Transform Your Passion into a Career—In Paradise
Did you know that Mat Pilates is the # 1 fitness industry trend right now? Are you ready to take your Mat Pilates practice to the next level and start teaching with confidence? Experience your Pilates Certification in a stunning tropical setting with Body Be Well Pilates + Fit Bodies.
📍 Location: Club Med Da Balaia - Portugal
📅 Dates: September 19 - 25, 2026
More than just a certification, this retreat is a life-enhancing experience designed to deepen your Pilates knowledge, connect you with like-minded individuals, and prepare you to teach with confidence.
✅ Comprehensive Training: A contemporary approach to the classical Mat Pilates method, blending traditional J.H. Pilates, with some additional modern philosophies.
✅ Hands-On Learning: Teaching practice, observation, self-practice, and mentorship are all included in every Body Be Well training.
✅ Expert Guidance: Personalized support from experienced instructors to ensure your success.
✅ Breathtaking Location: Train in paradise at a beautiful all-inclusive resort in the Mediterranean!
🔹 Aspiring Mat Pilates Instructors – Begin your teaching career with a strong foundation.
🔹 Multi-Disciplinary Teachers – Expand your skill set and teach Pilates worldwide.
🔹 Certified Instructors Seeking Confidence – If you completed an online certification but need real-world experience, this is for you!
🔹Certified Instructors Seeking CEC’s - Come participate and gain 22 CEC’s accredited by the National Pilates Certification Program (NPCP).
🔹Just want to move? Come and take 2-3 mat classes per day and enjoy paradise the rest of the time.
👩🏫Chelsea Streifeneder is a dedicated Pilates studio owner, educator, and wellness entrepreneur with three bustling Body Be Well Pilates locations in New York’s Hudson Valley. She holds a B.A. in Writing and Dance from Bard College and is a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher (NCPT), holistic nutrition professional, published author, and founder of Healthyish in a Hurry.With over 18 years of teaching experience, Chelsea co-created the Body Be Well Pilates Certification Program, the Equipment Maintenance online Training Certification, and the innovative Sticky Feet™ product. Her passion lies in helping people live well, move well, and feel their best—through mindful movement, practical wellness tools, and empowering education.Chelsea’s expertise has been featured in Prevention, Women’s Health, Shape, Hudson Valley Magazine, Pilates Style Magazine, and more. Beyond the studio, she is committed to empowering women in the wellness and Pilates industries, especially fellow local female entrepreneurs, through mentorship, collaboration, and community-building. Above all, Chelsea loves guiding others to build strength, vitality, confidence, and purpose—in both their bodies and their careers.
👩🏫Suzanne Hazelton – Director of Education, Body Be Well Pilates
Suzanne Hazelton discovered Pilates in 2007 and quickly realized its power to strengthen the body and uplift the spirit. After overcoming two bouts of frozen shoulder with the help of Pilates, she was inspired to deepen her practice and share its benefits with others.
With a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from The College of Saint Rose, Suzanne spent over 25 years in the corporate technology world. Leaving behind a corporate career, Suzanne became a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher (NCPT) in 2015 and later pursued certifications to train future instructors. Now the head of Pilates education and co-creator of the Body Be Well Pilates Certification Program, she is dedicated to empowering others through movement. Beyond teaching, Suzanne and her husband maintain and repair Pilates equipment, ensuring an optimal experience for clients at Body Be Well Studios. Passionate, knowledgeable, and committed to lifelong learning, she helps others build strength, alignment, and confidence through Pilates.
This includes a live and in person training, and test out options onsite (or after the training).
Round Trip transfers to and from the FAO Airport to the resort
7 night stay at Club Med Da Balaia in Portugal
All meals, drinks and alcohol are included, so you can enjoy, relax and soak in your training experience!
Upon arrival!
Accredited through the National Pilates Certification Program
Your enrollment is divided into 3 payments: 1 deposit of $500 USD; and 2 equally divided for remaining payments.
You will fly into the FAO airport
Not expected, but always appreciated
While there are some fun off-resort activities, the resort itself is so packed with activities you won’t want to leave!
Welcome to your Pilates teacher training!
• Arrive to the FAO Airport - Fit Bodies will arrange your transfer and communicate this information to you prior to arrival.
• Arrive & Check In at Club Med Da Balaia
• Find your room, unpack, get to know the property
• Opening Mat Pilates Class
• Welcome Meet + Greet and Dinner
Our first full day together!
• Morning Mat Pilates Class
• Classroom Hours
• Lunch & Free Time
• Lunch time mat class
• Afternoon classroom & Practice
• PM Mat Class
• Dinner & Free Time
• Morning Mat Pilates Class
• Class Hours
• Lunch & Free Time
• Lunch time mat class
• Afternoon classroom & Practice
• Mat Class
• Dinner & Free Time
• Morning Mat Pilates Class
• Optional- practice/review
• Class Hours
• Lunch & Free Time
• Lunch time mat class
• Afternoon classroom & Practice
• Mat Class
• Dinner & Free Time
• Morning Mat Pilates Class
• Class Hours
• Lunch & Free Time
• Lunch time mat class
• Afternoon You Time
• Dinner & Choose Your Evening
• Classroom Hours
• (Optional, if desired) Test Out with Training Leaders
• Lunch & Rest of the Day Free
• (Optional, if desired) Review with Training Leaders
• Group Dinner & Ceremony
• AM Mat Class
• Farewell breakfast
• Check out of the resort by 10 am
• Transfers are included - Fit Bodies will coordinate the details with you based on your flight departure
Over three decades ago, Fit Bodies pioneered the teaching vacation, forever changing the way professionals working in fitness, wellness, sports...and more, can travel and holiday at 5-star all-inclusive resorts in the world's most sought after beach destinations.
Today, Fit Bodies is not only the largest teaching vacation provider in the world, we create retreat experiences, too. Experiences to learn, grow, relax designed for the person who wants to getaway and recharge.