Inna Essence is proud to be a STOTT PILATES® Academy Partner, and provides Intensive STOTT PILATES® Courses as well as Continuing Education Workshops for trained Instructors.

STOTT PILATES® is a contemporary approach to the original Pilates method, rooted in anatomy, biomechanics, and intelligent movement. As a STOTT PILATES® Academy Partner, our instructors and courses follow a globally recognised education system trusted by fitness, rehabilitation, and performance professionals worldwide.

Designed to be efficient and effective, each session refines alignment, increases mobility, and elevates strength — helping you move better, feel stronger, and perform at your best.

Developed by Merrithew®, a leader in mindful movement and premium Pilates equipment, STOTT PILATES® delivers results that last because our curriculum is built on exercise science and a deep understanding of the human body.

CERTIFICATION PATHWAY

Graduates of the Intensive Matwork and/or Intensive Reformer courses may choose to sit the Certification Exam. This is made up of a written and practical exam, and is usually booked within 6 months of completing your last course (either Intensive Matwork or Intensive Reformer).

A minimum number of hours of observation, practice teaching and physical review are required for each course to ensure adequate preparation for the Certification Exam. Your practice logs are to be submitted on your exam date (either written or practical exam).

Matwork Certification logged hours

• Minimum of 10 hours of observation

• Minimum of 30 hours of physical review

• Minimum of 15 hours of practice teaching

Reformer Certification logged hours

• Minimum of 10 hours of observation

• Minimum of 40 hours of physical review

• Minimum of 25 hours of practice teaching

WRITTEN EXAM

The written exam consists of multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank or matching type questions, and muscle identification questions. It will take you approximately 2–3 hours to complete the exam. However, you are not required to finish within a specified time limit. The exam tests your knowledge of the following:

• • Basic anatomical terms such as anatomical neutral, anatomical directional terms, anatomical movements, plane and axes, joints & articulations, tendons, ligaments, and body prominences, etc.
  • Muscle origin, insertion and action (please refer to list of muscles in the Matwork/Reformer Support Materials book)
  • Recognition of diagrams of individual muscles
  • Concentric, eccentric and isometric contractions of specific muscles during specific movements and exercises
  • Movements that make up exercises and their proper anatomical descriptions
  • Order of Essential and Intermediate Matwork (Matwork, Matwork & Reformer or Matwork, Reformer, & CCB exam)
  • Order of Essential and Intermediate Reformer (Reformer, Matwork & Reformer or Matwork, Reformer, & CCB exam)
  • Ideal postural alignment and groups of opposing muscles
  • Poor postural alignment and muscular imbalances
  • Modifications to exercises for poor postural alignments
  • Programs to accommodate poor postural alignments
  • Proper set up of equipment, starting positions, movement patterns, and major intent or goal for each exercise
  • The STOTT PILATES Principles – anatomical descriptions and purpose
  • Proper anatomical terms must be understood and used in all the relevant categories above

PRACTICAL EXAM

Time allotment and minimum number of exercises for each Practical Exam:

• Level 1 Matwork – 1 hour (8 Essential and 4 Intermediate)
• Level 1 Reformer – 1 hour (6 Essential and 4 Intermediate)
• Level 1 Matwork & Reformer – 1.5 hours (Matwork – 6 Essential & 3 Intermediate; Reformer – 6 Essential & 4 Intermediate)

Information Gathering: 5–10 min
The initial five to ten minutes of the exam should be dedicated to information gathering. You are required to ask your subject pertinent questions regarding history, physical condition and goals.

Postural Analysis: 5–10 minutes
For this portion of the exam, you are required to analyse the subject from both sides, front and back view. Using visual observation AND palpation, verbally relaying your findings to the examiner. You are also required to give a stated focus and general description of your planned workout including: what muscles/muscle groups will be targeted, what alignment issues will be addressed and what props or modifications may be necessary.

STOTT PILATES Principles: 5–10 min
Next you will review the STOTT PILATES Principles with your subject. They should be introduced in proper sequence, using clear imagery and movement cues to help your subject understand and focus on greater body awareness. Choose the movement sequences from The Principles pages in the manuals that will best demonstrate each Principle, and also serve as part of the warm up for your subject. Clearly explain why each of the principles is important, and how it will be incorporated into the remainder of the workout.

The Workout: remaining time
The remainder of the practical exam is dedicated to taking your subject through an appropriate workout. The time allotted for the workout portion of the exam will not allow for the completion of all exercises in the full repertoire. You must ensure that the exercises chosen represent a well-rounded workout that address all aspects of movement (i.e., flexion, extension, rotation, etc.) and cover the minimum required number of Essential and Intermediate exercises, while being appropriate to your subject.

Instructor Training: STOTT PILATES Exam FAQs | Merrithew®

INTENSIVE REFORMER

Our STOTT PILATES® Reformer course offers you the chance to deepen your pilates knowledge and experience. This 50 hour (10 day) intensive course is intended for those already working in the fields of fitness or movement, or for those who have been practicing Pilates and have a keen interest.

This course will teach you to design and lead the Level 1 Essential and Intermediate STOTT PILATES® Reformer repertoire for personal or group training settings for a range of clients. You will leave with a solid foundation and required skills to develop effective and motivating Pilates Reformer programs.

The Intensive Reformer course is approved by the Pilates Association of Australia.  Graduates of this course are eligible for PAA Group Instructor Membership.

What you will learn:

• The STOTT PILATES® Six Basic Principles

• Essential, Intermediate, Power workouts

• Effective use of the reformer to enhance torso stability and strength, peripheral extremity conditioning, joint stability, flexibility, balance and coordination

• Effective communication and observational skills

• Verbal cueing and imagery for performance enhancement and client motivation

• Theory and practice of postural analysis

• 139 exercises plus modifications for specific body types, postural issues and conditions

• How to incorporate resistance equipment to support and intensify exercises

• Exercise layering related to effective program design

• Workout composition for personal and group training

INTENSIVE MAT-PLUS™

This course is intended for those already working in the fields of fitness or movement or if you’ve completed the Functional Anatomy Course.

Becoming a STOTT PILATES® Mat instructor you will be building on your industry knowledge it teaches you to design and lead the Level 1 Essential and Intermediate STOTT PILATES® Matwork repertoire, for personal or group training settings for a range of clients. You will leave with a solid foundation and required skills to develop effective and motivating Pilates Matwork programs.

The STOTT PILATES® Intensive Program (Level 1) is intended for those already working in the fields of fitness or movement, or those who have completed the Online Anatomy course and have a keen interested in Pilates. The course teaches you to design and lead Essential and Intermediate STOTT PILATES® Matwork repertoire, for personal or group training settings for a range of clients. You will leave with a solid foundation and required skills to develop effective and motivating programs.

INTENSIVE REFORMER

This course is intended for those already working in the fields of fitness or movement, or completed the Anatomy of Movement Course and want to attend the Teacher Training program for Reformer.

Building on your industry knowledge it teaches you to design and lead the Level 1 Essential and Intermediate STOTT PILATES® Reformer repertoire for personal or group training settings for a range of clients. You will leave with a solid foundation and required skills to develop effective and motivating Pilates Reformer programs. While IR may be taken prior to IMP, we recommend completing IMP first.

Reformer is the most popular piece of equipment in Pilates. Learn how to use the highly versatile tool to program and instruct personal training and group classes with confidence using hundreds of spring resistance exercises.This course teaches how to design and instruct Level 1 (Essential & Intermediate) Reformer workout.