Reforming Foundations School of Pilates
Next Cohort Starts: January 3-5, 2025!
RF School of Pilates: Pilates Teacher Training for a Purposeful Career in Movement
At Reforming Foundations, we set the standard in Pilates teacher training. Our program is designed for those who want to master the art and science of movement, providing a comprehensive education that blends technical expertise with a deep understanding of human biomechanics and alignment.
Our commitment goes beyond technique; we empower future instructors to cultivate their unique teaching style while delivering supportive, impactful, and transformative Pilates sessions. With rigorous coursework, hands-on mentorship from seasoned Master Instructors, and a focus on personalized instruction, our graduates emerge as confident, skilled leaders ready to make an impact in the wellness community.
Reforming Foundations is more than a training program—it’s your launchpad to a fulfilling career in Pilates, guiding you in every step to become a true leader in movement and wellness. Join us to be part of a program that defines excellence in Pilates education and become a leader in Pilates with Reforming Foundations Teacher Training.
Why Choose Reforming Foundations for Your Training?
At Reforming Foundations, we believe that exceptional teachers inspire transformation. Our training goes beyond mastering exercises; it’s about understanding the deeper layers of movement and the unique needs of every body. We equip you with the skills to design thoughtful, tailored sessions that empower clients to reach their potential in strength, mobility, and overall well-being.
Our 550 hour curriculum combines the best of tradition and innovation. You’ll learn the foundational Pilates repertoire alongside modern, science-based adaptations that support healing, enhance athletic performance, and promote lifelong movement. With us, you’ll gain the confidence to lead, the knowledge to make an impact, and the expertise to set yourself apart as a true movement specialist.
Join Reforming Foundations and be part of a community that values precision, compassion, and the art of teaching. Your journey to becoming an exceptional Pilates leader starts here.
What You’ll Learn
Reforming Foundations School of Pilates, our teacher training program is designed to empower you with essential skills and a deep understanding of Pilates principles and qualifies you to sit for the NCPT exam.
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Learn accessible movements suitable for all body types, ensuring every client experiences safe and effective sessions.
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Gain an in-depth understanding of exercise objectives, primary muscles engaged, and how to promote flexibility and mobility at every joint.
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Master techniques to progress, regress, and adapt exercises to meet each client’s unique needs, allowing for steady and meaningful progress.
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Develop expertise in teaching proper posture and dynamic movement, using clear verbal and tactile cues to guide clients toward better alignment and control.
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Acquire specialized skills for leading both group classes and one-on-one sessions. Learn how to engage and motivate groups with energy and precision, while adapting your approach to create personalized, client-centered experiences in individual sessions.
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Study anatomical and biomechanical principles to design classes that reduce injury risk and enhance each movement’s impact.
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Build a foundation in studio ethics, professional conduct, and effective collaboration with other wellness professionals.
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Learn to teach in ways that inspire clients to reach their personal wellness goals, fostering motivation and resilience.
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Join a vibrant community committed to continuous learning and personal growth, strengthening your journey as an instructor.
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Course Content
Below you'll find a list of the modules included in our 550 + hour Comprehensive Teacher Training curriculum. In addition to these 10 scheduled learning weekends (held Fridays 1pm - 7pm, Saturday and Sunday 12pm - 7pm) you will be required to fulfill the remaining hours in observation, your personal Pilates practice, and practice teaching Pilates. We teach you how to teach!
ANATOMY FOR PILATES INSTRUCTORS
November 1, 2024
This online learning module is to be completed prior to the start of Intro to Pilates and Movement Foundations on January 3, 2025. You should plan to complete it no later than December 27th in preparation for that first weekend. What you will learn: Key anatomical terms and concepts related to human movement. This course includes your own personal access to the Visible Body anatomy app during your course enrollment.
INTRO TO PILATES AND MOVEMENT FOUNDATIONS
January 3-5, 2025
This course focuses on key concepts for success in teaching Pilates exercises, with a wide variety of goals, interests, and physical abilities. You will learn Reforming Foundations movement foundations, including preparing to move, stable foundations, and controlled spinal mobility. These precise exercises emphasize quality of movement in each body region and serve as building blocks to the most challenging of Pilates exercises. These foundational exercises assist with proper movement in day-to-day life and recreational activities.
MOBILITY, INJURY PREVENTION, AND SCIATIC NERVE CONSIDERATIONS
January 17-19, 2025
Learn to help people find controlled spinal mobility and improved muscle flexibility in this course. It emphasizes injury prevention and protection of the spinal joints and associated nerves. You will also learn essential building blocks such as the Reforming Foundations Method for designing classes, the art of cueing, how to use physical touch to correct movement dysfunction, and how to build community in your classes. This results in Pilates classes and sessions that are safe, successful, and fun. *Date is dependent on Dr. Brandt’s teaching commitment at Oakland University in the OMPT department and will be announced in June.
