IMP and IR are prerequisites for all other instructor courses.  Both of these courses are longer in length, cover Essential and Intermediate Repertoire, as well as include a hands-on approach to studying postural analysis.  Completing IMP and IR sets you up to seek certification.  Upon completing your practice and observation hours, you may move forward to take the Mat and Reformer exam, upon passing you will become a Level 1 STOTT Certified Instructor.

Certification can be completed at Level 1 for Mat and Reformer can be done as quickly as you like.  There are practice hours and observation hours you will need to complete and those can be one anywhere at any time.  You just have to commit to it.

To complete each course, a minimum number of hours of observation, practice teaching, and physical practice are required.  You can attend class here at the Pilates Loft as part of your practice.  Physical review of the material (your personal practice) is very important to ensure full understanding you’re your own body before you attempt to teach someone else.  We recommend that you complete this at a facility with STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor.  Observation can be logged watching Merrithew Connect, or in person at the Pilates Loft, Merrithew recommends that you spend 50-80% observation of a STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor.  Be sure to obtain permission before you observe.

Practicing teaching can be done to family and friends, or even current clients where you can practice cueing and correcting them through the workout.  Hours will be logged and turned in within 7 days of your exam.

Pilates Loft in Mendota Heights is currently the only STOTT PILATES Host Training Center in MN. Whether you seek a full STOTT PILATES certification, level 1 mat and reformer certification, continuing education credits to maintain your certification, the Pilates Loft in Mendota Heights has what you need.

STOTT PILATES Curriculum at the Pilates Loft

• Intensive Mat Plus^TM (IMP)
• Intensive Reformer (IR)
• Intensive Cadillac (ICAD)
• Intensive Chair (ICHR)
• Intensive Barrels (IBRL)
• Advanced Mat (AM)
• Advanced Reformer (AR)
• Advanced Cadillac, Chair, Barrels (ACCB)
• Injuries & Special Populations (ISP)

See Courses for a detailed list of currently available courses. See About for information on certification.

There is no specific order you have to follow to except that IMP and IR are prerequisites for other courses.  So you would start with one of these. IMP and IR courses cover postural analysis and are longer in length. You can always ask us questions and we can help you determine what is best for you!

You can take your written and practical exam right here at the Pilates Loft with a Certified Instructor Trainer.

You must receive an average score of 80% (practical and written) and achieve a minimum score of 75% on each portion in order to pass. Both of these requirements must be met in order to achieve certification. IMP and IR will go over the specifics of the exam. Practical exam portions are anywhere from 1.5 to 2 hours depending on the level you take. In order to fully understand the material conceptually and physically the best way to prep for the practical exam is to practice teaching as many people as possible (family, friends, classmates) to apply your knowledge and adapt to different body types.

Written exams will consist of multiple choice, fill in the blank or matching type questions. There is a muscle identification section. There is no 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

If you have to retake a portion of or the entire exam, this should be completed within 6 months of the original exam date. If six months pass, you must take both the written and practical exams again. Scheduling one on ones with your Instructor Trainer is highly recommended to work on specifics. IF you take your exam for the first time and fail both portions, you may retake the exam within 6 months. If you fail both portions a second time, you must wait 6 months before testing again.