The 10 PCI Concepts: The Framework That Changes Everything
What sets PCI apart—and why it matters for your future as a Pilates teacher.
When we first started exploring Pilates teacher training, we felt what so many of our students feel now:
“How will I ever learn it all?”
Thousands of exercises. Endless cueing. A million little details that felt impossible to retain.
And what’s more—no one explained the why.
That’s why we created PCI. We wanted to reimagine teacher training so that it’s not about memorizing. It’s about understanding. About seeing movement through a new lens—and knowing what to do, and why, in every session.
That’s where the 10 PCI Concepts come in.
Why These Concepts Matter
Instead of teaching hundreds of exercises as isolated ideas, PCI trains you to look at movement through these 10 foundational principles.
This framework builds your “Pilates eye”—so you can observe, assess, and program with clarity.
You’ll become a teacher who delivers lasting results, promotes client understanding and retention, and creates personalized sessions with purpose.
These concepts become your tools for:
Reading bodies in real time
Customizing cueing
Building trust and results
Teaching with creativity and freedom
Feeling confident in any teaching environment
The 10 PCI Concepts
A foundation for teaching with confidence, clarity, and purpose
1. Breathing
The gateway to awareness, control, and connection.
2. Lengthening
Creating space and opposing forces to improve alignment and function.
3. Muscle Mapping
Teaching the brain to connect with specific areas of the body for improved control and engagement.
4. Differentiation
Helping the body learn to move one part at a time with precision and control.
5. Articulation
Segmenting the spine or other joints to improve precision, mobility, and fluidity in movement.
6. Spine Position
Understanding the body in all planes—neutral, flexion, extension, rotation, lateral flexion—and how positioning affects movement patterns.
7. Arm-to-Back Connection
Learning how the shoulder girdle integrates with the back for stable, functional, and powerful movement.
8. Leg-to-Pelvis Connection
Training lower-body movement that supports core integrity, pelvic stability, and full range of the hips.
9. Hugging the Midline
Using energy and muscular focus to create lift, support, and whole-body awareness.
10. Moving from the Powerhouse
Rooting movement in the deep core for strength, stability, and efficiency.
Real Teachers. Real Results.
Our students often tell us:
“This is the first time it all made sense.”
“Now I know what to look for when I teach.”
“I finally feel confident in my programming.”
These 10 concepts aren’t just ideas—they’re the bridge between theory and practice. They give you the ability to adapt and teach in a way that’s both smart and intuitive.
You’re not just checking off hours. You’re becoming the kind of teacher who leads with clarity, care, and confidence.
Ready to Learn the PCI Way?
Our Level 1 Teacher Training begins again this summer, and we’re inviting aspiring instructors who are ready to build a career that actually feels good.
If you want to stop guessing and start understanding, these 10 concepts—and this training—will change the way you see Pilates forever.
