Frequently Asked Questions

Polestar Pilates is proud to have a long standing and strong relationship with the PMA. Our education program is very in-depth, and exceeds the PMA requirements for Pilates Instructor Programmes as set out by the PMA. Polestar is a Corporate Sponsor of the PMA, and we do encourage our graduates and educators to join and take the PMA Pilates Certification Exam.

Yes, this is definitely possible. Please keep an eye on our website for scheduled dates in each of our host sites for exams.

There are no hard and fast rules. We accept that everyone learns at a different pace. Students are required to sit the exam within 1 year after completing the final module of their course. However, they can sit the exam earlier if there is an appropriate schedule. Most students take between 6 months and a year between finishing their course and taking the exam.

It is important that we maintain high standards in the Pilates industry. Polestar Pilates Education continues to improve and develop its curriculum and examination process. Like most high-quality education programs, Continuing Education is an essential part of maintaining skills and quality of care. Polestar’s qualifications are valid for two years. During this time graduates should accumulate 16 Continuing Education Credits (CECs) where each credit involves 1 hour of recognized CE activity. Please contact us or your host site in order to get the re-qualification application form. Re-Qualification is valid for an additional 2 years , and so on.

Please check with your host centre as policies will vary from host to host. You can review the Hong Kong Iso Fit cancellation policies here.. We may vary these conditions on a discretionary basis if the circumstances merit.

You are not required to be a qualified fitness instructor to join any of the Polestar courses. Please contact us to discuss your situation. We consider each person’s situation on its merits.

The Polestar Pilates curriculum, designed by Physiotherapist and Orthopedic Certified Specialist Dr. Brent Anderson, is based on a scientific foundation, as opposed to an anecdotal one. Since its establishment in 1992 Dr Brent Anderson and his expert team have been constantly reviewing and improving the curriculum and teaching methodology which ensures professional quality Pilates teacher training for all students. While keeping true to the Pilates method as developed by Joseph Pilates himself, the Polestar Pilates method draws on the sciences of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and motor control, and integrates scientific research findings in the areas of orthopedics, sports medicine and movement science. There are many additional attributes of the Polestar training which can be found here.

One of the most important features of Polestar training is the emphasis placed on self study (supervised and unsupervised) which students undertake in addition to the core training modules.The learning and self mastery activities are essential for the student to hone and perfect his/her skills as a competent and professional Pilates practitioner.

In order to be eligible to take the certification exam, students are required to partake in Supplementary study hours ( Mentoring activities) : Observation, Practice (Self Mastery) and Apprentice Teaching activities. Some of these are supervised (involve the presence of a Mentor or Educator) and therefore attract a fee, others do not. It is Polestar’s objective to make these activities available at a minimum cost to students.

The Mentorship Programme varies from country to country. Information may also be obtained from the Host Site or Polestar Supervising Mentor in each country regarding what is offered and the cost. Basically the Programme will include:

• Private/Semi-Private tuition (Supervised)
• Scheduled Group Sessions
• Observation of the conducting of Rehabilitation, Studio, Mat or Reformer sessions.
• Self-Mastery Sessions-self conducted training. (Unsupervised)
• Group study sessions. (Supervised and Unsupervised)
• Teaching practice sessions.
• Assistant Teaching experience.
• Examination preparation workshops. (Supervised)

Students coordinate all mentoring activities with the host site and with mentors and educators if required. At the start of the course Polestar provides a detailed information sheet which explains to students how best to accomplish all the necessary supplementary hours.

Polestar Host sites do offer their studio space for students to study and practise subject to the space availability in the studio. Some sites charge a small fee for this (use of the studio for self practice) , others such as in Hong Kong do not. Students will coordinate mentoring sessions with Mentor and educators as necessary, at mutually agreeable times. Fees charged for mentoring students are available from the host site.

Basically, this means that you need an educator or mentor to check-off all the exercises you have learnt on the course to ensure you understand how to do them yourself and teach them. We also suggest that students get together in small groups (up to 3) and share the cost of an educator or mentor to do this. We facilitate communications between students and provide a list of educators and mentors who are available for this.

Apprentice teaching hours are usually started after completing sufficient parts of the course having learned a range of exercises. We suggest that you work on a 1-1 basis (or small groups) with family, friends or a mentor in order to achieve these hours. Students are also encouraged to work together in order to achieve these hours.

Self-mastery hours are exactly that, hours that you spend mastering the exercises you have learnt on your course. So hours that you spend practising either on your own or with fellow students, can be noted as such in your logbook without verification.

We recommend that you book a 1-1 session or share a session with other students with an educator or mentor monthly, to ensure that you are on the right track. These hours are also classed as self-mastery.

Any classes that are taught by a Polestar teacher that you attend at a Host studio can also be logged as self-mastery hours.

With regard to observation, we suggest that the majority of your 40 hours should be observing a Polestar teacher. We are mindful that for students living far away, finding access to a Polestar teacher for observation is not always easy, which is why we also recommend students to purchase the course DVD – watching the DVD will also count towards a portion of the necessary observation hours.

We do not have a specific deadline by which students should register. However, we recommend that students register as early as possible in view of the following:

• Student numbers are strictly limited and places are offered on a first-come, first served basis. Courses fill up quickly.
• Early bird discount cut-off dates.
• Students are required to prepare in advance of the start of the course and such preparations require time.

Polestar has a dedicated anatomy course for Pilates students available online for separate purchase-it is not included in the course fee. See here Muscle & Bone Anatomy 3D By Real Bodywork.There are also numerous books available on this subject. The level Polestar requires for course entry would be Basic to Intermediate.

We also recommend the following books from our reading list:

• ‘Anatomy of Movement’ (Blandine Calais Germain – author)
• Trail Guide to the Body, A hands-on guide to locating muscles, bones and more (Andre Biel)

No. There is no requirement to take Polestar courses in any particular order. Please check other course pre-reqs in the course information section in our web-site.

Polestar prides itself on the Continuing Education curriculum that it offers in the form of courses, mini-courses , workshops and conferences in different parts of the world. Polestar Pilates Asia offers a wide range of Pilates courses, seminars and workshops nationally and internationally in its continuing education program. Information on these courses and workshops can be found here.