Mouv Mat Pilates Teacher Training 2026

140-Hour Comprehensive Certification

Our Mat Pilates Teacher Training is designed to deepen your connection to the Pilates method while preparing you to confidently lead inclusive, modern movement spaces.

Rooted in traditional mat Pilates and functional anatomy, this training goes beyond the foundations to explore intelligent programming, accessible class design, and trauma-informed teaching for today’s bodies. You’ll learn how to guide movement with anatomical awareness, helping students move in ways that are supportive, sustainable, and responsive to their individual structures.

Whether you’re new to teaching or expanding your movement career, you’ll leave with the tools, confidence, and clarity to teach the full repertoire with compassion, adaptability, and purpose.

  • August 21–22–23
    September 11–12–13
    September 18–19–20
    October 2–3–4

    Schedule:
    Fridays: 6:00pm–9:00pm
    Saturdays & Sundays: 11:00am–6:00pm

    Location: Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada

    Please note: Attendees must be available to attend all in-person modules in order to receive certification.

  • $2,200 + GST

    Payment plans available.

    Please note that once payment has been made and applications have been approved, there are no refunds.

  • This 140-hour training blends classical foundations with modern, inclusive teaching practices. You will study and practice the full mat Pilates repertoire, from foundational to advanced exercises, ensuring you graduate with a comprehensive understanding of the method.

    Training Includes:

    • The complete classical mat repertoire (beginner through advanced)

    • Functional anatomy and biomechanics for Pilates

    • Intelligent sequencing, programming, and progressions

    • Contemporary variations to support modern bodies

    • Verbal, visual, and tactile cueing skills

    • Trauma-informed, gender-neutral, and body-neutral teaching practices

    Certification Scope

    This certification qualifies you to teach mat Pilates independently under the Mouv Studio training framework. Completion of this program does not guarantee employment at Mouv Studio.

    Certification requirements vary significantly from studio to studio. If you plan to teach at a specific studio, we recommend reaching out to them in advance to confirm their individual training and certification guidelines.

  • To receive your Mouv Mat Pilates Teacher Training certification, trainees must successfully complete all program requirements.

    Prerequisites
    There are no formal prerequisites. However, we recommend at least 50 hours of mat Pilates practice prior to enrolling to help you feel confident moving through the repertoire.

    Attendance
    Full attendance at all in-person training modules is required.

    Required Hours

    • 20 hours of class observation

    • 40 hours of personal practice

    • 20 hours of practice teaching

    All required hours must be completed and logged before booking your final exam. These hours may be completed independently and do not need to take place at Mouv Studio.

    Examinations

    • 1 Written Exam (A minimum grade of 80% is required to pass the written exam)

    • 1 Practical Teaching Exam

    The written exam evaluates your understanding of anatomy, programming, and teaching principles.


    The practical exam assesses your ability to confidently lead a safe, anatomically informed, and well-sequenced mat Pilates class.

    Exams must be completed within 6 months of finishing the in-person training.

    A late exam may be scheduled within an additional 3-month window for a fee of $150.

    Certification is granted upon successful completion of all required hours and passing both examinations.

  • This training is led by Val Poynter (they/them), founder of Mouv Studio.

    With over a decade of experience in the movement field, Val’s background spans mat and reformer Pilates, corrective exercise therapy, and somatic stress release therapy. Their teaching bridges technical precision with nervous system awareness, blending strength, education, and embodied understanding.

    Val’s approach to movement is holistic, playful, and deeply connective. They believe movement should be both informative and enjoyable, something that builds skill while also inviting curiosity and confidence.

    Teaching through a trauma-informed, gender-neutral, and body-neutral lens, Val is committed to creating spaces where all bodies feel supported, respected, and capable.

    This training reflects that philosophy: grounded in anatomy, expansive in perspective, and rooted in real-world application.

