AFPA PILATES INSTRUCTOR MAT FINAL 2026
REVISION NOTES AND STRUCTURED FITNESS
INSTRUCTION OVERVIEW GUIDE
◉ During Teaser, how does bending the knees into the chest change
the exercise? Answer: changes the intent of exercise; once master,
they can progress
◉ In what plane of motion is the Hundred? Answer: sagittal
◉ Which method of journaling do we suggest using through the
course? Answer: rapid fire journaling
◉ Pilates Metrics has all of the entire exercise library uploaded in it
so that I can utilize it for helping my do my practice teaching hours,
observation hours, assistant teaching and self practice.
true or false Answer: true
◉ What is the best order of movement to start with if your client had
an old injury, works all the time, and is "just getting back to
moving?" Answer: roll down, footwork, bridge variation, hands in
straps/ supine abs
,◉ What is the best way to evaluate the ROM (Range of Motion) of
your client's ankles? Answer: heel lower & lift
◉ For a client with valgus knees, what is the most effective
positioning and prop to use during Footwork? Answer: Feet parallel
with the Magic Circle being held at the outside of the upper knee
area
◉ Footwork on the Reformer is most closely related to which real-
life activity? Answer: sitting down & standing up
◉ Footwork on the Jumpboard and the foot bar are exactly the same.
true or false Answer: false
◉ Clients who can do footwork on the Reformer are ready for
jumping on the Jumpboard.
true or false Answer: false
◉ When is a client ready to jump? Answer: When they have a stable
pelvis and they are able to maintain a basic level of proprioceptive
awareness
◉ How is footwork on the Jumpboard different than Footwork on
the Reformer Footbar? Answer: When using the Jumpboard, there is
, more surface area under the foot which elicits a reaction closer to
real life than the Footbar on the Reformer.
◉ What are the elements of good flow programming when teaching
group Pilates classes? Answer: Progressions, Transitions, Creative
Sequencing
◉ Which is the "best" way to transition? Answer: Instructor changes
the springs while clients do a different move to distract them.
◉ What are the 4 main muscles are emphasized during Footwork on
the Reformer? Answer: Transverse Abdominis, Contralateral
Obliques, Glutes, Hamstrings
◉ Bridge variations on the Reformer strengthen the back muscles
and posterior chain overall.
true or false Answer: true
◉ After finding out that a client has a healthy back, you should
always start their spinal flexion in a hinge NOT articulation.
true or false Answer: false
◉ Pick the correct group of contraindications for bridging exercises.
Answer: Pregnancy, Hip replacements, slipped disc, osteoperosis
REVISION NOTES AND STRUCTURED FITNESS
INSTRUCTION OVERVIEW GUIDE
◉ During Teaser, how does bending the knees into the chest change
the exercise? Answer: changes the intent of exercise; once master,
they can progress
◉ In what plane of motion is the Hundred? Answer: sagittal
◉ Which method of journaling do we suggest using through the
course? Answer: rapid fire journaling
◉ Pilates Metrics has all of the entire exercise library uploaded in it
so that I can utilize it for helping my do my practice teaching hours,
observation hours, assistant teaching and self practice.
true or false Answer: true
◉ What is the best order of movement to start with if your client had
an old injury, works all the time, and is "just getting back to
moving?" Answer: roll down, footwork, bridge variation, hands in
straps/ supine abs
,◉ What is the best way to evaluate the ROM (Range of Motion) of
your client's ankles? Answer: heel lower & lift
◉ For a client with valgus knees, what is the most effective
positioning and prop to use during Footwork? Answer: Feet parallel
with the Magic Circle being held at the outside of the upper knee
area
◉ Footwork on the Reformer is most closely related to which real-
life activity? Answer: sitting down & standing up
◉ Footwork on the Jumpboard and the foot bar are exactly the same.
true or false Answer: false
◉ Clients who can do footwork on the Reformer are ready for
jumping on the Jumpboard.
true or false Answer: false
◉ When is a client ready to jump? Answer: When they have a stable
pelvis and they are able to maintain a basic level of proprioceptive
awareness
◉ How is footwork on the Jumpboard different than Footwork on
the Reformer Footbar? Answer: When using the Jumpboard, there is
, more surface area under the foot which elicits a reaction closer to
real life than the Footbar on the Reformer.
◉ What are the elements of good flow programming when teaching
group Pilates classes? Answer: Progressions, Transitions, Creative
Sequencing
◉ Which is the "best" way to transition? Answer: Instructor changes
the springs while clients do a different move to distract them.
◉ What are the 4 main muscles are emphasized during Footwork on
the Reformer? Answer: Transverse Abdominis, Contralateral
Obliques, Glutes, Hamstrings
◉ Bridge variations on the Reformer strengthen the back muscles
and posterior chain overall.
true or false Answer: true
◉ After finding out that a client has a healthy back, you should
always start their spinal flexion in a hinge NOT articulation.
true or false Answer: false
◉ Pick the correct group of contraindications for bridging exercises.
Answer: Pregnancy, Hip replacements, slipped disc, osteoperosis
