Wheaton Pilates Intensive Training
Join us for Mat I or continue on for our full CLARAS PILATES training.
Pilates Intensive Weekend Training | Mat I
40-Hour Mat I Certificate Training
Send us a CHAT to inquire about the next training intensive. Training will be held in Wheaton, IL and led by Michelle Rae Sobi.
Saturday | 12:00–5:00 PM
Sunday | 12:00–5:00 PM
Plus:
10 Hours On-Demand Learning
10 Hours Live Webinars
Additional Guided Practice & Coursework
40 Total Training Hours
The Pilates Intensive Weekend Training is an immersive introduction to Mat I designed for yoga teachers, fitness professionals, wellness practitioners, and students who want to develop a strong foundation in classical Pilates mat work.
Over two focused training days, students will explore the principles, exercises, teaching methods, modifications, and movement foundations that form the basis of Mat I. The weekend combines movement practice with teaching methodology so students understand not only how to perform the exercises, but how to observe, cue, modify, and teach them.
The intensive weekend is one component of the complete 40-Hour Mat I Certificate Training. Students will continue their studies through on-demand education, live webinars, guided practice, and coursework.
The program is designed to allow students to experience Pilates as both a movement practice and a teaching discipline.
What You Will Study
Training topics may include:
• Foundations and principles of Pilates
• History and development of the Pilates method
• Mat I exercise vocabulary
• Breath and movement coordination
• Core organization and trunk stability
• Spinal articulation
• Alignment and posture
• Pelvic and shoulder organization
• Movement sequencing
• Exercise preparation and progression
• Modifications and adaptations
• Teaching methodology
• Verbal and visual cueing
• Observation skills
• Class organization and pacing
• Transitions between exercises
• Professional communication
• Scope of practice
• Safety considerations
• Developing a beginning Pilates mat class
Students will practice the exercises themselves while also learning to observe movement and communicate instructions clearly to others.
The 40-Hour Mat I Training
The Mat I certificate pathway combines several learning formats.
Pilates Intensive Weekend | 10 Hours
Saturday | 12:00–5:00 PM
Sunday | 12:00–5:00 PM
The weekend provides concentrated hands-on study of Pilates exercises, teaching methodology, sequencing, cueing, modifications, and practice teaching.
On-Demand Learning | 10 Hours
Students complete supporting lessons independently. These lessons provide additional opportunities to study Pilates principles, movement concepts, anatomy, teaching methodology, and related educational material.
Live Webinars | 10 Hours
Interactive webinars expand upon the material introduced during the intensive weekend. Students can review concepts, ask questions, discuss teaching situations, and continue developing their understanding of Pilates instruction.
Guided Practice & Coursework
Additional training hours are completed through assigned practice, observation, lesson development, coursework, and related Mat I learning activities to complete the 40-hour training requirement.
Weekend Agenda
Saturday | 12:00–5:00 PM
12:00–12:30 PM
Welcome & Introduction to Mat I
Program orientation, training expectations, Pilates history, foundational principles, and an introduction to the Mat I approach.
12:30–1:30 PM
Pilates Foundations
Explore breathing, alignment, core organization, spinal positioning, pelvic placement, shoulder organization, and fundamental movement patterns.
1:30–2:30 PM
Mat I Exercise Lab
Begin working through foundational Pilates exercises with attention to setup, movement mechanics, breathing, sequencing, and purpose.
2:30–2:45 PM
Break
2:45–3:45 PM
Teaching Methodology
Learn how to introduce exercises, communicate movement clearly, use verbal and visual cues, observe students, and make appropriate modifications.
3:45–4:30 PM
Movement Practice & Progressions
Explore exercise preparations, progressions, transitions, and ways to make Mat I accessible to a variety of students.
4:30–5:00 PM
Integration & Review
Practice sequencing exercises together, review key concepts, and prepare for the second day of training.
Sunday | 12:00–5:00 PM
12:00–12:30 PM
Review & Movement Preparation
Review Saturday’s material and begin with foundational movement preparation.
12:30–1:30 PM
Mat I Exercise Lab
Continue developing the Mat I repertoire with emphasis on movement quality, exercise relationships, and teaching considerations.
