Level I | Studio Foundations
Build your teaching foundation alongside other student teachers, with real feedback every step of the way.
About Level I
Level 1 is the entry point into the Body Awareness Mentorship — where you take what you're learning in your Level 1 Balanced Body trainings and integrate it with real Pilates foundations work. You'll work on choreography, class planning, and practice teaching with other Balanced Body student teachers — no private clients yet, just focused, supervised repetition until it's second nature. Open to every BBE track: Mat only, Mat + Reformer, Reformer, or Comprehensive.
What's Included
- Two mentorship meetings per month, with opportunities to observe Level 2 and Level 3 meetings
- Six semi-private sessions, one per month
- Two specialty workshops over six months
- Unlimited studio access for personal practice and practice teaching during non-peak hours
- Unlimited observation of private sessions and group classes
- Open studio group practice days
- BBE Weekend Flow classes, when available
- Weekly mentor office hours for questions and guidance
- 10% discount on additional classes and services
Level 1 — What It's Worth
| What you get | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| 2 mentorship meetings per month | $1,500 total value |
| 1 semi-private session per month | $300 total value |
| 2 specialty workshops | $300 total value |
| Unlimited studio use for practice teaching & personal practice | $600 total value |
| Unlimited observation of private sessions and classes | $300 total value |
| Open studio group practice days | $180+ total value |
| BBE Weekend Flow class, when available | $150–$600 total value |
| Weekly mentor office hours | $1,820 total value |
| Total stated value | $5,150–$5,600+ |
| Your investment | $1,500 (or $282.50/mo) |
Who It's For
Student teachers across all BBE tracks who are new to teaching or still building their foundation. To apply: Movement Principles completed, with at least 10 practice teaching sessions before the program begins.
From Our Student Teachers
I am learning and enjoying teacher training at Body Awareness. I have been and am continuing to be trained by all three instructors. Each of them have their individual skills, but all three truly care about developing our individual teaching and training skills. I love being able to work at the studio in addition to the teacher training modules.
Leslie's cueing is exceptional. Aspiring Pilates instructors will greatly benefit from her guidance. She has a unique ability to help you refine your teaching skills, making you a better instructor overall. She generously allows trainees to use her space for personal practice — invaluable for honing your skills and gaining confidence.
FAQ
Is this worth it if I'm already paying for my certification program?
Yes. Certification teaches you the method — the exercises, the sequencing, the anatomy behind it. It doesn't teach you how to actually run a session, read what's in front of you, or adjust in real time — that takes practice, with feedback, until it's integrated. A couple of training weekends won't get you there on their own, no matter how good they are. Level 1 is where you put the method to work, with mentors watching and correcting what you can't see yet.
Does completing Level 1 guarantee acceptance into Level 2?
No — but it puts you in the strongest position to be considered. Level 1 is where you're still building the foundations and basic skills from your Balanced Body Level 1 training. Level 2 is for teachers who've mastered those foundations and are ready to put them into real-world practice with actual clients. The difference isn't a box you check, it's reps: showing up consistently, doing the work, repeating it until it holds, and actually taking the feedback you get instead of just nodding along.
How is this different from just observing classes on my own?
A lot. Observing on your own is like sitting in a lecture hall with 200 other students — you can watch, but nobody's watching you. This is a small group, with mentors who give you real feedback and answer your actual questions, plus peers on the same track working toward the same goals who you can practice with. It's also the difference between watching a video and having someone next to you while you try it yourself — watching shows you what it should look like, doing it with someone guiding you is what makes it stick.
What if I don't end up teaching at Body Awareness?
Completing Level 1 doesn't guarantee an apprenticeship or a teaching position here. What it does guarantee is a real foundation — supervised practice teaching, logged hours, and mentor feedback you can't get on your own. If Body Awareness isn't where you end up, you're still walking away with skills any studio would want.
Admission Criteria
- Movement Principles completed, with at least 10 practice teaching sessions before the program begins
- Application deadline: December 16 for the January–June cohort (June 16 for July–December)
Ready to Apply?
Spots are limited so every mentee gets the attention, feedback, and floor time they actually need.
January–June cohort: apply by December 16. July–December cohort: apply by June 16.
Apply for Level 1Questions? Email bodyawarenessstudio@gmail.com.