Education & Workshops

Full Certification Program

Interested in becoming a competent Pilates instructor, or perhaps you just want to take your Pilates practice to the next level?

Our Classical Comprehensive Certification program is designed to teach you how to be an instructor of the traditional Pilates method for the mat and apparatus. Key fundamentals of anatomy, physiology and theory of movement serves as the basis of the program.

Pre-certification and Certification lessons are taught over a series of intense weekend sessions in our state-of -the-art studio located just 10 minutes from beautiful historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Between the weekend intensives, we will share our equipment and expertise with you at our studio.

Spring - Fall 2010 Program:

Precertification for the upcoming 2010 program begins the weekend of April 3rd and 4th.  Final test-out will be November 6th and 7th.    Download the schedule and prerequisites.  Please email us for an application / more information.

Spring - Fall 2009 Program:

Classical Comprehensive Certification coursework and testing wrapped up last November.   One of the 2009 graduates, Karen Jones, is now an Instructor with Core.  Classes were taught by Senior Instructor Buffy Gillespie with support from Romana-trained Advanced Instructor Danielle Armstrong. Registered Nurse/ Pilates Instructor Terry Hamilton led the anatomy portions. 

Past Certification Programs:

In the Fall and Winter of 2008-09, Core Esssentials hosted Carrie Pages' In Balance Pilates Studio Certification program at the new Charleston studio. The five successful graduates have all gone on to teach at Core Essentials.

In Summer 2008, Core Essentials sponsored two students as they endeavored to become certified through Carrie Pages' Coastal Carolina Pilates Certification Program, based in Wilmington, North Carolina, with observations held at Core Essentials’ studios. One of the successful graduates is now a teacher with Core Essentials.

We successfully completed our first full certification program in the summer of 2006. Local master instructor Tonia Heidenreich taught Karen Sanzo's Pilates Unlimited! program.

Personal Workshops Now Available!

We now offer one-on-one personal workshop intensives. Get a personalized program based on the teachings of our Certification Program... 2-4 hour sessions available. Provided by Senior Instructors Buffy Gillespie and Danielle Armstrong. At Core Essentials, you're always Number 1 with us!

Group Workshops & Guest Instructors:

We successfully hosted the first Mind Your Body Workshop featuring seminars that focused on 'Balance' led by Senior Instructor Buffy Gillespie, Certified Clinical Nutrionist and Registered Dietician Marti Chitwood, and licensed therapist Franklyn Smith, as well as a solo workshop led by Franklyn.

Please check back for upcoming events. We also encourage you to join our Facebook Group and sign up for the newsletter (see lower right corner of page) to get the latest information. (last update 2/5/10)