PLATINUM COURSE STUDY GUIDE & CHECKLIST Studio Pilates International 1
Platinum Course Study Guide Please use this step-by-step study guide and checklist to ensure that you have covered off all that you need to learn by the time you come in for the face-to-face component of the Platinum Course. The more that you study the course material, the easier you will find instructing at the course. There is a lot of information to learn, and it is all laid out very clearly, so please utilise your study tools effectively. If you follow the instructions, spend the time learning your course material and practice, practice, practice, you will have no problems at all passing the theory and practical exams after the course. Course Assessment Platinum Assessment Throughout your Platinum certification, you will complete a range of assessments in various formats including: Online multiple choice exams (one for each online modules) Face-to-Face shadowing with a Studio Pilates Mentor Practical assessment at the end of your Face-to-Face Platinum Course and Orientation Class Workshop It is Your Responsibility to Keep a Record of Your Results As you complete your Online multiple choice exams, please keep a record of your results. Upon completing an exam, Studio Pilates is automatically emailed your results, however occasionally technological problems happen and we do not receive results if your internet disconnects or your browser is refreshed too soon. If you are not able to produce a copy of your results, unfortunately you will be required to resit your exam again, so we highly recommend keeping a copy of all exam results for your records. Assessment Support Yes that s right - we are here to help you! So if at any stage you feel you need some guidance or help to understand something, please contact us either by email at educationadmin@studiopilates.com or phone 07 3899 4555 or at 0422 023 222. If you are having technical difficulties accessing the online training centre please contact us ASAP so we can help you with that. Good luck and happy studying, now is the time to start your first step to becoming a great Pilates Instructor! Studio Pilates International 2
PLATINUM COURSE MASTER CHECKLIST AT A GLANCE 1. BODY ESSENTIALS MODULE I have read the Body Essentials 1 Manual and watched the Body Essentials 1 videos (5 hours) I have read the Body Essentials 2 Manual and watched the Body Essentials 2 videos (5 hours) Approximately 10 hours 2. INSTRUCTING SYSTEM MODULE I have read p.6-46 of the Platinum Instructing Manual (3 hours) I have watched the Instructing System Videos (2 hours) Approximately 5 hours 3. EXERCISE WORKSHOP MODULE I have watched all of the Exercise Workshopping videos, practiced cueing the Platinum exercises with the DEDS videos and read through each of the exercises in the Platinum Manual (27 hours) Approximately 27 hours 4. PHYSICAL CORRECTIONS MODULE I have watched the Physical Corrections Videos Approximately 1 hour 5. EXAMS I have sat the Platinum Module exam (1 hour) I have sat my Body Essentials Exam (1 hour) Approximately 17 hours - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Up to here (45 hours) needs to be completed by the date of your Platinum Face-to-Face Course 6. PLATINUM FACE-TO-FACE COURSE I have attended all 6 days and passed my Platinum course Approximately 48 hours Studio Pilates International 3
STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO YOUR COURSE STUDY STEP 1 Log into your Platinum Course Online Training Centre By now, you should have received an email with instructions on how to access your Online Training Centre, including your individual log in details. To log into the official Studio Pilates International Online Training Centre, you can go to this address http://www.studiopilates.com/platinum-course--dashboard.html or you can go to the studiopilates.com website, at the bottom of the menu you will see the menu item Online Training Centre if you hover over this and then select Platinum Course it will take you here. STEP 2 Check Your Email Often to Stay On Track with Your Study You will receive a range of study emails as you prepare for your Platinum face-to-face course. These emails will help you to scaffold your study and ensure that you have completed all of the required pre-course learning. These study emails will be sent to your email account, so make sure you are checking your emails on a regular basis! STEP 3 Complete the Body Essentials Module Begin studying your Body Essentials Manual. As a part of this study, you will learn about Posture, Core stability, Pilates Basics and Verbal Cueing. For each of the areas to study below, please make sure you read over the recommended pages in the manual and watch the corresponding videos found in the Body Essentials Module of your online training centre Pilates Principles Essentials Manual Learn the principles of Pilates under the Body Essentials 1 Section of the Body Watch the video on Pilates Principles Studio Pilates International 4