BODYWEIGHT & PROPS AND SMALL BARRELS
February 7-9, 2025
At Reforming Foundations, we believe core strength and stability is the foundation to every exercise. You will learn the classical mat Pilates repertoire and standing/bodyweight exercises necessary for strength training, bone density, and mobility. Learn Pilates exercises on the Spine Corrector®, the West Coast Arc® and the Pilates Arc®. All three of these Pilates barrels have different degrees of the arc. You will see how these barrels help provide feedback to the spine to improve mobility while developing strength. In addition, we incorporate various Pilates props (Ultra-Fit Circle®, bands, free weights, foam rollers, balls, etc.) to both assist and challenge the exercises.
BODYWEIGHT & PROPS AND CLASS PROGRAMMING
February 28-March 1, 2025
Our training continues by learning how to program small group classes. You will learn the classical Pilates order and our why and how Reforming Foundations is revolutionizing Pilates for the 21st century. We designed a very specific framework to help take all the confusion out of class programming. In this Pilates course, you will learn how to program your classes to teach Pilates at all levels, from a first-time student to an elite athlete.
TRAPEZE TABLE AND SPRINGBOARD®
March 28 - 30, April 25
In this module you will learn classical trapeze exercises, along with therapeutic strength and balance exercises. This modern piece of exercise equipment is a long raised table with various springs. It is like a Pilates playground, designed to rig up every sort of spring configuration to assist a movement or to challenge balance and stability. The original design was invented from rigging up springs to a hospital bed to help assist movement. You will also learn how to adapt the trapeze table exercises to the Springboard® for group class programming. This springboard was designed by Ellie Herman. It is attached to the wall to save space and allow for Trapeze exercise training in groups.
LADDER BARREL
April 26, 2025
You will also learn the Ladder Barrel. It is a wonderful apparatus for strength and mobility in the core. It is also designed to provide feedback for improved spinal mobility. It’s a standalone piece of equipment with a large barrel and has a system of ladder rungs to provide stability and support. In this module, you will learn ladder barrel exercises along with therapeutic mobility stretches. You will also learn how to make use of the ladder barrel in individual session programming.
REFORMER FOUNDATIONS
May 2-4 2025
You will learn foundational and neutral spine exercises on the reformer, taught the Reforming Foundations way. This includes the classical Pilates repertoire with the addition of Reforming Foundations movement foundations applied in order to execute precise movement patterns during every exercise. Exercises are broken up into five sections: abdominals, lower body, upper body, full body, and mobility. Learning these exercises teaches you to start thinking about effective programming for your client sessions. This is the Reforming Foundations method of movement. You will learn how to use reformers designed by Balanced Body, including the Allegro 2®. This more athletic style reformer is most frequently used in class-based studios. You will also learn to use the Clinical® Reformer, which is designed for both rehabilitation and an athletic challenge.
PILATES CHAIRS
June 27-28, 2025
You will learn chair exercise on the EXO Chair®, which is more commonly used in the class environment, and the split pedal Combo Chair® with handles. The chair exercises provide an athletic challenge, support longevity and balance in our aging population, and support a Pilates program for prenatal moms-to-be. We will teach you program classes with chair equipment and mat exercises.
INTRO TO MOVEMENT ASSESSMENT
April 27, 2025
At this point in the curriculum you will have had about 150 hours of observing and practicing human movement. We want you to start to hone your eye for movement compensation patterns and introduce key concepts to start to assess dynamic movement patterns. We will teach you how to use biomechanical keys listed in every exercise to unlock the greatest human movement potential.
REFORMER PROGRESSIONS & CARDIO JUMPBOARD
June 6-8, 2025
In the second weekend of reformer training you will learn to program classes using multiple pieces of Pilates equipment. You will learn to use the cardio jumpboard, a fun apparatus added to the reformer for an athletic challenge in plyometrics. This is good for cardio, strength, and endurance training. We will also cover reformer progressions and advanced movement skills.
MOVEMENT ASSESSMENT PART 2 & PROGRAM DESIGN, and CASE STUDIES
June 29 , 2025
We will teach you to assess dynamic movement patterns so you can correct client dysfunction. You will learn to design programs that build strength, produce endurance, improve mobility, and challenge balance. Your sessions will provide a safe, challenging, and quality movement experience, allowing you to deliver an amazing experience every session or class you teach!
RFTT REVIEW & COMPREHENSIVE CERTIFICATION
August 22-24, 2025
This weekend is dedicated to your certification process to ensure you are prepared to excel! You have worked so hard and made it to this important milestone! You will review, practice, and take your final written and practical exams. Congratulations, we can’t wait to watch you blossom in your new career!
