This training is for already-certified Pilates instructors who want to deepen their knowledge and confidently work with prenatal and postnatal clients. A comprehensive certification is preferred, but Reformer-only is acceptable. *Please do not sign up if you are mat-only as we will be teaching on apparatuses*

No, this is a specialist training that is designed to deepen the education and confidence of Pilates Instructors who are already teaching. This workshop series does not teach the foundational Pilates repertoire or how to become a Pilates instructor; there is an expectation that you already have this basis.

The training covers the physiological and anatomical changes that occur during pregnancy and postpartum, contraindications and precautions, movement modifications, programming considerations, breathwork and how it ties into birth prep, when to consider making a referral, and practical application across the Pilates repertoire. This is a Contemporary approach to teaching but can be great whether you are Classical or Contemporary in your teaching.

Both. We cover the pregnant body throughout pregnancy as well as the postpartum body and the process of returning to exercise after birth, commonly seen cases for both scenarios, how to asses for diastasis recti, and more.

We want to spend our time together doing the things that are most valuable in person: moving, observing, modifying, programming, discussing real client scenarios, and learning how to apply the information to individual clients. The pre-coursework gives everyone the same foundation before we meet. The online coursework establishes the foundational anatomy, physiology, and safety information so that our time together can focus on movement, programming, problem-solving, and practical application.

Yes, but the goal is not to give you a list of “safe” and “unsafe” exercises. You will learn how to evaluate an individual client, understand what may be affecting their movement, make appropriate modifications, and determine how and when to progress. We want you to learn to teach the body that is in front of you safely and not to memorize a list of “don’ts” that are easier than actually knowing what to do.

Participants must complete the required pre-coursework and attend both in-person training days, successfully complete the post-training knowledge assessment, and complete the programming case study. Those who meet all requirements receive a Pilates Punx Pre & Postnatal Pilates Certificate of Completion.

No, this is a Pilates continuing education and specialist training program. It does not qualify instructors to diagnose, treat, or rehabilitate medical conditions. An important part of the training is understanding the boundaries of a Pilates instructor’s scope of practice and recognizing when referral to an appropriate healthcare professional is warranted.

After running a comprehensive Certification Program for a number of years we realized that we’re offering something more thorough than a lot of what is out there. We want our instructors to have a thorough understanding of all things Pilates and to set them up for success. We plan to share that same level of education and mentorship across all of our education platforms.
Pilates Punx owner, Allie Tichenor, practiced and taught Pilates through two pregnancies. With help from a great birth team, the best doula, and an incredible Pelvic Floor physical therapist during her first pregnancy, Allie felt empowered to do what felt comfortable to keep up her strength – which was a lot more than she was told that she could teach. Fast-forward two years to her 2nd pregnancy, when Allie found that she couldn’t take Pilates classes while visiting NY due to the same class rule that Pilates Punx had, she developed a Prenatal/Postnatal certification to take her staff through to add Prenatal Pilates Group classes to the schedule.
At Pilates Punx we believe that in order to teach a good prenatal and postnatal session, instructors need to understand a lot more than simply a list of exercises to avoid. It’s about understanding what is happening in the body, observing the individual in front of you, and knowing how to make thoughtful decisions about movement, load, positioning, breath, and progression.

This training is designed to give experienced Pilates instructors the knowledge and practical tools to do exactly that. You’ll learn the “why” behind modifications, not just the “what”, so you can work with real clients whose bodies, experiences, symptoms, and goals don’t always fit neatly into a checklist. We don’t want blanket rules to make it overly safe – we want custom workouts for pregnant or postnatal clients.