Postural Types Learn each of the posture types: flatback, lordosis, kyphosis, swayback, scoliosis and hypermobility. Understand which muscles are tight and weak for each posture. Be able to look at your friends and family and tell which posture types they have. Watch the video on Postural Types Watch the video on Postural Assessment Core Stability Learn the stabilising muscles of the body where they are situated and their function, and how to find them on yourself and someone else. The muscles to look at are Pelvic Floor, Transversus Abdominus, Obliques, Gluteus Maximus, Gluteus Medius, Gluteus Minimus, Deep Hip Rotators, Iliacus, Lower Trapezius, Serratus Anterior and Deep Neck flexors. Learn how to assess the function of each of the core stability muscles, what good and bad stability looks like and the ways people will cheat and compensate for each test. Watch the video on Muscle Recruitment Tests member of friend. Look at the whole assessment procedure, and perform an assessment on a family Pilates Basics Learn about and practice teaching the Pilates Basics Neutral and Imprinted Spine, Ribcage position and breathing, Scapula position, neck position, t-zone, oblique activation with the breathing. TALK concise. Watch the video on Pilates Basics Try to explain the basics to a friend or family member until you sound clear and Studio Pilates International 5
Understand the difference between neutral and imprinted spine, and the rules for when you use neutral vs. imprinted spine Understand the breathing rules and when we should breath in or out and why. If you learn these breathing rules you won t have to necessarily learn the breathing patterns for each exercise, you should be able to work them out if you understand the rules Understand the 3 different learning styles of clients and how to tailor your instructing to suit all 3 Learn the things you will need to look out for in terms of the safety of both yourself and clients. Read the Mat Class Preamble many times over, get to know what must be said in there and more importantly practice saying it yourself. You don t have to repeat it word for word but do need to cover off all of the important points. Watch the video on Cueing Formula and Learning Modalities Watch the video on Health and Safety Watch the video on Pilates Class Preamble TALK Practise saying the preamble to a friend or family member, or record yourself on your iphone and play it back. Make sure you cover off all of the points and sound clear and concise, and can cover off all of the points in around 5-6 minutes. Other Videos Watch the video on Spinal Pain Watch the video on Pregnancy Hip Problems - in general the muscles to strengthen, stretch and what to avoid What is hip osteoarthritis, symptoms of osteoarthritis, and exercise you may need to avoid or watch out for Studio Pilates International 6
What is hip instability, the symptoms of instability, and think about which exercises may need to be avoided or be careful with for someone with instability? Watch the video on Hip Problems Knee Problems - in general the muscles to strengthen, stretch and what to avoid What is knee osteoarthritis and what do you do with someone who presents with knee arthritis o your class? Why do patello-femoral problems occur, the muscles which are tight that usually need stretching and the muscles which are weak and usually need strengthening. Think about which exercises may need to be modified or avoided. How do knee cartilage problems occur, symptoms of knee cartilage problems, and exercise you may need to avoid or watch out for Medial ligament injuries learn the difference between the grades of ligament injury. Learn which movements generally are unsafe for someone with this injury and which exercises you could safely perform, which muscles you would want to strengthen Anterior cruciate ligament injuries learn the difference between the grades of ligament injury and the treatment options both surgical and non-surgical. Learn which movements generally are unsafe for someone with this injury and which exercises you could safely perform, which muscles you would want to strengthen Watch the video on Knee Problems Lower Limb Problems - in general the to strengthen, stretch and what to avoid How do ankle sprains occur, symptoms of ankle sprains, and exercises you may need to avoid or watch out for What is Achilles tendonitis, what are the contributing factors to getting Achilles problems? What exercises can you do and what would you need to avoid? splints Why do shin splints occur and what muscles do we need to strengthen for shin Studio Pilates International 7
