Pilates Teacher Training
I teach connections, not choreography.
Erika Ferguson is the founder of The Pilates Barre Halifax and a comprehensively certified third-generation classical Pilates teacher with lineage to Jay Grimes and over 20 years of teaching experience.
Before opening her own studio in 2019, Erika taught in multiple studios throughout Halifax, building a reputation for precise instruction, intelligent programming, and results-driven teaching. Her classes became known for their strong energy, attention to detail, and highly personalized feel.
Erika is especially recognized for her sharp eye for form, distinct cueing style, and ability to help clients build strength, body awareness, and confidence. Whether teaching private sessions, group classes, or instructor education, she has a natural ability to make every person in the room feel seen, supported, and challenged at the right level.
As an educator, Erika has trained and mentored instructors in movement quality, client experience, teaching presence, and technical excellence. She brings both classical integrity and practical modern understanding to her trainings and embodies the philosophy of teaching connections, not choreography.
Today, Erika offers select teacher trainings, mentorship, and consulting engagements, while also leading Radiance Rising, a body of work focused on resilience, reinvention, and personal transformation for women in business.
This Pilates Mat Teacher Training is designed to develop confident, knowledgeable, and highly skilled instructors with a strong foundation in classical Pilates mat series and principles with the addition of contemporary style.
Students will learn the classical Pilates mat series designed by Joseph Pilates, including the principles of Pilates, exercise order, technique, transitions, purpose, variations, progressions, regressions, assists, and teaching methodology.
The focus of the training is “connection over choreography.” Instructors develop a deeper understanding of the Pilates series within their own bodies while learning to recognize common movement patterns, imbalances, and compensations in the bodies of their clients. Emphasis is placed on self-practice, precise cueing, anatomy, and the Pilates principles of movement in order to make informed programming decisions and develop thoughtful, informed, and effective teaching skills.
The program also explores contemporary variations and prop integration to support a wide range of bodies, abilities, injuries, and movement goals while maintaining the integrity of the authentic Pilates mat series.
Throughout the course, students learn to better understand how the body functions in exercise, recognize common imbalances, understand how lifestyle and sport influence movement patterns, and make informed programming choices to improve client outcomes.
The training commitment 180hrs includes:
76 in-studio training hours (online if one to one training)
35 observation hours
35 self-practice hours
35 teaching practice hours
2 private sessions per trainee
2 anatomy modules
printable PDF training manual
additional self-study assignments and practice requirements
Students will graduate as certified Pilates Mat Teachers with practical teaching experience and the confidence to teach clients safely, effectively, and professionally.
This training requires commitment, practice, self-study, and active participation both inside and outside of scheduled training hours.
Pilates Mat Teacher Training
Pilates Reformer Teacher Training
This Pilates Reformer Teacher Training is designed to develop confident, knowledgeable, and highly skilled instructors with a strong foundation in the classical Pilates reformer series and principles with the addition of contemporary style.
Students will learn the classical Pilates reformer series, including the principles of Pilates, exercise order, technique, transitions, purpose, variations, progressions, regressions, assists, and teaching methodology.
The focus of the training is “connection over choreography.” Instructors develop a deeper understanding of the Pilates system through their own bodies while learning to recognize common movement patterns, imbalances, and compensations within their clients. Emphasis is placed on self-practice, precise cueing, anatomy, and the principles of Pilates movement in order to make informed programming decisions and develop thoughtful, informed, and effective teaching skills.
The program also explores contemporary variations and prop integration to support a wide range of bodies, abilities, injuries, and movement goals while maintaining the integrity of the authentic Pilates reformer series.
Throughout the training, students develop a stronger understanding of how the body functions in exercise, how lifestyle and sport influence movement patterns, and how to make informed programming choices that improve client outcomes.
This training commitment 200hrs including:
90 in-studio training hours (online if one to one training)
35 observation hours
35 teaching practice hours
35 self-practice hours
2 private sessions per trainee
2 anatomy modules
printable PDF training manual
additional self-study assignments and practice requirements
Students will graduate as certified Pilates Reformer Teachers with practical teaching experience and the confidence to teach clients safely, effectively, and professionally.
This training requires commitment, practice, self-study, and active participation both inside and outside of scheduled training hours.