Welcome!

Pilates is one of the most rapidly growing areas in fitness, with over 12 million people practicing in the UK and more starting every year.

With this rapid growth in mind, it’s crucial that new instructors begin teaching with a solid foundation.

Hi, We're Focus Pilates

Focus Pilates was founded in Frome, Somerset in 2014. What began as a small studio teaching mat classes evolved into a fully equipped Classical Pilates Studio. The Studio expanded into manufacturing Classcial Pilates equiment in 2019, and is now the largest producer in the UK.

After years of development, we’re thrilled to introduce a Comprehensive Classical Certification on our equipment which retains the integrity Joseph Pilates’ original designs.

Meet The Team

  • Ashley Gregory, Founder

    Ashley is a Comprehensively Certified third-generation Classical Pilates instructor. She has been practicing and teaching Pilates for over 15 years.

  • Tina di Carlo, Director of Education

    Tina is Peak-trained Classical Pilates instructor and University of Cambridge academic. With a background in ballet she has been practicing Pilates for over 20 years.

Our Programme

We are committed to the Classical method of Pilates, also known as Contrology, developed by Joseph Pilates himself. We believe strongly in the preservation of this method.

You will learn the full Classical series of exercises from beginner to advanced on the Mat, Reformer, Tower, Chairs, Barrels, and Ped-o-Pul; in addition to the foundational basics of Pilates, its history and lineage, and related anatomy.

Pricing & What's Included

The course costs £6200 and tuition includes manuals, 8 weekend trainings, access to our online learning portals, and assessments.

We require 40 logged hours of Classical instruction. Apprentices receive a 30% discount on classes/privates at Focus Pilates but these can be taken anywhere. We recommend at least 10 hours of those be private instruction.

Spring Intake 2027 Course Schedule

The programme is a 600-hour apprenticeship in total which includes the 8 workshop weekends, observation, self-practice, live teaching and guided instruction via private and/or group sessions.

The course is divided into 3 levels: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. For each level there are 2-3 weekend workshops taught by our Director of Eduction. For each level apprentices receive a syllabus manual containing detailed analysis of each exercise required, complete with teaching guidelines and anatomy notes.

Module 1 (Beginner)/Weekend 1 19-21 March 2027

Module 1 (Beginner)/Weekend 2 23-25 April 2027

Module 1 (Beginner)/Weekend 3 21-23 May 2027

Module 1 (Beginner) Assessment 25 June 2027

Module 2 (Intermediate) Weekend 1 26-27 June 2027

Module 2 (Intermediate) Weekend 2 16-18 July 2027

Module 2 (Intermediate) Assessment 10 September 2027

Module 3 (Advanced) Weekend 1 11-12 September 2027

Module 3 (Advanced) Weekend 2 8-10 October 2027

Module 3 (Additions) Weekend 3 3-4 December 2027

Comprehensive Assessment 5 December 2027

All Weekend hours are Friday 12-6, Saturday 12-6, and Sunday 11-5

Classical Pilates

  • History

    What began as Contrology on the Isle of Man around 1914, with the first studio opening in New York City in 1926, has now become known as Pilates.

  • Lineage

    Passed directly from Joseph Pilates through the Elders, and on to you.

  • Legacy

    The Classical method has stood the test of time for more than a century and we are proud to carry it on.

FAQ's

Are there Prerequisites?

Whilst not a formal requirement, we strongly recommend at least 30 hours of Classical Pilates experience.

What certificate will I receive?

Upon final assessment, you’ll become a comprehensively certified Classical Pilates instructor.Whilst there is currently no governing body for Pilates in the UK and the method falls outside of the traditional UK Level 3 framework, you will be able to present your ceritifcate to an insurance provider and begin teaching straight away.

How do I do my practice and observation hours?

You’ll have access to our studio for both personal practice and observation.If you’re not local to the studio we can recommend online options for observation.

Do you offer payment plans?

Yes, you can reserve your spot with a deposit of £1,000, and the remaining cost can be paid in 2 further instalments.

Why Focus Pilates?

We are proud to offer 144 hours of in person instruction, spread over the entire 9 month course.We find this schedule allows for a deeper level of learning.