Pilates Certification
Love Pilates?
Become a Certified Pilates Instructor or Master your Pilates Practice with virtual courses
Synergy+ offers a unique virtual Pilates Instructor course. Now fully online, it is taught by a physical therapist and Certified Pilates Teacher. This is an ongoing course. It can be taken in full or by module.
Course Info
Synergy+ has been teaching Pilates Instructor courses since 2005. The Pilates Teacher certification course is very comprehensive and it includes:
- Lectures and demonstrations on mat and all equipment
- A module of applied basic anatomy
- A posture workshop, and
- A gate workshop
The course is taught by Zeina Grifoni, founder and owner of Synergy+. Zeina is a licensed physical therapist, a Pilates instructor, and a movement and rehabilitation specialist.
The course's goal is to develop thoughtful and successful Pilates instructor who can:
1- Sequence exercise movements to create flow, and
2- Modify the exercises to work with all clients, from the injured person to the competitive athlete.
This course is unique because it teaches:
1- A modern Pilates repertoire based on the classical Pilates
2- A Pilates that incorporates knowledge of body, bio mechanics, and
anatomy
3- The dos and don'ts learned in the past 16 years working with clients in a rehab setting
4- A systematic approach based on the practice of physical therapy
5- A modular and progressive course. This allows each student to build on her/his current level and education.
PREREQUISITES & REQUIREMENTS
CERTIFICATION OF COMPLETION
CERTIFICATION COURSE HIGHLIGHTS
I was so impressed with Zeina’s clarity and detail in how she presents the exercises-from exactly the way to perform the exercise, to the progressions as well as modifications for nearly any injury-this course will provide anyone the skill set to be an excellent Pilates instructor.
The opportunity to study with Zeina, was an honor. Her training program was very thorough from practice to anatomy to the history of Pilates. Zeina was very generous of time, spirit and knowledge for the zillions of questions that I asked regarding any part of the curriculum.
Course details
Course modules
Module 0 - Applied basic anatomy. 14 hours of lecture on the following topics:
- Intro module: planes of movement, and anatomy basics
- Spine: lumbar and SI joint
- Spine: cervical and Thoracic Spine
- Hip/Knee
- Ankle/Foot
- Shoulder
- Elbow/Wrist/hand
Module 1 - Pilates Concepts Review, Mat and Foam Roller - 10-hour module
Module 2 - Reformer - 10-hour module
Module 3 - Springboard - 6-hour module
Module 4 - Chair - 8-hour module
Module 5 - Cadillac - 4-hour module
Module 6 - Barrel/Arc and Course Wrap Up - 4-hour module
- understand the basis of all our movement, through posture!
- learn to conduct a postural analysis and practice on your classmates
- learn common postural deviations
- understand how postural changes can cause pain and poor body function
- understand the basic mechanics of a walking gait stride
- learn appropriate amounts of range of motion necessary for a proper gait cycle
- learn to assess for abnormalities in a gait pattern
- practice a gait analysis on your classmates
Course cost & options
Pay by Module: $900 / module
Testing per module: Included in the module cost (includes certificate of completion). All lectures, demos, practice, and testing will be done remotely. The students need to have access to all Pilates equipment (Mat, foam roller, Reformer, Cadillac, Springboard, (tower is also acceptable in place of Springboard), chair (combo chair is recommended), Arc (foam arc is necessary for the work on the Reformer), and large ladder barrel.
Pay in full:
Option 1: All virtual - $4,200
All lectures, demos, practice, and testing will be done remotely. The students need to have access to all Pilates equipment (Mat, foam roller, Reformer, Cadillac, Springboard, (tower is also acceptable in place of Springboard), chair (combo chair is recommended), Arc (foam arc is necessary for the work on the Reformer), and large ladder barrel.
Option 2: Virtual + in Studio - $4,800
All lectures and demos will be done remotely. The practice will be done in studio in our San Rafael location, once a week following the curriculum of the modules. A certified Pilates instructor will be present at the studio to assist with the movements for hands on correction while the instruction is done virtually.
Option 3: Virtual + in Studio - $4,800
All lectures and demos will be done remotely. In June, 2021 there will be a 5-day intensive to practice all movements either in San Rafael, CA or in Locarno, Switzerland. This in-studio intensive is only available if we reach a minimum class size of 5. Travel must be allowed.
Option 4: Intensive in Studio - $4,800
This is a 10-day intensive course with all live instruction on all Pilates equipment. The fee does not include travel expenses for the instructor (based on decided destination). Dates and times will be decided as a group. This option requires a minimum of 4 students, who must be in good physical shape to be able to sustain doing Pilates intensively for 10 days in a row. Testing for the certification will take place at a later date, either virtually or in person depending on the location.
Testing and certificate of completion are included in the prices above.
Class manuals: $40 per module
Requirements for Completion
General Requirement
In order to complete the certification, the Student will need to perform the repertoire from pre-Pilates to the advanced repertoire as well as pass a written and practical exam that will include anatomy, exercise names, posture, and exercise modifications
Self Practice Hours Requirement
Each student is required to complete the following self -practice hours in addition to course work:
Mat – 60 Hrs
Reformer – 60 Hrs
Springboard – 30 Hrs
Cadillac – 15 Hrs
Chair – 30 Hrs
Barrel – 15 Hrs
Student Teaching Hours Requirement
Each student is required to complete the following teaching hours in order to receive a certificate:
Mat – 100 Hrs
Reformer – 100 Hrs
Springboard – 50 Hrs
Cadillac – 25 Hrs
Chair – 25 Hrs
Barrel – 25 Hrs
Assistant Teaching Requirements
Within the self-practice and student teaching hours, the Student needs to have 10 hours of assistant teaching for group classes (either at Synergy+’s place of business or other facility), and 20 hours of observation of private sessions.
Examination Requirement
Each student will be required to pass both a written exam and a practical exam in order to receive his/her certification.
Course Material
Additional cost/expenses: Each student will be responsible for the purchase of his/her own manuals in addition to the course material that is distributed during class. These can be purchased through Synergy+ or independently.
Reference material
Required Reference Material
- Pilates, Joseph H., Return to Life Through Contrology, Pilates Method Alliance, INC, Miami, 2003. ISBN 0-9768232-0-9
- Kendall, McCreary, Provance; Muscles Testing and function, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia, current version.
- 3D for Medical Complete Anatomy App. (https://3d4medical.com/)
Recommended Reference Material
- PMA certification manual. (This can be attained on the PMA web site)
- Anatomy atlas: such as Netter and/or Trail Guide to the Body.