    • Four immersive weekends of in-person training at Mouv Studio

    • 20% off class packs and drop-in classes at the studio for the duration of the training

    • Written feedback on your practice teaching

    • Unlimited access to observe classes at the studio

    • Rentable studio hours for personal practice teaching

    • Your comprehensive teacher training manual
      (Including Pilates anatomy, classical mat repertoire, contemporary variations, class programming, musicality, and trauma-informed practices)

    • Two private 60-minute one-on-one mentoring sessions (in person or online)

    • A certificate of completion

  • Shared accommodation is available for participants of the teacher training program. The accommodation is located approximately a 5-minute drive from the studio and will be shared with another training participant.

    If you are interested in arranging accommodation, please email info@mouvstudiocollective.com for availability, pricing, and additional details.

    Availability is limited

Testimonials

  • Taylor

    I completed my Pilates teacher training with Mouv in fall 2025 and had an amazing experience, building meaningful memories and friendships.

    What stood out most was Val’s genuine passion for the practice and dedication to supporting each student. They encouraged us to find our own voice as instructors, something I discovered through the training and continued mentorship, gaining confidence along the way.

    This is a high-quality, demanding program with a strong focus on safety and excellence. With Val’s guidance, I grew more than I expected as both a student and a teacher.

    If you want a training that truly supports your success, I highly recommend Mouv’s Certification.

  • Ella

    I can’t recommend the Mouv training program enough. Val is incredibly knowledgeable, and their passion truly shines through in the way they teach. They’ve created a space that feels safe to ask questions, try new things, and be supported through the inevitable challenges that come with training.

    Thanks to Val and this program, I’ve grown so much as a teacher and gained a deeper understanding of Pilates, along with the confidence to apply it in my own teaching.

  • Jenna

    I recently completed my Pilates certification through Mouv, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I feel really grateful to have learned from Val. They’re incredibly knowledgeable, thoughtful, and genuinely care about each person in the room.

    Throughout the training, I felt really supported and encouraged, not just to learn the material but to develop my own style and voice as an instructor. Val creates such a safe and empowering environment, and you can tell they’ve put so much intention and effort into how the course is structured. 

    I’ve seen a noticeable difference in my strength, posture, and overall body awareness, and I feel so much more confident in myself and as an instructor.

    Val has such a welcoming, positive energy, and I’d highly recommend anyone thinking of completing a Pilates certification to take it at Mouv.

  • Fae

    To embark on a Pilates certification journey with Val is to find the most luminous of guides for your transition from student to teacher. Even after twenty years in this practice, I am continually awed by Val’s ability to turn a Mat Pilates sequence into a seamless, sacred dance that balances the strength of Classical roots with the soul of Modern movement.

    Their certification course offers far more than just a syllabus; it is a profound initiation into the art of the body, providing you with the crystal-clear cues and intuitive class management skills needed to lead any body, at any level, with absolute confidence.

    If you feel called to share the gift of movement, Val provides the perfect vessel of precision and grace to help you find your own voice as a Pilates instructor. This isn't just a certification, it is a transformation of self that empowers you to hold space for others with mastery and heart.

  • Nova

    I took Mouv’s Mat Pilates Training intensive, and it genuinely changed how I approach teaching. Val is the kind of teacher who truly sees you while you’re learning, and I felt supported the entire way through, especially in building confidence and learning how to cue clearly, accessibly, and rhythmically. They are intentional about meeting you where you’re at, particularly when it comes to confidence, anatomy, and body-neutral, inclusive cueing.

    Val creates a really supportive, grounded learning environment. I never felt rushed, silly, or overwhelmed. Instead, I was guided in a way that helped me grow and better understand myself as a teacher.

    What stood out most was how doable they made everything feel, even when I was figuring it out for the first time. The care, mentorship, and dedication didn’t stop when the training ended, they’ve continued to show up and support me beyond it.

Strong foundations. Curious minds. Accessible practice.

APPLY HERE