Studio Course Description
Studio Series
The Polestar Pilates Studio Certification course is a comprehensive program providing Fitness Leaders and Pilates enthusiasts in-depth training to become a Pilates Studio teacher. Each student will receive comprehensive didactic and theoretical review and practical training using a clinical reasoning approach. Students will receive instruction in teaching techniques, Pilates exercise benefits, self mastery and practice. The Polestar Pilates didactic curriculum has earned the reputation world wide as the most scientifically based Pilates curriculum available, taking Pilates education to a new pinnacle, consisting of formal lecture, reading assignments, research literature review, and writing assignments. Polestar Education is best known for it’s “critical thinking” model and original design of the Polestar Fitness Screening, Polestar Health Model and use of problem solving rehabilitation assessment tools.
Studio Prerequisites
1. Certified fitness instructor or instructor of movement arts (e.g. yoga, tai Chi, practitioners of somatic movement)
2. One semester of basic anatomy/physiology or equivalent
2. Participation in 25 hours of group or private Pilates classes
The Polestar Pilates Studio Series consists of 7 two day courses as follows: The courses must be taken in the following order: P-F, S-1, S-2, S-3, S-4, S-5, S-6.
PF - Pilates Principles for Fitness (2 days, 16 hours)
This non-apparatus course introduces current research in movement science, motor learning, bioenergetics, and communication science to instructional practice through six basic movement principles which are used throughout the Polestar Pilates curriculum. Tactile, verbal and imagery cues are integrated with the Pilates exercises. This course introduces Polestar Pilates Screening™, which includes postural evaluation and functional testing, to prepare you to properly design a plan to implement Pilates exercises for clients. This unique component significantly enhances decision-making skills as a Pilates practitioner.
For those individuals taking more than one fitness series (such as Mat and/or Allegro), this course is required only once.
S1 thru S6: Pilates Studio Levels 1-6 ( 12 days - (6 x 2-day courses)
After the Pilates Principles for Fitness course (PF), the Pilates Studio program continues with six course modules scheduled approximately one month apart. The time between courses allows you to practice and become comfortable with the material before continuing to the next course. Each course is two days, usually Saturday and Sunday. The Friday evening before each course (beginning with R-2) there is a 2-3 hour self-mastery check-off session with your instructor where you show the course instructor the practice log book (given in the first course) and get passed off on your mastery of the exercises by demonstrating and teaching them. This session is included in the registration fees, and is in addition to the 96 hours of class time. For certification, you will be required to complete at your own expense, the required reading and writing assignments, 40 hours of observation, 200 hours of self mastery practice and 200 hours of apprentice teaching.
These courses review the postural screening methodology and the six principles learned in PF, then applies them to exercises on the Studio Reformer, Trapeze Table, Chair, Ladder Barrel, Mat and small props.
You will learn:
1. Verbal and tactile cueing combined with mental imagery to facilitate accurate execution of the movements
2. Program design and exercise sequencing
3. Practical application of the repertoire through use of case studies
4. Exercise modifications for a variety of populations
Studio Certification
Certification involves completing the series, completion of assignments and short quizzes, as well as a number of hours of observations, self-mastery, assistant teaching, and practical teaching (as outlined below). Full certification is given once the final written and practical exam is passed - pass mark is 80%.
Course |
Pre-Course |
Lectures |
Observation |
Practice |
Apprentice Teaching |
Studio Series |
25 |
112 |
40 |
200 |
200 |
Course fees include attendance at lectures, student manuals and handouts, morning and afternoon teas. Students are responsible for all personal extras, such as travel and accommodation and personal supplies and lunch during the course dates.
Text Books
As part of the training students will be required to purchase the following course textbooks (additional to course fees):
- Anatomy of Movement , Blandine Calais-Germain: Eastland Press 1993
- The Complete Writings of Joseph H Pilates (Return To Life & Your Health) , Joseph Pilates: Bain Bridge Books
- Dynamic Alignment through Imagery, Eric Franklin : Human Kinetics 1996
- Energy Medicine, The Scientific Basis, James L. Oschman: Churchill Livingstone, 2000 Chapters 1-4, 15
[Polestar has copies of these books available from head office in Sydney Please call to order.]
Mentoring
As shown above students will be required to complete practice hours (self-mastery), which are in addition to course fees. Polestar have a national network of Australian mentors that can offer assistance with practice and teaching hours. Please contact Polestar for a list of names and locations. Further information will be given out on the first day of the course. Go to our mentoring webpage.
Examination
1) a written exam consisting of 50 multiple choice questions (50 points)
2) a case study with written problem solving (50 points)
3) a practical one-on-one demonstration of theoretical knowledge, exercise mastery, movement teaching skills and problem solving skills with an oral defence (50 points)
The written portion of the exam (parts 1 and 2) lasts approximately two hours in total, and part 3 lasts approximately one hour. The entire exam is worth a total of 150 points. The candidate willneed to achieve an 80% pass mark on both written and theory sections of the exam.
Studio Certification candidates will design a programme based on information from a Polestar fitness screening and functional testing. The oral defence addresses theory, justification of exercise selection and modification, precautions and contraindications. Candidates will be evaluated on exercise selection and modification, sequencing, accuracy, verbal and tactile cueing and the quality of the instruction.