1:30–2:30 PM
Modifications & Adaptations
Explore ways to modify exercises for different bodies, movement experiences, mobility levels, and teaching environments.
2:30–2:45 PM
Break
2:45–3:45 PM
Sequencing a Pilates Mat Class
Learn how individual exercises become a cohesive class. Explore pacing, transitions, exercise order, class structure, and beginning-level programming.
3:45–4:30 PM
Practice Teaching
Students begin teaching exercises and short sequences while developing cueing, observation, and communication skills.
4:30–5:00 PM
Integration & Next Steps
Review the intensive weekend, discuss remaining training requirements, and prepare for the on-demand, webinar, and guided practice portions of the 40-hour program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a complete Pilates Mat I training?
Yes. The intensive weekend is part of a 40-hour Mat I certificate program that also includes on-demand learning, live webinars, guided practice, coursework, and additional training activities.
How many hours are in the intensive weekend?
The in-person intensive includes 10 training hours, with five hours on Saturday and five hours on Sunday
.
Do I need Pilates experience before attending?
Previous Pilates experience can be helpful, but the training is designed to establish the foundations of Mat I. Students should arrive prepared to participate in movement practice as well as classroom-style learning.
Is this only for people who want to teach Pilates?
No. The program may be appropriate for students who want to deepen their own Pilates practice as well as yoga teachers, fitness instructors, wellness professionals, and aspiring Pilates teachers.
Do I need to be a yoga teacher?
No. You do not need to be a yoga teacher to participate in the Mat I training.
What should I bring?
Students should bring comfortable movement clothing, water, materials for taking notes, and any personal items needed for an extended movement-training session.
Additional training materials may be provided or assigned as part of the course.
Will we be exercising for the entire five hours?
No. Each training day includes a combination of movement practice, demonstration, lecture, discussion, observation, teaching methodology, and practice teaching.
Will there be breaks?
Yes. Breaks are incorporated into each training day. Students may also take additional brief breaks as needed.
What happens after the intensive weekend?
Students continue through the remaining components of the 40-hour program, including 10 hours of on-demand learning, 10 hours of webinars, and assigned guided practice and coursework.
Are the webinars live?
Yes. The webinar portion provides live opportunities to continue studying the material, ask questions, review exercises, and develop teaching skills.
Is there on-demand material?
Yes. The program includes 10 hours of on-demand education that students can complete independently.
Will I practice teaching?
Yes. Teaching methodology is an important part of the program. Students will have opportunities to practice cueing exercises, observing movement, developing sequences, and communicating Pilates concepts.
Will modifications be covered?
Yes. Students will explore exercise preparations, modifications, and progressions so they can begin understanding how Pilates exercises may be adapted for different students and situations.
Will anatomy be included?
Functional anatomy and movement concepts relevant to Mat I are incorporated throughout the training. The emphasis is on helping students understand the movement they are practicing and teaching.
Will I receive a certificate?
Students who successfully complete the full 40-hour Mat I training requirements are eligible to receive their Mat I certificate.
Is attendance required for both Saturday and Sunday?
Yes. Because the weekend is structured as an intensive training experience, students should plan to attend both days in their entirety.
What if I already teach yoga or fitness?
Existing teaching experience can be very helpful. The program builds upon skills such as communication, observation, sequencing, and class management while introducing the specific principles and vocabulary of Pilates.
Is this continuing education or teacher training?
It can serve both purposes depending upon the student’s background and goals. Some participants may use the training to expand an existing teaching practice, while others may be beginning their study of Pilates instruction.
What level of Pilates is covered?
This training focuses specifically on Mat I, establishing the foundational exercises, principles, teaching skills, and movement concepts that students can build upon in future Pilates study.
What should I expect from an intensive weekend?
Expect a focused but supportive learning environment. You will move, observe, take notes, discuss concepts, practice teaching, and revisit exercises several times from different perspectives.
The goal is not simply to memorize a list of exercises.
Students are encouraged to begin understanding how Pilates works, how exercises relate to one another, and how to communicate the method effectively to others.
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