They provide everything — all the manuals, all the online resources, all the weekly overviews and objectives, all the wisdom and insight of their amazing Master instructors.”
“From corporate wellness centers to independent yoga and fitness studios, we’re helping organizations meet demand, improve retention and elevate their brand without having to build their own program from scratch,” Spillane added.
Accessible, Not Compromised
While EYT opens doors widely, it guarantees that what’s inside still exceeds expectations. The organization makes sure not to confuse accessibility with a compromise on quality.
“It means meeting people where they are — with premium training, thoughtful mentorship and the flexibility they need to succeed,” Spillane said. “Our hybrid model delivers the same rigor, support, quality control and integrity you’d expect from a top Pilates education company — without the logistical burden.”
The industry is beginning to recognize that dedication as well. EYT has now certified over 1,000 graduates across 30 affiliate studios worldwide, with brands like Bali Pilates Plus referring to it as “the gold standard in Pilates education.”
Vickey Hendershot of The Reformer Room Pilates also touted the program for its attention to detail and professionalism.
“The exercises were taught with such knowledge of what Pilates is, where it came from and how to benefit from it in every season of life by Jessica,” she said. “Joe [Pilates] would be proud. I loved it.”
