Making a Career Out of Pilates

You may have heard of the practice called “habit stacking,” but what about skill stacking?

Turning Pilates into your full-time career doesn’t mean teaching 40 classes a week just to make ends meet (and honestly, we’re not sure anyone could sustain that pace long term). Instead, many successful instructors build sustainable careers by combining their Pilates expertise with skills and experience from other industries.

From administration and accounting to marketing and strategy, thriving Pilates studios rely on people with a wide range of talents. Do you have a background in business? Chances are there’s a studio owner who would love your expertise. Web developer? Most studio owners would gladly hand over their website and tech headaches. If you’re considering making the jump into full-time Pilates, take some time to reflect on how your unique skill set could serve you in this industry.

Here are a few examples from our own full-time team members at Niche:

Savannah Slack

Savannah first joined Niche on the administrative side, but quickly realized that her experience in coaching and collegiate athletics made her a natural fit for teaching. With additional experience in marketing, she now splits her time between instruction and her role as the studio’s Marketing and Programming Manager.

Sabrina Sabino

Sabrina came to Niche with a deep-seated understanding of movement and instruction from her career as a professional ballet dancer. While she initially taught part-time, her transition out of ballet opened the door to a full-time role as Education Manager — a perfect fit for her expertise in movement and pedagogy.

On the flip side, maybe you’re already a comprehensively trained Pilates instructor but feel intimidated by the business side of studio ownership. Don’t let that stop you.

Jaclyn Forrester

Niche founder and owner Jaclyn Forrester began her career in exercise science and learned the business side along the way. In a recent post, she shared one of the biggest lessons she’s learned as a studio owner: hire for the skills you don’t have. If business operations aren’t your strength, outsource strategically. The right people can multiply productivity, fill in the gaps, and help everyone thrive in their respective roles.

Emily Udelhofen

Emily joined Niche after relocating from Wisconsin and brought with her more than 20 years of teaching experience as a comprehensively trained instructor. She quickly stepped into a leadership role as Curriculum and Instructor Development Manager, helping shape both instructor education and studio programming.

One final thought on transitioning from part-time to full-time Pilates: we live in an incredible era for continuing education. Whether you want to strengthen your business knowledge, marketing skills, or movement education, there are countless online resources available right at your fingertips.

And of course, that includes teacher training.

If you’re curious about Niche’s Instructor Training or upcoming Educator Program, we’d love to connect.