THE PROGRAM
A nine-month apprenticeship in the Classical method
Built for serious practitioners ready to study the work deeply, teach real bodies, and train under close mentorship.
The work is not simply a curriculum.
It is a craft,
passed forward through apprenticeship.
Most teacher trainings are structured to graduate a class. Contrology Therapy is structured to develop a teacher. The difference is everything. The Classical method is best learned through time in the studio, hours on the apparatus, observation, repetition, and hands-on teaching under the eye of a mentor.
This program returns to that standard. Nine months. A small cohort. Six hundred hours of training, teaching, observation, and practice. The full Classical system is taught with care, precision, and respect for the lineage. By the time you finish, you do not only hold a certificate. You are prepared to teach.
THE METHOD
The Classical system is taught as one complete method: Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, all Chairs, including Wunda Chair, High Chair, and Baby Chair, and all Barrels within the Classical Pilates system. Each apparatus is studied in relationship to the whole, not as a separate piece.
THE APPRENTICESHIP
Apprentices observe, assist, and teach actual clients under direct supervision. The work happens in the studio, not only in the classroom. By graduation, you have worked with real bodies and learned how to respond to what is in front of you.
THE MENTORSHIP
Each apprentice receives private sessions with Michelle N. Leach, along with monthly apprentice-only group classes for review and continued learning. This ongoing mentorship creates space to refine the work, ask questions, and deepen your understanding of the method.
Everything required to study the work seriously
Every apprentice receives the same complete training. There are no hidden upgrades or separate tracks. The investment in the program is the investment in becoming a Classical Pilates teacher.
Full Classical curriculum.
Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, all Chairs, all Barrels, and small apparatus are taught as part of the complete system.
Ongoing mentorship.
Monthly private sessions with Michelle, plus monthly apprentice-only group classes for review and continued learning..
Supervised teaching and observation.
Work with real clients while Michelle observes, guides, and corrects, and study how an experienced teacher responds in real time.
Personal practice access.
Use of the No Excuses Pilates studio apparatus for self-practice throughout the program.
Business education and workshop benefits.
A dedicated session covering the business side of Pilates, plus discounts on select workshops.
A small cohort of peers.
Train alongside a deliberately small group of serious apprentices who chose the same path.
On the Work
Michelle has created a truly exceptional Classical Pilates teacher training program. The education is comprehensive and thoughtfully structured, providing a deep understanding of both the method and the art of teaching.
APPRENTICE
Investment
A complete apprenticeship, built into one investment.
$7,500
This includes every hour of training, mentorship, observation, and supervised teaching outlined above. Payment plans are available for accepted apprentices.
Application is required for acceptance. No payment is taken until after the application and conversation with Michelle.
Q&A
Applicants should have classical Pilates experience and complete 10 sessions with Michelle before acceptance. Those sessions are built into the program price.
What experience do I need before applying?
The full program is taught in person at No Excuses Pilates in Atlantic Station, Atlanta, where Michelle has taught the Classical method for more than two decades.
Where does the training take place?
The apprenticeship is nine months long and includes training weekends, observation hours, supervised teaching, personal practice, and two private sessions a month with Michelle. Most apprentices should expect to commit significant weekly time to the work.
What is the time commitment?
Accepted apprentices receive welcome materials, the reading list, and details for the first training weekend. Payment arrangements are finalized after acceptance. The next cohort begins in October 2026.
What happens after acceptance?
Apprentices who complete the full program, including written and practical exams, receive a Fully Comprehensive Classical Certification from Contrology Therapy.
Is the program certified?
Yes. The waitlist is open year-round for future cohorts. If the current cohort is full or the timing is not right, your application can be held for the next opening.
Can I apply for a future cohort?
THE NEXT COHORT BEGINS OCTOBER 2026
A small cohort,
selected with care.
Acceptance into Contrology Therapy begins with an application and a conversation with Michelle. This program is for serious practitioners ready to study the Classical system deeply and learn to teach with care, confidence, and command.