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Would I have to take the Mat Course before being eligible to take the Studio Course? No there is no requirement to be mat qualified so long as you satisfy the specified criteria.
Anatomy & Physiology - Continuing Education
We are delighted to announce our collaboration with Jing a very highly respected organisation offering advanced courses for massage therapists. A number of you have asked us for recommended organisations that offer advanced anatomy training and you might well be interested in their muscular-skeletal anatomy course which is suitable for Pilates teachers as well as experienced massage therapists.
Anatomy & Physiology - Pre-requisites
I understand that a reasonable knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology is a prerequisite. If I do not have this, what do you recommend? There is an excellent app now available for the iPad, see:
Muscle & Bone Anatomy 3D By Real Bodywork
Also of interest to Polestar students, present, past or future, is Jing’s 1 day Living Anatomy Course. More details here.
We also recommend ‘Anatomy of Movement’ (Blandine Calais Germain - author) from our reading list.
What is the deadline/recommended latest time to apply for the course? We recommend you book as soon as you have decided to take one of our courses because numbers a re strictly limited and places are offered on a first-come, first served basis. If you book the Studio or Rehab Series more than two months in advance we also offer a FREE set of the 6-DVD Polestar Library which retails for £175.00.
What support is available for students in between the monthly weekend training sessions? Do students have open access to your studio and educators to enable practical work on the material or is there an additional charge for this? Firstly, we offer all students access to our studio to practice for up to three hours a week for a nominal charge of £30.00 per month, by prior arrangement. Additionally, we permit free access for observation, again, by prior arrangement. Maximum two students observing at any one time, for no more than two hours. Secondly, we encourage students to get together to practice. How this tends to work is a small group of 2 – 4 students will hire a Polestar educator/mentor for two to three hours and share the (£60.00 per hour) cost.
I have just started teaching and require insurance. Can you suggest any suitable brokers. We do not recommend or endorse any particular company but the following links have been provided by former students who have done their own research:
Yes, but can I get insurance cover to teach before I am qualified? CMC (see above), the Insurance Broker for Fitpro, offers a policy whereby, provided you already hold a fitness qualification e.g. exercise to music, personal trainer etc, they will give you insurance for up to 12 months period to teach the paying public exercises that you have learnt to date in your course. Contact CMC on 01794 516 740 for further information on this insurance.
Can I use the Moss Pilates studio for apprentice teaching. Yes, you will need to sign a studio hire agreement and provide your insurance certificate. We suggest that you ask your client to pay you at least enough to cover the studio hire fee.
Will I need additional tuition? Certainly it's true that without investing in extra sessions it would be difficult for anyone to achieve the highest standard and complete the course having a full understanding of all the exercises.
Students should regard extra sessions as 'personal development'. We know that it is possible to "scrape through" the exam without much extra help but it really depends upon whether the person wants to be an average instructor, a good instructor, or a great instructor. For those wanting to be great instructor, the learning journey never stops. As much as you earn on one hand seems to be taken by the other for more tuition, be it courses, workshops, or just sessions with other instructors. None of the Polestar team have ever stopped!
We don't think there is a training course anywhere that would provide unlimited training sessions to meet all of a student's demands for a limited price. In fact, being mindful of the significant investment our course entails, we try to provide additional support at minimal cost. We actively encourage you to work with fellow students; we offer free observation at the studio and we provide 24/7 access to the studio for a nominal monthly fee.
Educators and mentors can be booked for £60.00 per hour or shared for up to 3 students - this rises to £80.00 for 3-6 and £100.00 for 6 - 9. Please note these rates are for informal teaching sessions - other workshops will be organised by us separately. Principal educators are available for 1-1 sessions.
I want to become a Pilates instructor but do not fulfil the pre-requisites of being a qualified fitness instructor, although I have been taking Pilates classes for the past year. Can I still join the Mat course? It depends, we consider each person's situation on its merits. Contact us to discuss.
I have completed some course modules overseas, can I join your course halfway through? Of course you may, subject to places being available. We charge a pro-rated course fee with an additional £50.00 per module administration charge. You should seek a refund of unattended modules from the Polestar Centre you enrolled with.
What happens if I am unable to complete the course? Please review our cancellation policies here. We may vary these conditions on a discretionary basis if the circumstances merit.
I qualified five years ago and have noticed that my certificate is due to expire shortly. How do I get it renewed? 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, re-qualification is an essential part of maintaining skills and quality of care. Polestar’s certifications/qualifications are valid for five years, after which time re-qualification is required.
Download and complete this form, providing as much relevant information as possible, along with copies (not originals) of attendance and other certificates. Send this with your payment details and we will submit your application to the Polestar HQ in Miami for them to assess your experience and continuing education to enable them to issue a renewal certificate.
What if I have lost my Certificate/s or Manual/s
Replacement certificates for workshops and/or courses can be provided to attendees upon payment of a £10.00 administration charge, to include postage within UK. An additional £5.00 is levied for airmail postage.
Replacement manuals for course modules can be provided to attendees upon payment of a £25.00 administration charge for each, to include postage within UK. An additional £7.50 is levied for airmail postage.
I qualified with Polestar in Australia but have recently moved to the UK. Can I have my contact details added to your website’s directory of UK Practitioners? Yes, of course you may. Please submit full details along with an indication of the areas which will cover. Please also advise the date/place you qualified.
How long after completing my course should I sit the exam. There are no hard and fast rules. We accept that everyone learns at a different pace. However, most students take between 6 months and a year between finishing their course and taking the exam.
I have recently completed a Studio course in Hong Kong, but am moving to the UK shortly. Can I take my exam in London? Yes, exams are held twice yearly, usually in June and December. Please keep an eye on our website for scheduled dates.
Is the certification with Polestar recognized by the PMA? Polestar are a Corporate Sponsor of the PMA, and we do encourage our graduates and educators to join and take the PMA Pilates Certification Exam.