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The International Sports Sciences Association has opened a waitlist for three online Pilates certifications, including its first reformer-specific credential. The reformer course is for instructors who already hold a qualifying mat Pilates certification; ISSA has not said when enrollment will open.
The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) has opened a waitlist for three online Pilates credentials, including its first reformer Pilates instructor certification, as participation in the activity grows and more fitness operators add Pilates programming. The organization has not announced when enrollment will begin.
The planned credentials are a Mat Pilates Instructor Certification, a Reformer Pilates Instructor Certification and a combined Mat + Reformer pathway. The new offerings will replace ISSA’s previous mat Pilates certification, according to Athletech News. They mark ISSA’s first entry into reformer-specific instructor education.
The standalone reformer course is designed for instructors who already hold a mat Pilates certification from ISSA or another nationally recognized program. Its curriculum covers equipment safety, spring mechanics, cueing and a repertoire of 27 exercises. ISSA plans to deliver the certifications online through self-paced coursework.
The reformer curriculum was developed with Josh Vela, a Pilates master trainer with more than 18 years of experience across studios, gyms and digital fitness, according to the report. ISSA CEO Andrew Wyant linked the training initiative to rising participation and the need for qualified instructors.
More Training as Reformer Classes Spread
ISSA’s move adds a new training option as reformer Pilates becomes more visible outside specialist studios. The report says major gym operators are increasingly adding reformer studios and programming to respond to consumer interest. That expansion can increase demand for instructors familiar with the equipment and able to teach safely.
The course’s entry requirement also shapes who can use it: it is not presented as a standalone starting point for people with no Pilates credential. Instructors seeking the reformer qualification must already have an accepted mat Pilates certification. For prospective students, the format and eventual enrollment terms will matter alongside the curriculum; those details have not yet been announced.
Reformer Pilates instructor certification
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Participation Data Behind the Move
The participation figures cited by Athletech News come from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Its data show 13.8 million Americans participated in Pilates in 2025, compared with 12.9 million in 2024 and 9.9 million in 2020. These figures describe reported participation, not enrollment in instructor training or demand for any particular certification.
The association’s measure of core participants—people practicing Pilates at least 50 times a year—also rose, reaching 3.38 million in 2025, up from 3.1 million in 2024. The figures provide industry context for ISSA’s announcement, but do not establish that the new courses will meet a specific number of job openings or that all operators are expanding at the same pace.
ISSA’s announcement includes three credentials rather than a reformer course alone. The mat option updates its earlier Pilates certification, while the combined pathway packages mat and reformer training. The waitlist is open, but the report provides no launch date, course prices or expected course length.
““Pilates is one of the fastest-growing areas in fitness.””
— Andrew Wyant, ISSA CEO, as quoted by Athletech News
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Enrollment and Course Terms Pending
ISSA has not announced when enrollment will open. The report also does not give the certifications’ prices, course duration, assessment requirements, or the precise process for earning the combined credential. Those terms will help prospective students compare the new options with other training programs.
The available information does not specify whether the courses lead to a particular external accreditation or guarantee employment. Nor does the participation data establish how many additional reformer instructors gyms and studios need. The announced figures and curriculum details should be distinguished from broader claims about the size or pace of the instructor market.
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Watch for Enrollment Details
The next milestone is ISSA’s announcement of enrollment dates and full course information. People on the waitlist can look for details on pricing, course schedules, assessments and the requirements for the mat, reformer and combined pathways.
Until ISSA releases those terms, the confirmed development is the opening of the waitlist and the outline of the planned coursework. The organization has not provided a date for launch or indicated when additional information will be available.
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Key Questions
What Pilates certifications is ISSA planning to offer?
ISSA has opened a waitlist for a Mat Pilates Instructor Certification, a Reformer Pilates Instructor Certification and a combined Mat + Reformer pathway.
Who can take the reformer certification?
The standalone reformer course is open to instructors who already hold a mat Pilates certification from ISSA or another nationally recognized program.
What does the reformer course cover?
The announced curriculum includes equipment safety, spring mechanics, cueing and a 27-exercise repertoire. ISSA says the certifications will use self-paced online coursework.
When will enrollment open?
No enrollment date has been announced. ISSA has opened a waitlist, but course pricing and other terms are also not yet provided in the report.
What participation figures did the report cite?
Sports & Fitness Industry Association data cited in the report put U.S. Pilates participation at 13.8 million people in 2025, compared with 12.9 million in 2024. The number practicing at least 50 times annually was 3.38 million in 2025.
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