100-Hour Mat Pilates Teacher Training in Denver
with HABITAT Pilates + Strength at The River Yoga
Spring 2026 | April 3-May 17, 2026
The River’s first-ever 100-Hour Mat Pilates Training is here!
With a mission to provide exceptional yoga experiences, excellent educational programs, and intentional partnerships, The River Yoga has partnered with HABITAT Pilates + Strength to provide our first-ever 100-Hour Mat Pilates Teacher Training!
What started as a 4-week hot mat pilates series at our Sunnyside location has blossomed into an educational opportunity that provides our community with the journey from student to teacher. And that’s all thanks to YOU. The River Yoga x HABITAT partnership is a step in the right direction to expand The River’s role as a trusted wellness institution in Denver and beyond.
This 100-hour mat Pilates certification offers far more than a surface-level introduction—it’s a full immersion into the art and science of Pilates. Unlike other programs that fragment training into multiple costly modules, this course delivers a comprehensive education in one cohesive, thoughtfully designed experience. This program runs April 3 - May 17, 2026 at the Sunnnyside studio location. Total program tuition is $2,500. Apply now through December 15, 2025, and get a $250 discount off of your total tuition.
Meet Your Instructor - Xander Smith
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Xander (he/they) is a classically trained and comprehensively certified Pilates Instructor, teaching since 2017 and owner of HABITAT, a Pilates-based movement studio in Denver offering one-on-one training and group Mat Pilates. He found Pilates through his work as a dance theater performer, and it quickly became a guiding force. For Xander, Pilates is about celebrating our bodies for exactly how they exist, while working on key functional and strength-building techniques that enhance our understanding of movement. In addition to Pilates, Xander holds certifications in Yoga Asana, Pre/Post Natal Exercise, and Reiki 1 and believes it is his duty as an instructor to always be learning and sharing knowledge within his community. Xander truly believes in the magic of movement and all that it has to offer and he's so grateful to share this passion with you.
Mat Pilates Training Overview
The 100-hour training is designed to be immersive for deep study and practice time. Your time spent with Xander will explore the classical Pilates foundation while the curriculum intentionally bridges foundation and evolution—inviting you to learn the original method while exploring contemporary adaptations that honor both heritage and the modern expectations of a Mat-based movement. You’ll learn beyond the basics of teaching a class, but to design one, too! After graduating, you will know how to intelligently adapt (a.k.a learn how to read the room) to each student’s needs and express your unique teaching voice with clarity and purpose. Training will consist of four intensive, alternating weekends across April and May at the Sunnside studio.
Training Schedule
April 3 - May 17, 2026
Training Format & Hours
Fridays: 5:30pm-8:30pm (includes brain and snack breaks)
Saturdays & Sundays: 10am-5:30pm each day (includes a 30-minute lunch)
*The immersive weekend structure allows for deep study, practice, and integration between modules. The last training weekend (May 16 and 17) you will participate in a teaching test out, both written and practical.
Training Schedule
Weekend 1: April 3, 4 and 5
Weekend 2: April 17, 18 and 19
Weekend 3: May 1, 2 and 3
Weekend 4 (Final Test Out): May 15, 16 and 17
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HABITAT Pilates + Strength is a Denver-based Pilates and movement studio founded by Xander Smith (he/they)—a classically trained, comprehensively certified Pilates Instructor with more than a decade of experience in health and wellness.
At HABITAT, movement is multidimensional. Each class and training honors the classical Pilates lineage while adapting it for the needs of today’s modern mover. Through one-on-one training, group Mat Pilates classes, and professional teacher training, HABITAT helps students and instructors move with strength, intelligence, and intention.
In an industry increasingly dominated by “fusion” or “fitness-forward” versions of Pilates, many trainings focus narrowly on choreography or sculpt-style classes. And often at the expense of understanding the true method. Through HABITAT, future teachers will reclaim that depth and integrity.
