Investing in Your Pilates Teaching Team…is it worth it?

When you're running a Pilates studio, you're juggling a hundred decisions every single day. Timetables. Marketing. Client experience. Staffing. And somewhere in the mix, you're trying to grow revenue while keeping your existing clients obsessed with what you offer.

Here's something we've learned after years of launching and running studios ourselves: one of the highest-impact investments you can make isn't in new equipment or fancy marketing campaigns. It's in the quality of your teaching team.

At Move Union, we've worked with studio owners across the UK who've seen their businesses transform when they prioritise high-quality Pilates training for their instructors. Not just because their classes improved (though they did), but because the ripple effect touched every part of their business.

Let's talk numbers. Let's talk ROI. Let's talk about why training your team isn't just a nice-to-have—it's a growth strategy.

1. Client Retention: The Foundation of Profitable Growth

You already know this: it costs far more to acquire a new client than to keep an existing one. In fact, boosting client retention by even 5% can increase profits by up to 95%. That's not a typo.

So what keeps clients coming back? Transformative classes. Instructors who know how to teach with confidence, precision, and adaptability. Teachers who make every client feel seen, supported, and challenged in the right ways.

When your team is trained to a high standard, clients notice. They feel safer in class. They see better results. They connect more deeply with your studio. And they keep renewing their memberships.

What this looks like in practice:

• Clients who started as drop-ins become unlimited members

• Attendance becomes more consistent across the week

• Referrals increase because your clients can't stop talking about their experience

Your teaching team isn't just delivering classes. They're your retention strategy.

2. Premium Pricing: When Quality Justifies Value

Here's a truth about the boutique fitness world: clients will pay more when they perceive more value. And nothing communicates value like exceptional teaching.

Studios with highly trained instructors can command premium pricing because clients trust the expertise in the room. They're not just buying a workout—they're investing in their wellbeing with professionals who truly know their craft.

Beyond class pricing, well-trained instructors open doors to additional revenue streams:

• Private and semi-private sessions

• Workshops and masterclasses

• Specialty programming (pre/postnatal, injury rehabilitation, advanced techniques)

The impact:

• Higher average revenue per client

• Increased lifetime value of each member

• The ability to position your studio as a premium offering in your market

When your instructors are exceptional, your pricing can reflect that. And your clients will happily pay for it.

3. Class Capacity: Turning Every Slot Into a Success

We've all seen it—some classes packed to capacity, others struggling to hit minimum numbers. Often, the difference isn't the time slot or the format. It's the instructor.

When teachers are comprehensively trained and genuinely confident in their skills, they create magnetic classes. Clients book in advance. Wait lists form. Word spreads organically. Suddenly, you're not just filling your flagship classes—you're filling the entire timetable.

What studio owners tell us:

• New class launches gain traction faster when taught by trained instructors

• Previously quiet time slots start building momentum

• The ability to expand the schedule without worrying about empty rooms

A well-trained team doesn't just fill classes. They create demand.

4. Instructor Retention: Your Secret Competitive Advantage

Let's talk about something that doesn't always make it into the ROI conversation but absolutely should: keeping your team.

The cost of losing an instructor goes beyond just recruitment. There's the time spent interviewing, onboarding, and getting a new teacher up to speed with your studio culture. There's the disruption to your timetable. There's the risk of losing clients who loved that instructor.

When you invest in your team's education and development, you send a clear message: we value you, we believe in you, and we're committed to your growth. Instructors who feel supported stick around. They become advocates for your studio. They grow with you instead of outgrowing you.

The long-term benefit:

• Lower turnover and recruitment costs

• A more cohesive, experienced teaching team

• Instructors who are invested in your studio's success

Training isn't just about skill-building. It's about loyalty.

5. Brand Reputation: The Intangible That Drives Everything

Here's something harder to measure but impossible to ignore: reputation. In the age of Google reviews and Instagram stories, your studio's reputation is built one class at a time.

When your instructors are trained to the highest standard, it shows. Clients leave glowing reviews. They tag you in stories. They recommend you to friends. Your studio becomes known not just as a place to work out, but as the place to experience exceptional Pilates.

That reputation becomes your most powerful marketing tool—and it all starts with the quality of your teaching.

The Bottom Line: Training Is a Growth Investment

Yes, investing in comprehensive training for your team requires both time and budget. But when you look at the returns—higher retention, premium pricing, full classes, loyal staff, and a stellar reputation—the ROI becomes crystal clear.

At Move Union, we don't just train Pilates instructors. We help studio owners build teams that drive business growth. Whether you're launching a new studio, expanding your timetable, or elevating your existing offering, our training programs are designed with your success in mind.

We've been in your shoes. We've launched studios, built teams, and navigated the challenges of running a Pilates business. And we know that your teaching team is your greatest asset.

Ready to invest in your studio's future?

Let's talk about how Move Union can support your team—and your business. Explore our studio training options here