Experts say rushed training courses put both clients and the discipline’s integrity at risk
By Rayan Al-Amiri
KUWAIT: In just ten days, you too can become a certified Pilates instructor. That’s the promise circulating in Kuwait’s growing fitness scene — one increasingly defined by glossy social media ads, sleek studio aesthetics and the promise of personal transformation. For many women, the appeal of short, intensive Pilates certification programs is undeniable. They seem to offer not only a pathway into wellness, but also independence, recognition and career opportunity.
Yet, seasoned instructors and long-time practitioners are warning that this rapid-certification trend risks undermining both the safety of clients and the integrity of Pilates as a discipline.
“You can’t compress years of movement knowledge, anatomy and teaching practice into a ten-day crash course,” said one instructor, who has been teaching Pilates in Kuwait for two years after graduating from Boston. “Without a strong foundation in biomechanics, instructors are essentially guessing. And guessing with people’s spines, joints and posture is dangerous.”
Internationally recognized Pilates training programs typically require between 450 and 600 hours of coursework, practice teaching and supervised instruction. They cover anatomy, physiology, injury modification, teaching methodology and mastery of multiple apparatuses, including the mat, reformer, Cadillac and chair. By contrast, local fast-track programs often promise a “comprehensive” certification within just ten days, charging participants upwards of 1,000 Kuwaiti Dinars.
The allure is understandable. For many women in Kuwait, Pilates represents more than exercise — it’s an empowering space that blends physical strength with mental calm and professionalism with purpose. Rapid certification programs often capitalize on that sentiment.
Aysel Vahidova, a certified Pilates instructor in Kuwait, described her experience with a fast-track program as one of deep disappointment. “The certificate had no stamp, no signature — nothing official,” she explained. “It was just a piece of paper. I didn’t even include it on my CV. It felt embarrassing.”
This lack of credibility has ripple effects across the fitness industry. Clients often assume that an instructor with a certificate — any certificate — is fully qualified. But the reality is that not all certifications are equal, and the absence of regulatory oversight in Kuwait’s fitness sector makes it difficult for clients to tell the difference.
“Clients are in a vulnerable position,” said another instructor, who holds a degree in sports and medical science and completed her certification at a physiotherapy studio in London. “They trust that their instructor knows how to keep them safe. Anything less than a rigorous, long-term training undermines that trust.”
The issue, many instructors emphasize, isn’t simply the duration of the courses — it’s what they represent. Pilates was founded on principles of precision, patience and awareness. Each movement is designed with anatomical intent, meant to engage the body’s deep stabilizing muscles and improve alignment over time.
Shortened courses, critics argue, risk turning that mindful process into a checklist of exercises. “It’s taking advantage of people who don’t have the opportunity or knowledge to tell the difference between a credible program and a commercial one,” one teacher said. “People assume a certificate automatically means qualification, but it doesn’t.”
“You see it all the time,” said another Kuwait-based instructor, who asked not to be named because she works across multiple studios. “People teaching advanced reformer work when they can’t yet identify basic postural issues. It’s not their fault — they were never trained to see them.”
To understand the difference, it helps to look at how comprehensive certifications are structured internationally. Major institutions require hundreds of logged hours, covering not only physical technique but also classroom instruction, supervised teaching and written and practical examinations. Trainees must demonstrate mastery across all Pilates equipment and show that they can safely adapt exercises for people with injuries, pregnancies or chronic pain.
“It’s not just a series of movements,” one instructor explained. “It’s about understanding the human body — how muscles compensate, how the spine supports weight, how breath influences posture. You can’t teach that in a week. It takes months, even years, to internalize.”
Instructors trained under these longer programs often describe the process as transformative. Many continue to study anatomy and kinesiology long after they graduate, emphasizing that true mastery in Pilates is a lifelong pursuit.
As Kuwait’s wellness industry continues to expand, so does the urgency for clearer standards and consumer protection. Ultimately, Pilates is about far more than flexibility or core strength. It’s a discipline rooted in control, awareness, and respect for the body’s limits. And as the practice grows in popularity, maintaining that integrity becomes essential. Several instructors suggested that the Ministry of Health and local fitness associations could play a stronger role in establishing accreditation guidelines, ensuring that certifications meet recognized educational benchmarks.
Without regulation, it’s easy for misleading programs to flourish — often at the expense of both aspiring instructors and unsuspecting clients.
“People deserve transparency,” one instructor said. “If a program isn’t internationally accredited, or if it doesn’t meet global teaching standards, that should be made clear upfront.”
In a world increasingly drawn to shortcuts and instant results, the temptation of a ten-day certification is easy to understand. But as more voices within Kuwait’s fitness community are warning, some things — especially those involving the human body — cannot, and should not, be rushed.