Meet Our Founder and the Authors
Brooke alexander
Founder of Reforming Foundations, Co-author
Lead Educator, Brooke, has studied Pilates repertoire through multiple comprehensive programs and continuing education courses. Through her training she has explored her own cues, modifications, and nuances. She is passionate about sharing her unique techniques, and wants to expand them beyond the walls of Reforming Foundations. Passionate about sharing her knowledge, she has created a unique group of instructors who work as a cohesive team. Brooke began practicing Pilates to help her husband recover after cancer treatment in their early 30s. Brooke was thoroughly impressed with the rehabilitative qualities she witnessed for Aaron, and she loved the intense yet fun workout that brought awareness to her own body! Brooke took the STOTT Pilates teacher training program in Bloomfield Hills. She then completed her advanced training and became a specialist in athletic training and rehabilitation.
As she developed her skills, she discovered the Madeline Black Method, which approaches practice from a biomechanical perspective, focusing on what muscles need improved flexibility or strength to produce certain movements. These key concepts and techniques learned helped Brooke to become known as a “body mechanic.” Later, she met and trained under Jean Sullivan of ITT Pilates, from A Body of Work in San Francisco. Jean became a mentor and dear friend to Brooke, and Reforming Foundations hosted Jean and Madeline’s teacher training program “ITT Pilates” from 2018 to 2020. Sadly, the pandemic halted Jean’s monthly teaching trips to Detroit and Reforming Foundations was left without an instructor training program. Passionate about learning more the pandemic allowed Brooke to study Classical Pilates with Karen Frischmann who ran a graduate program with Jay Grimes. As the pandemic regulations loosened, Brooke worked with Dr. Lindsay Brandt to create the Reforming Foundations School of Pilates Teacher Training program.
Dr. Lindsay Brandt
DPT, OMPT, ACSM-CEP, DScPT(c) Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Dr. Lindsay Brandt is a professor at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, in the entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program and the Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy post-professional residency. She brings a deep love for educating patients and movement professionals alike, and has more than two decades of combined education and experience in movement and rehabilitation. Lindsay has worked with a wide variety of orthopedic injuries and conditions, and has a rich background in heart and lung disease research. She is passionate about using manual therapy and smart movement strategies to improve quality of life for those with chronic conditions. An advocate for high-quality, patient-centered healthcare, Lindsay enjoys guiding patients through recovery processes and providing movement strategies to prevent future injury.
Lindsay discovered Pilates several years ago as a client at Reforming Foundations and after completing ITT Pilates with Jean and Brooke, she began integrating Pilates into her clinical practice. She found it to be essential for retraining key movement patterns and avoiding undesirable stress to the body. Through the Reforming Foundations School of Pilates Teacher Training program, Lindsay shares successful movement principles and advocates for a partnership between physical therapists and Pilates instructors. She believes those trained in the Reforming Foundations method can support the rehabilitation and long-term wellness goals of a wide variety of movers. Lindsay brings a depth of understanding biomechanics that become the key to unlocking purposeful movement.
With influence from their mentors and colleagues, Brooke and Lindsay have created a school that showcases the RF Difference.
Protege Course
Want to start your journey now, without waiting for the next cohort? The Protégé Course offers you the flexibility to become a Certified Pilates Instructor on your own timeline. Modeled after the personal mentorship Joseph Pilates provided his protégés, this course allows you to learn at your own pace with tailored, one-on-one guidance from our founder, Brooke Alexandra. Known for her expertise in teaching and mentorship, Brooke will support you in developing a deep, nuanced understanding of Pilates.
The Protégé Course is ideal for those seeking a private learning environment and a schedule that adapts to your life. Whether you’re new to Pilates or a Certified Instructor looking to deepen your practice, this course offers a unique opportunity to refine your skills, receive immediate feedback, and accelerate your growth.
Ready to elevate your learning?
Pathway to Certification
For more information on pricing and payment plans …
Winter 2025 cohort
Join a vibrant community of aspiring Pilates instructors in our exclusive 2025 cohort. Immerse yourself in collaborative learning, where you’ll engage with fellow trainees, exchange insights, and build lasting connections. Our structured curriculum covers a comprehensive range of topics, ensuring you develop a well-rounded skill set. From group discussions to shared accomplishments, the cohort experience fosters a sense of belonging and accountability. Apply now to secure your spot and embark on a transformative journey together in the upcoming year.
YOUR JOB SHOULDN’T FEEL LIKE A J•O•B
Your job should elevate you and make your life better! You should enjoy the benefits of flexible schedules, invest in yourself, and do meaningful work. Come experience the joy of Pilates with Reforming Foundations!
Flexibility
Create a schedule that works for your life so you can spend more time doing the things you love.
Fulfillment
When your work is meaningful, every moment spent supporting others becomes a rewarding experience.
Joy
Experience joy in meaningful work. This happiness is contagious and affects all areas of your life.