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Pilates Philosophy & Principles: History, lineage, and the evolution of the method from Joseph and Clara Pilates to today’s contemporary landscape.
Classical Mat Repertoire: The original 34 exercises and their intentions, form, and functional logic.
Modern Adaptations & Props: Expansions, variations, and the intelligent integration of props to support diverse bodies.
Applied Anatomy & Movement Science: Key anatomical principles and practical strategies for managing common injuries and pre-existing conditions in group settings.
Programming & Sequencing: Class design frameworks for modern audiences, including progressive layering, flow, and balance.
Cueing & Communication: Verbal, visual, and tactile cueing techniques that foster clarity and confidence.
Professional Pathways: The business of Pilates, from teaching opportunities to personal branding and client retention.
Ready-to-Teach Material: Class templates and guided teaching practice to prepare for real-world application.
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A 100-hour Mat Pilates Certification, qualifying them to teach Pilates in studios, fitness spaces, and private settings both nationally and internationally.
Eligibility to sit for the NPCP (National Pilates Certification Program) exam—a distinction that many shorter trainings cannot offer.
A strong command of classical and contemporary Mat Pilates exercises.
Confidence in teaching diverse populations with clarity, creativity, and professionalism.
A personal and embodied understanding of Pilates as a movement philosophy, not just a workout.
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One-month of unlimited classes at The River during the 100-hour program:
Unlimited yoga classes at all 3 locations and livestream.
Personal Liability Insurance
Access to discounted insurance program through The River’s partner beYogi.
Professional Headshots
Opportunity for professional headshot at additional & discounted cost during training.
Mat Pilates Application Process
Complete the Application Form
You’ll receive an email confirming your acceptance or denial with 5-7 business days.
If accepted, submit your non-refundable training deposit to reserve your spot.
*Deposit will be refunded to those not admitted to teacher training.
Your teacher training journey begins!
Join an Info Session
Session #1: Tuesday, November 18 | 5-5:30PM I Studio 1
Session #2: Tues, January 13 | 5-5:30PM I Studio 1
Session #3: Tues, March 10 | 5-5:30PM I Studio 1
Pricing
$2,500*
*Early Bird Discount: Now through December 15, 2025, get a $250 discount off of your total tuition.
Payment includes unlimited yoga at The River for the duration of the training (active memberships will be frozen) and a detailed training manual. Trainees can pay in full or set up a payment plan, which is charged every 30 days. Tuition is due in full by graduation day.
Refunds. Students not accepted in the Training are entitled to all monies they paid. Teacher Training is non-refundable after 72 hours of purchase, except for a $200 processing fee if a refund is requested within that time. After 72 hours, the tuition can only be transferred and must be used within two years
FAQ
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Yes! You will be more than prepared to work within any type of Pilates studio: classical, contemporary or fusion/specialty method.
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This training for any anyone who has the curiosity to dive into the world of Pilates. You do not have to be 200-hour certified to join!
Prior to training, you will be required to read Return to Life by Joseph Pilates. Don't worry, it's short!
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This will be dependent on the amount of missed training hours and the content covered during those hours, so it will be on a case-by case basis, but the general answer is yes! For certain lectures, where the format is conducive, we may be able to record the missing content to be reviewed at a later date. For all content that will not translate fully through a recording, we will offer makeup hours for an additional fee.
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Pilates is a movement system that cultivates strength, stability, and presence through precise, mindful motion. Rooted in six core principles—centering, control, concentration, breath, precision, and flow—it unites the body and mind in purposeful alignment.
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As a low-impact yet deeply effective practice, Pilates enhances core strength, posture, mobility, balance, and overall functional movement, making it one of the most sustainable and longevity-supporting modalities available.
When blended with a modern perspective, Pilates also builds muscular endurance and coordination, complementing yoga and other movement practices beautifully. It’s not just exercise—it’s movement intelligence in motion.