Intensive Reformer (IR)

This course is intended for those already working in the fields of fitness or movement, as well as those who are unable to devote the time required in our Comprehensive Program due to work and/or scheduling issues. Conducted over 3 weeks or 4 weekends. 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.

What you will learn

• The STOTT PILATES Five 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

• Requirements of certification
• 50 hours of instruction and supervised teaching
• Minimum of 10 hours of observation
• Minimum of 40 hours of physical review
• Minimum of 25 hours of practice teaching
• Total: 125 hours

Observation, practice teaching and physical review
A minimum number of hours of observation, practice teaching and physical review are required for all courses and should be completed between instructed sessions at any STOTT PILATES facility. Additional training may be required before certification. Practice teaching and physical review hours must be logged outside of class time. The practice logs must be submitted on your exam date (either written or practical exam). If the student fails to submit all the logs within 7 days from the last portion of the exam, the entire exam will be void.

Observation
Observation hours can be logged during relevant course homework or after a STOTT PILATES course and can be accrued by watching a STOTT PILATES Certified Instructor/Instructor Trainer teach clients (in-person or online), as well as observing the relevant course videos on DVD or through Merrithew Connect™. We recommend 50-80% of your hours be completed by watching a Certified Instructor/Instructor Trainer. Please ensure you receive permission from the Merrithew Training Center and/or presenting Instructor well in advance.

Physical review

Physical Review hours means physically performing the exercises learned in class. Physical review of the material is very important to ensure full understanding within your own body first, before attempting to teach someone else. It is also very important to ensure your body is prepared for the increased challenge at each level of repertoire as you move through your STOTT PILATES Instructor Training. Taking a class with a STOTT PILATES Certified Instructor/Instructor Trainer or working out with relevant course videos on DVD or through Merrithew Connect can qualify as physical review hours, and can be completed individually or with other students.

Students can participate in an online Pilates session or join an online group Pilates class that teaches STOTT PILATES repertoire with a STOTT PILATES Certified Instructor/Instructor Trainer. Students can also attend a Merrithew Online Workshop (offered by Merrithew Training Centers worldwide or the Corporate Training Center). 

Practice teaching

Practice Teaching hours can be fulfilled by teaching STOTT PILATES course repertoire to family, fellow students, friends or clients, cueing and correcting them through a workout. Practice Teaching can be done in-person or by using a video conferencing program, such as Skype or Zoom.