─── M. 01 • TEACHER TRAINING
Balanced Body® Movement
Principles.
The required foundational module of the Balanced Body® Pilates certification pathway. Sixteen hours of alignment, breath, and functional biomechanics — the language every great teacher speaks.
DURATION
16 hours · Fri–Sun
TUITION
$650 + materials
PREREQUISITE
Consistent Pilates practice
FORMAT
In-studio or Live Online
WHAT IT IS
The foundation every Balanced Body® teacher begins with.
Movement Principles is a focused, 16-hour intensive that introduces the core concepts informing intelligent, efficient movement. Before you teach a reformer cue or sequence a mat class, you'll learn how the body actually moves — and how to translate that into clear, safe, confidence- building instruction.
It is the required entry point to every Balanced Body® certification track — Mat, Reformer, and Apparatus — and the module Master Instructor Maria Leone considers the single most important piece of a teacher's education.
UPCOMING COHORTS
June 26-28, 2026
In-studio (Beverly Hills) & Live Online
August 28- 20, 2026
In-studio (Beverly Hills) & Live Online
January 29- 31, 2027
In-studio (Beverly Hills)
WHO IT’S FOR
Designed for serious movers.
Aspiring Pilates Instructors
Start your Balanced Body® certification journey on solid ground.
Dedicated Practitioners
Lifelong students who want to understand the why behind the work.
CURRICULUM
What you'll learn.
Six core competencies that carry into every module — and every class — you'll teach afterward.
01
Alignment
Identify, organize, and cue postural alignment in standing, seated, and supine positions.
02
Breath
Apply breath patterns that support core engagement, mobility, and nervous-system regulation.
03
Functional Biomechanics
Understand how the spine, pelvis, shoulder girdle, and limbs move together in efficient patterns.
04
Cueing & Observation
Build the language and visual eye to teach clearly, safely, and with confidence.
05
The Pilates Lineage
Connect Joseph Pilates' original principles to modern application in studio and clinical settings.
06
Class Foundations
Translate principles into class design — preparing you for the Mat and Reformer modules.
THE PATHWAY
Where Movement Principles fits in your training.
Every Balanced Body® module builds on the foundation laid in M.01. Once complete, you can train in any order — pay per module, at your own pace.
M. 01
MOVEMENT PRINCIPLES
Required foundation - start here.
YOUR ARE HERE
M. 02
MAT PILATES
3 progressive levels • 16 hrs each.
LEARN MORE →
M. 03
REFORMER PILATES
3 progressive levels • 16 hrs each.
LEARN MORE →
M. 04
TRAPEZE TABLE & APPARATUS
Specialty apparatus deep dive.
LEARN MORE →
Already enrolled in Balanced Body® certification? Schedule your observation & student-teaching hours →
FAQ
Common questions.
Still deciding? Reach out — we'll help you choose the right starting point.
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Yes. Movement Principles (M.01) is the required foundational module for all Balanced Body Pilates certification pathways. You must complete it before enrolling in Mat, Reformer, or Apparatus modules.
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No. Movement Principles is open to anyone with a consistent personal Pilates practice. It's the entry point for aspiring instructors and also valuable for current teachers, movement professionals, and dedicated practitioners who want a deeper understanding of biomechanics.
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Movement Principles is a 16-hour intensive offered over a long weekend (Fri–Sun). Tuition is $650, plus course materials ($65–$85). It is available in-studio in Beverly Hills and live online.
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Once you complete M.01, you can register for any combination of Mat (M.02), Reformer (M.03), and Trapeze Table / Apparatus (M.04) modules — pay per module, at your own pace.