The Evolution of Freelance Pilates Teaching in Berlin
I often get asked about becoming a Pilates teacher in Berlin, but I’m hesitant to encourage anyone to pursue this path due to the challenges and systemic issues currently facing the industry.
When I first moved to Berlin and began teaching Pilates mat classes, the system for self-employed or freelance fitness instructors was significantly different than it is today. Pre-COVID lockdowns and before the devaluation of labor driven by third-party fitness apps, freelance instructors followed a more independent and sustainable business model. Typically, a freelancer would rent a regular time slot at a venue and promote their services directly to clients or through third-party apps, independent of the venue they were renting. This system was effective and allowed many independent teachers to thrive while managing their own businesses successfully.
However, everything changed when the COVID lockdowns were implemented. During the lockdown periods, teachers were unable to use the venues they rented but were still obligated to pay rent. This untenable situation forced many instructors to renegotiate their agreements with venue owners. Given the uncertainty surrounding lockdowns and reopening schedules, many teachers transitioned from monthly rental agreements to income-sharing arrangements with venue owners, which seemed like a safer short-term solution at the time.
At the same time, the third-party fitness apps that dominated the industry began offering drastically reduced payout rates to new teachers—about half of what they had previously offered. This created a significant financial barrier for teachers attempting to run their businesses independently. Established instructors and venues often held onto older contracts with these apps, which still provided higher payout rates. However, many experienced teachers either left Berlin or quit teaching altogether during the lockdown period.
This left the new wave of Pilates instructors, both those moving to Berlin and those entering the profession, with limited and unfavorable options. They could either accept the unsustainably low payout rates from third-party apps while paying high rent for a regular slot or opt for an income-sharing arrangement with a venue that had an existing contract with these apps. Many instructors worried that the new payout rates made it nearly impossible to turn a profit after covering their expenses. Meanwhile, venue owners discovered they could earn more by splitting income with teachers rather than relying solely on rental fees. This shift led to a system where venue owners gained more passive income, while teachers lost much of their independence, becoming increasingly reliant on both the venues and third-party apps.
As a result, the current landscape for freelance Pilates instructors in Berlin has become more challenging. The combination of low app payout rates and income-sharing models has significantly reduced opportunities for instructors to run their businesses independently.
