3 ways to turn your Pilates side hustle into your full-time dream job
If you’ve dipped your toe into the Pilates world, but want to take things further and commit to a full-time career in the industry, now is the time! With the Pilates industry booming, becoming the fastest-growing fitness trend in Australia, the employment opportunities and chances to carve out your own career path are increasing rapidly - yet it’s equally more important than ever before to set yourself apart from the rest and thoroughly plan out exactly how you want your full-time dream job to look.
Since the pandemic, the number of people looking for more flexibility, autonomy and freedom in their work, as well as the number of people turning their side hustles into full-time jobs, has soared. This is largely thanks to the creativity and control that come with choosing your own hours and setting your own prices in an industry like Pilates, as well as the chance to achieve both personal and financial reward in return for your hard work.
If you want to turn your Pilates side hustle into a full-time career path you love, here are our top tips for ensuring your success.
1. Be passionate and commit to your learning
Most of the time, the side hustles that successfully translate into full-time career paths are those driven by passion - beyond just fulfilling a gap in the market. If you’re passionate about Pilates, and the endless health benefits it can bring to many people’s lives, you’re off to an excellent start. If you see the potential in the strengthening, rehabilitating, injury prevention and confidence-boosting results Pilates achieves, you’ll be able to live and breathe your own craft. And your clients will respond accordingly! They can feel your genuine enthusiasm, so passion is a must!
You also have to be willing to learn and invest the time required to continue improving your skills and education. Building the right skill set allows you to stand out in the field, and pursuing high-quality education equips you with the industry best practices and in-demand skills, as well as giving you access to successful professionals and business owners in the industry who can mentor and inspire you along your own journey. Yes, you need to invest extra time into developing your skills and education initially when growing your side hustle into a full-time career, but if you’re choosing a well-founded education, this will pay off in dividends throughout your entire career journey later on.
Not all education options are equal or well-regarded! Choosing to complete your Pilates Instructor training at an accredited education provider like Unite Health will elevate your chances of success and your employment opportunities, thanks to the APPI Certification of our programs. This means all our courses are designed by physiotherapists, based on years of clinical experience and scientific evidence, designed to provide you with the most well-rounded, respected training available in the industry.
While other Pilates courses focus on teaching you specific exercises that allow you to teach only within the studio or franchise you’re certified by, our APPI Pilates Instructor Certification equips you with all the key foundational moves you need to instruct all levels and abilities in Pilates - plus, you’ll be equipped to teach at any studio throughout Australia - including your own!
Investing in your education is a sure-fire way to ensure you’re at the top of the Pilates industry, and you’re confident in your own abilities, skills and chances of success in turning your side hustle into your career. Your education sets you apart from the rest in a competitive industry, and opens you up for a plethora of enticing career paths and opportunities - meaning you also have more bargaining power when it comes to setting your own prices, choosing the right jobs for you, and feeling valued and fulfilled in your work.
2. Be prepared to work hard and back yourself
Once you’ve completed your APPI Pilates Instructor Certification, the hard work isn’t over! In order for your side hustle to become a successful full-time job, you need to continue to upskill, grow and further educate yourself. This may look like completing our APPI Ante/Post Natal Pilates course, our equipment-based courses, or other skills-based or marketing-based courses, continuing to upskill in both the practical and business aspects of your career is essential for your continued growth and success.
Similarly, you need to back yourself and your skills and abilities - which is made easier when you feel confident in your education and commitment to continued improvement. If you don’t believe in your ability to succeed in turning your side hustle into a dream career, chances are you won’t be able to make it happen. But if you do truly see yourself pursuing the career of your dreams in Pilates, you’re much more able to make it happen!
An important aspect of backing yourself is establishing a business plan before you take the leap into your full-time career path in Pilates. Determine exactly what you want your career path to look like, what’s most important to you, how you’ll finance your goals, and what success looks like for you. Effective advanced planning means you’re not just throwing things at the wall to see what sticks - instead, you’re improving your chances of success by planning for wins and losses, and being strategic with your time and investment in your career. This helps you avoid unnecessary mistakes and be more effective in your actions while building up your full-time career.
3. Differentiate yourself from the competition
Learning how to market yourself and distinguish yourself and your work from others in the booming Pilates industry is integral to your success. Building a brand from day one is a great way to set yourself apart, and make it clear to your potential clients exactly what you do and why they should give you a chance - essentially, you’re telling them why they should choose you over everyone else!
Part of this involves determining exactly who your ideal client is:
- What are their goals?
- What do they want from your services?
- How do they spend their time?
- How do they prefer to be communicated with?
- How can you convey your value to them?
By clearly identifying who you’re marketing yourself and your business to, you can more effectively communicate and target yourself and your work to this group of people. You can get more specific in your messaging and value proposition, meaning your target clients have a better chance of responding positively and showing interest.
There you have it, three important ways to successfully turn your side hustle into a full-time dream job and career path. While it can seem daunting or challenging at the beginning, many of our Unite Health grads have effectively made the transition - and are now living their best lives, enjoying fulfilling, rewarding careers that provide them with financial stability, flexibility and autonomy in their work! If you want the same for yourself, don’t delay! Start 2024 in pursuit of your dream career in Pilates and sign up for our APPI Pilates Instructor Certification today!