Mat Certification Program

Polestar Pilates Mat

Polestar Pilates Mat program provides instruction in Pilates principles, techniques and practice with emphasis on group dynamics for the Pilates Mat.

M-1 and M-2: Pilates Mat

After the Pilates Principles for Fitness course (PF), Principle of Movement the Pilates Mat program continues with two 2-day courses 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.

The principles learned in PF will be applied throughout the three courses and you will learn the following:
1. Mat exercises for beginning through advanced levels
2. Dynamics of group training
3. Program design and exercise sequencing
4. Advanced cueing skills
5. Exercise modifications for a variety of populations

In addition to attending courses, we recommend that you complete at your own expense, 25 hours of observation, 50 hours of self mastery practice and 50 hours of apprentice teaching.

M-1: Pilates Mat Level I

This two-day course teaches 13 Polestar Pre-Pilates Mat exercises and 17 Polestar Pilates Level 1 Mat exercises for beginning and intermediate levels. The six basic Polestar Pilates Principles are incorporated into the learning process, to provide a clear understanding of the underlying fundamentals of each mat exercise.

This course also covers Polestar Sequencing for Mat in which we will discuss program design and exercise sequencing for group exercise and personal training settings.

An additional lab on Teaching and Cueing Skills, with emphasis on Tactile & Imagery Cueing will be covered to deepen your understanding of advanced teaching skills and instructor-student communication.

M-2: Pilates Mat Level II

This two-day course teaches 25 Polestar Pilates Mat exercises for intermediate and advanced levels. The six basic Polestar Pilates Principles are incorporated into the learning process, to provide a clear understanding of the underlying fundamentals of each mat exercise.

This course also covers Group Class Design in which we will discuss programming for multilevel Mat classes.

M3* Mat with Small Props

Learn how to enhance your Mat classes with the use of small props (foam rollers, Ultra-Fit Circle®, springs, gym balls, rotating discs and balance boards).

* M3 IS NO LONGER REQUIRED FOR MAT GRADUATION, but can be taken as a continuing education course called Mat with Props.

Polestar Pilates Mat Final Exam

The exam consists of three parts:
1. A one-hour written exam consisting of 50 multiple choice questions.
2. Written class development. Students create two, hour-long mat classes for a specific class population.
3. Participation in a mock mat class. During this practical section the candidate both teaches a portion of a mat class and demonstrates their exercise performance as a ‘student’ in a class of 6-10 candidates.