Authentic Pilates™ is taught under the tutelage of Romana Kryzanowska, Joseph Pilates' original protégé, in New York City. She began teaching with Joe in 1944. Now in her 80's, Romana still works everyday to promote and maintain the integrity of the Authentic Pilates™ Method.

Certification in Authentic Pilates™ is a rigorous program requiring several hours of one-on-one training before even applying to the program. Once accepted, a course of study in New York City is followed by a minimum of 600 apprenticeship hours of training, observation, personal practice and student teaching.

After every 200 hours, a thorough written and oral exam must be passed before continuing to the next phase of the program. Annual continuing education is required to update certification.

An Authentic Pilates™ instructor can safely teach exercises on all the Pilates apparatus, and can modify exercises based on the clients needs.

Because anyone can call themselves a "Pilates instructor", it is important to determine not only the legality of the certification, but the quality as well. Health clubs and studios everywhere offer to "certify" teachers in the Pilates method without the proper authority or knowledge to do so. It is important to work with instructors who uphold the standards and principles of the Authentic Pilates™ Method.