A 500 Hour Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training Program in Chicago.
Est, 2018.
Bridging The Gap Between
Classical Pilates & Modern Movement Science.
The Lab: A Teacher Training Program in Chicago
Our comprehensive certification trains you to teach on the full range of Pilates equipment. Over six in-person training weekends, you work through the whole repertoire: mat, reformer, cadillac, chair, ladder barrel, spine corrector, and magic circle.
Our training is where classical meets contemporary, grounded in Joseph Pilates' original work and informed by current movement science. You learn class planning and breath mechanics as a foundation, not just a cue, so you leave with a deep understanding, not just choreography.
That depth is what studios look for when they hire, and it prepares you to sit for the NPCP exam. Our home program is in Chicago, with affiliate programs offered in 15 states across the US.
Holly Swanson has spent her life in movement, first as a competitive gymnast and ballet dancer, then as a Pilates instructor certified through Stott Pilates and the PhysicalMind Institute, with specialized training in breast cancer rehabilitation. A PMA-certified teacher and owner of Core Chicago Pilates, she opened the Core Chicago Instructor Training Center in 2015 and co-created The Lab three years later.
Jacquelyn Brennan has worked in wellness since she was 16. A PMA-certified Pilates instructor, Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach, Perinatal Corrective Exercise Specialist, and yoga teacher, she co-opened Pilates + Coffee in Chicago in 2017. Her athletic background as a marathoner shapes her focus on strength, balance, and injury prevention.
Together, Holly and Jacquelyn bring 35+ years of teaching experience, and since 2018, they've been training the next generation of Pilates teachers.
Meet the Founders
“The combination of comprehensive training and continuous mentorship makes The Lab program second to none for anyone looking to deepen their Pilates practice and pursue a career in teaching.”
— Cindy Snyder, owner of Engage Pilates