Before Pilates became widely marketed.
Before it was streamed, packaged, filtered, and branded.
There was a studio.
There were two teachers.
And there were the bodies in front of us.
The Pilates Center was founded on November 5, 1990, in Boulder, Colorado by sisters Amy Taylor Alpers and Rachel Taylor Segel. After studying directly with Romana Kryzanowska, heir to the work of Joseph Pilates, they brought the method west with a commitment to preserve its integrity and teach it with depth.
Today, The Pilates Center is recognized internationally for its Classical Pilates teacher training program, educating teachers who want to understand Pilates as a complete system rather than simply a sequence of exercises.
Studying with Romana Kryzanowska
Amy Taylor Alpers and Rachel Taylor Segel began studying with Romana Kryzanowska in early 1987 at The Pilates Studio in New York City.
Romana, who had been born in June 1923, was the same age as their mother and reminded them of the ballet teachers who had shaped their early training. There was an immediate connection.
They studied with Romana for three years in New York City, following her as the studio moved locations before eventually settling at Drago’s Gym, where the studio remained for years.
With Romana’s inspiration, guidance, and support, Amy Taylor Alpers and Rachel Taylor Segel founded The Pilates Center and The Pilates Center Teacher Training Program in Boulder, Colorado in 1990.
Romana continued to travel to Boulder to teach in the program through August 1993, when trademark issues prevented her return.
Her influence remains foundational. The commitment at The Pilates Center continues to be rooted in sharing and preserving what she generously passed on.
For 36 years, The Pilates Center has remained rooted in Boulder, Colorado as a locally owned, women-led studio while building an international network of Host Advisors, Licensed Teacher Trainers, and graduates around the world.
Understanding the Pilates Method Beyond Choreography
In the early years, learning happened in real time. Through observation. Through hands-on correction. Through conversation. Through repetition.
Today, the choreography, order, set-ups, and transitions are still essential. They are step one.
But Pilates is not choreography.
Each exercise contains fundamental movement skills such as breath, hip extension & flexion, spinal articulation, shoulder girdle stabilization & mobilization, abdominal scoop and more.
When teachers learn to see those elements inside the exercises, the system begins to reveal its purpose.
Teaser is not simply about achieving Teaser.
Footwork is not simply about pushing the carriage.
Swan is not simply about lifting high.
Each exercise contributes to the development of the whole body.
The goal is uniform development. Balanced strength. Integration of mind, body, and spirit.
When teachers can see both the details and the full architecture of the system, they can help return the body to balance and function.
That perspective continues to shape how teachers are educated through the Classical Pilates teacher training program at The Pilates Center in Boulder, Colorado.
A Pedagogical Approach to Pilates Teacher Training
The Pilates Center Teacher Training Program has been educating teachers for more than 30 years from its home in Boulder, Colorado.
The program is built on pedagogical education, meaning students are not only taught the exercises but also how to teach the Pilates method clearly and effectively.
The training emphasizes:
- Observation and analysis
- Clear communication
- Critical thinking
- Practical application
Students learn to work with a wide range of bodies while maintaining a focus on health, healing, and transformation.
Training includes access to experienced instructors, the Formal Lecture Series, mentorship, and a global community of teachers dedicated to the classical Pilates method.
Students may study at The Pilates Center in Boulder or within the international network of Licensed Teacher Trainers, Host Advisors and Graduates worldwide. The online learning platform allows students to study from anywhere while remaining connected to mentorship and guidance.
Classical Pilates Teacher Training Programs
The Pilates Center offers several pathways for studying the classical Pilates method through its internationally recognized Classical Pilates teacher training program.
With the exception of the Mat Pilates Educational Program, all teacher training programs are comprehensive and cover the full Pilates system across all apparatus.
Each comprehensive program includes:
- Access to online Formal Lecture Series
- Observation Library
- Observation Teaching
- Weekly Symposium with Amy Taylor Alpers
- Written, performance, and teaching examinations
Programs differ primarily in total training hours and specific requirements such as case studies.
Students may complete their training in Boulder, Colorado or through the global network of Licensed Teacher Trainers and Host Advisors, allowing trainees to study within their local communities while remaining connected to the educational standards developed at The Pilates Center.
Advanced Teacher Training Program
950 Hours | 12–18 Months
The Advanced Teacher Training Program provides the most comprehensive study of the Pilates system, preparing students to teach and perform exercises from beginning through advanced levels on all apparatus.
Students complete the Formal Lecture Series, observation hours, teaching practice, lessons, observation teaching, examinations, and a required case study.
Graduates are eligible to sit for the NPCP (National Pilates Certification Program) exam.
Intermediate Plus Teacher Training Program
600 Hours | 12 Months
This program provides comprehensive training in the classical Pilates system with a reduced hour requirement compared to the Advanced program.
Students complete The Formal Lecture Series, observation hours, teaching practice, lessons, observation teaching, examinations, and a required case study, while developing proficiency across all apparatus.
Graduates are eligible to sit for the NPCP exam.
Intermediate Teacher Training Program
450 Hours | 12 Months
Students may study in Boulder or with a Licensed Teacher Trainer within The Pilates Center network. The program includes online learning, observation, and teaching practice.
Students complete the Formal Lecture Series and develop proficiency in intermediate and advanced exercises across all apparatus.
Graduates are eligible to sit for the NPCP exam.
Mat Pilates Educational Program
460 Hours | 6 Months
The Mat Pilates Educational Program was created to increase accessibility for students who may not have regular access to Pilates equipment.
Unlike the comprehensive apparatus programs, this program focuses specifically on the classical Pilates mat work and can be completed online.
Bridge Program for Teachers
500 Hours | 12 Months
The Bridge Program is designed for professional Pilates teachers who have already completed another training program and want to study The Pilates Center’s pedagogical approach to teaching the classical Pilates method.
The program includes observation hours, teaching practice, examinations, and a case study.
36 Years of Classical Pilates Education in Boulder
Pilates is more visible today than at any point in its history.
What has anchored The Pilates Center in Boulder, Colorado for 36 years is a continued commitment to lineage, depth, and thoughtful evolution.
The goal is not simply to perfect individual exercises, but to develop teachers who understand why the system works and how to apply it in service of the whole person.
The learning still happens in the studio.
In conversation.
In mentorship.
In careful study.
If you are looking for a Classical Pilates teacher training program grounded in lineage, pedagogy, and decades of experience, we invite you to begin your journey with us.
Join us in Boulder, Colorado or study within our international training network.
Apply Now
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