Do you need Mat before Reformer training? The honest answer: it depends which Reformer qualification you're going for. Our Reformer Certification needs no Mat first, but the YMCA Level 3 Reformer does, that's an EMD UK rule, not our preference. Neither route is "correct," they suit different goals. Here's what each one asks of you, which is right for you right now, and why real depth in the Pilates method eventually means training in both.

Elise trained with Scottish Ballet, discovered Pilates when her hips needed something dance couldn't give her, and within months of qualifying as an instructor, opened her own boutique studio. This is her story — and what it shows about what's possible when you train properly and back yourself.

The difference between a good Pilates instructor and a great one has almost nothing to do with talent. After 20 years training instructors, here's what I've learned.