Imagine stepping into a Pilates studio where classes keep you moving the whole time, instructors receive regular continuing education with various experts like pelvic floor specialists, and a robust training program turns passionate fitness enthusiasts into masterful instructors. RTR Pilates delivers this reality across its growing empire, with ambitious plans to reach 100 studios in the coming years.

Founded in 2006 by Reina Offutt, an electrical engineer with an MBA, RTR began when boutique fitness wasn’t even a term in the industry yet. What started as one location has expanded to seven studios, with numbers eight and nine already in lease negotiations. This remarkable growth stems from a business-first approach coupled with a genuine passion for creating exceptional movement experiences.

A Training Program That Maximizes Every Minute

RTR Pilates stands apart through three distinct advantages. First, its proprietary training program creates classes that keep clients moving almost 100 percent of the time. This emphasis on minimal transitions and equipment changes makes every 50-minute session incredibly efficient. As someone who’s sat through those painfully slow spring changes, I can attest that this focus on maximizing movement time delivers genuine value to clients.

Its training program accommodates various life circumstances. Whether someone can commit to intensive daily training for two weeks or needs weekend-only options to fit around a full-time job, RTR makes becoming an instructor accessible. The six-week curriculum converts passionate individuals into skilled instructors regardless of their previous Pilates experience. What matters most? The “it factor”; that special quality that combines organization, patience, time management skills, and authentic connection with clients.

Career Growth Beyond the Reformer

For Pilates instructors looking for stability in an often unpredictable industry, RTR offers something refreshingly different. The company provides instructors with comprehensive employment packages that include 401K plans, health insurance, dental, vision, and regular continuing education opportunities.

This commitment to professional development extends throughout an instructor’s career. From workshops with specialists like pelvic floor therapists to creating clear career advancement pathways, RTR treats teaching Pilates as a career rather than just a side hustle or temporary job. They assess potential instructors based on their ability to guide movement patterns effectively and connect with clients authentically, recognizing that technical skills can be taught,, while that special “it factor” must come naturally.

Each studio offers 85 to 92 classes weekly, running from 6 a.m. through 7 p.m. daily. RTR has discovered that its 2 p.m. classes draw crowds comparable to 6 a.m. sessions, which is a significant shift following the pandemic as more people prioritize wellness and work flexible schedules. This robust class calendar creates ample teaching opportunities for instructors seeking consistent income. Open RTR job listings are currently available in Marketplace by Coach360. 

The Future of RTR: Retreats, Workshops, and Wellness Integration

RTR Pilates sees beyond reformer-based fitness. It is developing a three-tiered wellness program featuring international retreats, local day retreats within driving distance, and specialized workshops bringing experts from various wellness disciplines into its studios.

Its upcoming workshops for instructors include sessions with physical therapists specializing in back pain, helping instructors make Pilates accessible to individuals previously unable to participate. Additional workshops on prenatal and postnatal care demonstrate RTR’s commitment to serving diverse community needs through movement.

The expansion continues strategically, with plans to venture outside their current market next year. Rather than jumping time zones away, they’re focusing on East Coast locations within driving distance, applying lessons learned from a previous Colorado location that closed during the pandemic.

Final Thoughts

The fitness industry often treats instructors as disposable, leaving talented professionals burned out and underpaid. RTR Pilates breaks free of this pattern by creating sustainable careers and a genuine community. Its investment in comprehensive instructor development translates directly to client experience, and you feel the difference when taking a class with someone properly trained and adequately supported.

For fitness professionals seeking meaningful careers rather than just jobs, RTR represents what the industry could and should become. Their combination of business acumen and movement expertise creates studios where instructors and clients thrive. As our collective understanding of movement’s role in longevity and health continues growing, companies like RTR that prioritize accessibility, education, and instructor wellbeing position themselves at the forefront of fitness’s future.

About Elisa Edelstein
Elisa is a curious and versatile writer, carving her niche in the health and wellness industry since 2015. Her lens is rooted in real world experience as a personal trainer and competitive bodybuilder and extended out of the gym and on to the page as a writer where she is able to combine her passions for empowering others, promoting wellness, and the power of the written word.