Partner Specialist Program

Pilates Mat

2.3 ACE CECs

As a Pilates Mat Specialist, you’ll improve your clients’ functional strength and overall health with a holistic approach to the Pilates repertoire.

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Provider:	Pilates Unlimited - the Art of Movement
Included:	Learning Activity Online Content PDF Online Quiz

Teach clients about effective movement and mind-body connection

Give your clients, from the weakest to the strongest, an experience embodied in movement that encourages flexibility, relaxation, intense training and goal-driven workouts. The adaptability, intensity and mind-body component of Pilates enables exercise professionals to guide clients toward mindful exercise, better health and wellbeing—and ultimately longevity. The Pilates Mat Specialist Program dives into Pilates theory, anatomy in movement, postures, movement principles, client-specific training, modifications, contraindications as well as basic to advanced Pilates repertoire with a comprehensive breakdown of each exercise, teaching techniques and so much more. You will also have access to resources that will guide you in becoming a top Pilates instructor who not only knows the Pilates repertoire, but also understands the biomechanics of the body.

Led by Tanya Thompson, founder of Pilates Unlimited—the Art of Movement^™, Of-CourseOnline.com and FitroFlow.com who has developed and presented one of the leading courses in the Pilates industry as well as specialized movement and rehabilitation courses for health care professionals, you will focus on corrective exercise and movement that will make Pilates your go-to exercise for encouraging better movement, better posture and meaningful cross-training.

Take your movement knowledge to the next level

Pilates is designed for clients seeking exercise that focuses on posture, mind-body training, longevity, joint health, flexibility, toning, cross-training, stress relief and even maintaining overall health during pregnancy. Specializing in Pilates will open new doors for you as you offer clients a restorative approach to their programs with the benefits of exercise variety and corrective exercise at its finest. Since Pilates is an amazing form of cross training, you can integrate the work into all your classes and programs whether or not you use your new qualifications to work in or open your own Pilates studio.

Many health care professionals also prescribe Pilates to their patients as a safe means of getting stronger after various operations or injuries. The Pilates Mat Specialist Program will expand your market greatly, allowing you to reach recovering patients in need of strengthening.

What’s in the curriculum?

The Pilates Mat Specialist Program will cover anatomy, biomechanics, compensations and adaptions of the Pilates repertoire as well as how to create programs and develop your teaching style and skills. Upon completion, you will be able to:

Understand the theory behind Pilates and the musculoskeletal system, and how to merge them into the Pilates repertoire
Teach Pilates classes that are client specific and goal driven as well as how to modify or assist the exercises according to the client's needs and capabilities
Bring a holistic approach to your classes, good work ethic and professional conduct within a studio setting
Work in a professional Pilates studio or open your own Pilates studio

How do I become a Pilates Mat Specialist?

To become a Pilates Mat Specialist, you must complete five modules, which consist of videos, two manuals and two online assessments.

Additionally, you must submit:

Documentation of 100 apprentice hours covering:
- 40 hours of observation
- 30 hours of practice exercise (from home or studio)
- 30 hours of practical teaching (from home or studio)

Two 30-minute videos of you teaching a class and performing the exercises. Feedback will then be provided by course creator, Tanya Thompson. Please allow 4-6 weeks for each submission review.

Upon completion and submission approvals, you will receive your Pilates qualification and be recognized as a Pilates Mat Specialist through Pilates Unlimited—the Art of Movement™.

$799

RECERTIFICATION VOUCHER TERMS & CONDITIONS

In order to redeem a recertification voucher, ACE Certified Professionals must meet all recertification requirements and still move through the purchase process required for recertification. Once they add recertification to their virtual cart at ACEfitness.org, the voucher will be detected and the item discount will be recognized. This transaction must be separate from the original qualifying purchase.
Recertification vouchers are good for renewal of a single certification.
Recertification vouchers awarded to ACE Certified Professionals who hold more than one certification will be automatically applied to the next on-time recertification processed, not necessarily the next certification up for renewal.
There is no limit to the number of recertification vouchers an ACE Certified Professional may receive.
Recertification vouchers must be must be used within 30 months of purchase date of qualifying materials.
Recertification vouchers are only applicable for on-time recertifications, and may not be applied to late recertifications that incur additional fees.
Recertification vouchers are non-transferable and hold no cash value.
Recertification voucher promotions override all other discount programs and may not be used in conjunction with other discounts.
Refunds on materials will not be granted to those who have redeemed their recertification voucher.
Those who receive refunds on materials are not eligible to redeem their recertification voucher.

Curriculum

Pilates Mat Specialist Program

Module 1: The History of Pilates, Pilates Principles and Pilates Repertoire

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

Online Content

PDF

Recorded Video

Module 2: Anatomy of the Neck, Skeletal Muscle and Motor Units, Types of Muscle Contractions and Pilates Repertoire

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

Online Content

PDF

Recorded Video

Module 3: Anatomy of the Upper and Lower Extremities and Pilates Repertoire

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

Learning Activity

Online Content

PDF

Recorded Video

Module 4: Muscles/Areas to Test, Ideal Alignment, Posture Types, Body Basics and Pilates Repertoire

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

Learning Activity

Online Content

PDF

Recorded Video

Module 5: Professional Conduct, Areas/Movements to Test in Body Assessment and Pilates Repertoire

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

Learning Activity

Online Content

PDF

Recorded Video

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Grow Your Career

Teach clients about effective movement and mind-body connection

Take your movement knowledge to the next level

What’s in the curriculum?

How do I become a Pilates Mat Specialist?

Grow Your Career

RECERTIFICATION VOUCHER TERMS & CONDITIONS

Module 1: The History of Pilates, Pilates Principles and Pilates Repertoire

Module 2: Anatomy of the Neck, Skeletal Muscle and Motor Units, Types of Muscle Contractions and Pilates Repertoire

Module 3: Anatomy of the Upper and Lower Extremities and Pilates Repertoire

Module 4: Muscles/Areas to Test, Ideal Alignment, Posture Types, Body Basics and Pilates Repertoire

Module 5: Professional Conduct, Areas/Movements to Test in Body Assessment and Pilates Repertoire