Pilates Mat

Module 1 is an introduction to the foundation of Pilates, starting with the Pilates Principles, the basic repertoire (exercises), and how to apply or modify them to your current qualifications and in your Pilates classes depending on your clients’ needs. We delve into anatomical terminology and the skeletal system as well as the various pelvic tilts, the anatomy involved and how these tilts relate to various movements and exercises. We end this theory module with a discussion on the ever “popular” core and how we can view its importance differently.

• The history of Pilates
• Body types
• Principles of Pilates
• Positional terminology and directional terminology
• Joint movements, muscles types and planes of motion
• Spine and pelvic skeletal anatomy, neutral pelvis, pelvic tilts and muscles that affect the pelvic tilt and core

Module 2 continues with the Pilates repertoire and focuses on anatomy, where you’ll learn the importance of understanding the anatomy and the biomechanics of the pelvis and spine. We cover the musculature of the pelvis and spine, the types of muscle contractions and how muscles initiate, stabilize or move a joint. Then, we delve deep into core stability, functional movement patterns and muscular imbalances.

• Cross section of a muscle
• Muscles that affect the neck, spine, torso and pelvis
• Muscular imbalances and functional movement patterns
• Core Stability, functions of the transverse abdominus, posterior support
• Pelvic core: pelvic floor and deep sacral glutes, pelvic floor, piriformis, types of muscle contractions and stabilizers, initiators and movers

In Module 3, you will continue learning anatomy with a focus on the upper and lower extremities. There is also a strong focus on developing correct alignment and mechanics as well as how to make an exercise effective. We look at movement assessment and the chain reactions that occur when your client moves as well as effective shoulder stability. As you continue to learn the Pilates repertoire in this module, the exercises get progressively more difficult to encourage strength and moving the body in unique ways.

• Muscle anatomy
• Developing correct alignment and mechanics
• What makes an exercise effective
• Movement assessment and chain reactions
• Shoulder stability

In Module 4, we dive into postural assessment from an anatomical perspective. You will learn how to assess your client’s posture with the use of the simple plumbline, the myths of postural assessments and how you can apply better assessment criteria to your program. We explore the gait cycle, scoliosis, analyzing the knee joint and the chain reactions that occur in the body due to altered postures. Continuing with the Pilates repertoire, this module introduces exercises using the foam roller, Theraband, magic circle and ball.

• Postures and postural assessments
• Gait cycle, scoliosis and analyzing the knee joint
• Body basics in relation to posture

Module 5 merges all the information from the previous four modules. You will learn how to conduct a comprehensive client assessment that will enable you to design a client-specific program based on all of the repertoire you have learned. We wrap up with the practical part of this course, which is focusing on client assessment, various teaching skills and how to structure goal-driven classes with flow.

• Professional conduct
• Areas and movements to test
• Hip dissociation
• Body assessments
• How to teach and the structure of a Mat class