Is Pilates Undervalued in Fitness?

Nov 14

Have you noticed that as a participant or instructor that pilates is often undervalued compared to personal trainers? Personal training rates start at $100/hour in Los Angeles and that includes your local gyms and private trainers who are mobile and have home studios. So why do we often hear that pilates starts at $70 per hour?

Reasons for Low Wages

Pilates is a new exercise, especially compared to strength trainers and yoga (origins).
Pilates comes and goes with trends
Pilates was not medically backed until recently with many doctors of physical therapy, wellness studios and chiropractic care clinics offering it in addition to their regular services
Many do not know the origin of pilates especially in Los Angeles where it was thought to be the Lagree method (which is done on a megaformer)

What determines private pilates instructor rates

As most instructors are now without a studio to teach in physically many are now out there looking for work. Many offering private pilates virtually but some, like myself, offer private pilates in home. Although most are not full-time instructors relying solely on pilates there are a few, like myself, who do rely on it to make a living wage. Here are the key points that will increase your instructor’s private rates:

Location. Either where they live or where their service area is
Equipment. Some instructors will have a home studio some will not
Your home or theirs. This will also change the pricing as LA is notorious for bad traffic and accidents
What their background is and/or specialty. Group fitness studios will have lower rates because the group classes are the bread makers. While others who work in clinics or specialize in therapy, postural correction, etc will have higher rates so that they can maintain knowledge in the field but also be able to request higher wages from an employeer. Just like a manager getting a degree, pilates instructors take thousand dollar workshops to get the latest news and skills for the industry
Employment status. Most teachers function as an independent contractor and will pay their taxes quarterly just like any business does. However, the added fees of city license, liability insurance, website, domain, card processing fees, state and federal taxes, etc end up being 15-35% of the rate. Those who are employees will not have most if not all of these fees covered.
Family financial stability. It’s true most pilates instructors are mothers, parents, or married. This will change their financial stability and those who are more financially stable may not need to charge high rates but remember living solo in LA, it isn’t cheap.

Besides my background and future goals of working in home health care and being a mobile pilates studio here are reasons why I charge more. Time commitment. Financial stability. Reduce burn out. My health.

If you understand these few point then you’ll understand why I won’t charge less than $80 per hour. Perhaps when we own a home, car and are out of student loan debt will I be able to charge less.

Benefits of Private Pilates in home: