The Brick Reformer Academy 2027
At The Brick Pilates Academy, you learn the authentic Pilates method, understand its origins, recognise what the body needs and teach with purpose today. The Brick Pilates Academy grounds its instructor training in Joseph Pilates’ original principles and explores how they inform everyday teaching decisions. Choose the four-level Reformer Academy, the Mat Pilates Academy or combine both programmes to develop your practice and teaching skills.
this academy is fully booked
Register for this academy
Authentic foundations
At the heart of the Academy lies a deep respect for the original work of Joseph Pilates — Contrology. We explore the original Reformer and Mat sequence, the purpose of each exercise and the reasoning behind its place in the order. Understanding these connections helps you see how the sequence prepares the body, develops movement skills and builds towards more demanding work. You learn to look beyond the shape of an exercise: to observe how someone moves, recognise where control or coordination is lost, and choose a correction that supports the exercise’s intended purpose.
Applying authentic principles
Understanding the original method gives you a foundation you can draw on across different teaching settings.At The Brick, these insights also inform classes such as Sculpt Pilates, Booty Pilates, Cardio Tramp and Tower. Each format has its own structure and focus. Knowledge of the original exercises helps you read the body in front of you and make purposeful decisions about instruction, alignment, control and progression.The connection lies in understanding what an exercise is intended to achieve. From there, you learn how those principles can inform your teaching in contemporary classes with roots in Pilates.
The Brick Pilates community
Learning continues through practice, questions and exchange.The Academy brings participants and instructors together around a shared interest in understanding movement and teaching it well. Follow-up sessions provide space to revisit the material, practise with others and receive feedback as your skills develop.
Programme
Four levels develop your own practice, observation skills and teaching confidence, with two follow-up sessions after each level.
Upcoming
Level 1 'Building the foundation'
- Discover the fundamental Reformer exercises and their place within the original sequence. You develop an understanding of movement, control and coordination, alongside the observation skills needed to recognise how different bodies approach the same exercise. This is the starting point for your own practice and for the teaching skills developed throughout the Academy.
- Level 1 takes place over a period of 2 days:
- Weekend 30/01 and 31/01
- Follow up dates: 06/02, 13/02
- Where: The Brick Satori, Museumstraat 11A, reformer room (Room 3).
Upcoming
Level 2 'Expanding your understanding'
- Level II covers the largest portion of the exercise repertoire. For that reason, it takes place over three training days, allowing more time to explore, practise and understand the material. Building on Level I, you examine more demanding movement patterns and the connections between exercises. Your repertoire grows alongside your ability to recognise what a body needs before progressing.
- At Level 2, we pick up the pace for 3 days:
- Weekend: 02/04-04/04
- Follow-up dates: 10/04, 17/04
- Where: The Brick Satori, Museumstraat 11A, reformer room (Room 3).
Upcoming
Level 3 'Advanced practice'
- Level III introduces the advanced Reformer repertoire.These movements require the physical preparation, control and understanding developed through Levels I and II. Progression depends on readiness: knowing the sequence is one part of the work; being able to perform it with the necessary quality is another. You explore the demands of advanced practice and learn to recognise when a body is ready for this next stage.
- Level 3 will be conducted again over a 2-day weekend:
- Weekend 12/06 and 13/06
- Follow-up dates: 19/06 & 26/06
- Where: The Brick Satori, Museumstraat 11A, reformer room (Room 3).
UPCOMING
Level 4 'Bringing it into your teaching'
- The final level brings the repertoire and your teaching skills together. You explore how to explain exercises clearly, choose effective cues and use hands-on corrections with care and consent. You learn to respond to individual limitations and injury considerations within your role as an instructor. The focus is on teaching decisions: what to observe, when to intervene, which approach to use and how to build a coherent lesson for a group or an individual.
- Level 4 takes place over a 2-day weekend:
- Weekend 11/09 & 12/09
- Follow up dates: 18/09, 25/09
- Where: The Brick Satori, Museumstraat 11A, reformer room (Room 3).
By registering, you agree to the terms and conditions
Reformer Academy practical information
Teaching Support
In 2027, The Brick Pilates Academy expands its teaching support with experienced instructors from The Brick who have completed the Academy themselves. Throughout the training, they will actively support the Academy, sharing their knowledge, experience and individual approaches to teaching. Having followed the same learning path, they understand the transition from studying the exercises to guiding a class. Their experience adds practical perspectives to the work you develop during the Academy.
Assessment
Theoretical Assessment Each level includes an online multiple-choice theory exam. A minimum score of 80% is required to pass and receive the certificate for that level.
Practical assessment The programme concludes with one practical final assessment, taken in pairs. Together, you prepare a 50-minute Reformer class and arrange a group of at least five people to take part. Each participant teaches 25 minutes. Each pair has a one-hour assessment slot, including 10 minutes for feedback and the changeover.
Assessment dates
datestimeparticipants
9 October & 23 October 202714:00 - 18:00maximum 16 people
Instructor
Michiel Gysel Michiel is a classically trained Pilates instructor with years of experience on all original Pilates apparatus. He is co-founder of The Brick Reformer Academy and a mentor for Pilates coaches. He has attended workshops with Michael Fritzke, Ton Voogt, and Thomas Myers, and completed the Principles of Guidance Program with Miguel Silva (Uno Pilates).
Who is this training for?
Costs and participation
pricelocation languageparticipationsregistration
€3500 including manualThe Brick – Satori
Museumstraat 11a,2000 AntwerpEnglish and DutchMaximum 16 peopleroy@thebrick.be
By registering, you agree to the terms and conditions
Reformer and Mat one connected learning path
You can take the Mat Academy as a standalone programme or combine it with all four Reformer levels within the same year. Choosing both gives you the opportunity to continue learning with fellow participants from your Reformer group. You carry a shared foundation, questions and practical experience into the Mat programme, connecting two central parts of authentic Pilates and developing a fuller understanding of their underlying principles. Combined programme discount Book all four Reformer levels together with the Mat Academy and receive 10% discount. Subscription Subscribe by mailing to roy@thebrick.be
FAQ
Entry requirements for the Reformer Academy are not specified in this programme. Contact roy@thebrick.be to discuss whether the training fits your experience.
Each level includes an online theory exam. A minimum score of 80% is required to pass and receive the certificate for that level. The programme also concludes with a practical final assessment.
The programme develops knowledge of the authentic Reformer repertoire, movement observation and teaching decisions. Physiotherapists and trainers can contact roy@thebrick.be to discuss how it fits their practice.
The final level focuses on teaching: explaining exercises, choosing cues, using corrections with care and consent, and building coherent lessons. Teaching skills are assessed in the practical final assessment.
After each level, two sessions offer time to revisit the material, practise with others and receive feedback.
Contact roy@thebrick.be for registration details.