Watch the video on Lower Limb Problems Shoulder Problems - in general the to strengthen, stretch and what to avoid What is frozen shoulder, the symptoms of frozen shoulder, and think about which exercises may need to be avoided or be careful with for someone with this problem, and which ones would be safe for them to do? How do rotator cuff tendon tears usually occur, what exercises will need to be avoided and what should they be able to do safely? Which muscles are you going to want to strengthen? What is rotator cuff tendonitis and what are the guidelines for exercise with this problem? What exercises would be good to start off with, which ones are likely to be too difficult? Watch the video on Shoulder Problems Upper Limb Problems - in general the to strengthen, stretch and what to avoid What is a tennis elbow? Why does it occur? Which exercises will likely aggravate it and which arm exercises can generally be the safest to try first? What props may you use to enable someone with tennis elbow to be able to do arm exercises? Watch the video on Upper Limb Problems (Approximately 10 hours) STEP 4 Complete the Instructing System Module Learn how to instruct a class. The first half of your manual contains information on exactly how to instruct a class. Combine your reading of this part of your manual with the videos contained in the Online Training Centre labelled Instructing System Videos. Read p.6-46 of the Platinum Manual to learn about Important Information What to Expect Studio Pilates International 8
How to Study Introduction Pilates Basics The Delivery of Your Class Instructing an SPI Class The SPI Instructing System All of the Instructing System Module videos (Approximately 5 hours) STEP 5 Complete the Exercise Workshop Module Watch the workshop videos in the Exercise Workshop Module As you watch the workshop video, read through the corresponding exercise page in your Platinum Manual A) When you come to the exercises in your manual, read through each one carefully and fully, gaining an in depth understanding of the movement and how the exercise should look, the resistance, what to say when making a personal connection as well as the prioritised group cue. B) Watch the sample video that appears on screen in a Studio Pilates class in the Online Training Centre on the Exercise Workshops page and this appears on the left hand side. Please listen carefully to what the voiceover says, how it is said, the duration of it and most importantly when there is the gap in the voice over. You manual will also guide you with this with the time codes. C) Watch the exercise workshop to gain further insight into the exercise. This is situated on the right hand side of the Exercise Workshops web pages. D) Listen to the audio track of the group cue. With this prioritized group cue committed to memory, practice saying this group cue out loud over and over again. Start by using the manual and reading the group cue repeatedly with the audio track. Then practice saying it out loud with the manual, then progress to saying it out loud without the assistance of the manual. We recommend that you practice this in front of the mirror so that you can also practice improving the smile on your face whilst you deliver your group cue and you can work on your body language as well. Studio Pilates International 9
D) Put it all together by standing in front of the mirror, pressing play on the Digital Exercise Delivery System video (the one on the left) and practice doing your personal connections with each exercise and when the gap in the voiceover comes on, deliver the prioritised group cue out loud in front of the mirror, pretending that you re teaching a class. (Approximately 27 hours) STEP 6 Complete the Physical Corrections Module All of the Physical Corrections Module videos (Approximately 1 hour) STEP 7 Take Your Tests DO DO Take the Platinum Instructing Exam Take the Body Essentials Exam (if you haven t done so already) (Approximately 2 hours) Recapping: Spend the majority of your time studying and practicing the group cue in front of the mirror. It doesn t have to be word for word precise but we will want it pretty close. Use the video file and you should be able to deliver this out loud confidently before you come to your course. Study Tips: Master one exercise at a time before moving on to the next one Don t worry about saying anything fancy, just stick to the group cue as it s written is fine Allow yourself enough time to study, don t leave it to the week before your course. There is only a certain amount of new information that you can familiarise yourself with at once so don t get caught short with your time due to lack of planning and foresight. This is not your Studio Pilates International 10
course facilitator s problem or responsibility, it s yours... They will not catch you up in their own time, you will need to sit the course again. Practice, practice, practice! Studio Pilates International 11