Polestar Pilates

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dizzy88

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Has anyone gone through Polestar Education and received their certificate? Or does anyone know much about the certification process/education?

Our professor for Therapeutic Exercise brought in a PT who implements this stuff in her practice and I was really interested in her treatment philosophy. We went on a "field trip" to her clinic/studio and learned some really cool stuff.

She is starting a course soon and I was wondering if it is worth the money and time to go through. I'm not sure if the things that interested me were just 20 years of clinical experience and anatomy knowledge showing through....or if the principles in this course are going to teach me these concepts.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!
 
I have not. In fact, I've never heard of Polestar Pilates. However, after searching for an instructor on their site, I found two that I know personally (one taught pilates at my undergrad university, and one is the head of one of the rehab programs at the PT company I worked at...now I feel silly.)

The way I see it, if it's a reputable certification, it can't hurt (it's a way to make money on the side!) I'd call some of the bigger name gyms/pilates studios near you to find out what kind of certification they want, or if they would hire someone with that certification.

I have been looking into Stott pilates, which is also heavily based on anatomy, and the big PT company I worked for said they would hire someone with that certification.

If you decide to do it, let me know what you think!
 
We use Stott Pilates here in the clinic. Almost all of our PTs have training in it and a few of our athletic trainers do as well. I am trying to learn it myself, but it's a slow movement right now. I don't plan to actually get certified in it at this time, but maybe eventually.

The equipment is EXPENSIVE!
 
I think an important thing to remember when choosing any type of fitness certification (ESPECIALLY pilates/yoga) the more "training time required" generally = the better/more reputable the certification.
 
Not at all familiar with the Polestar certification. I've been taking Pilates lessons for almost three years (originally recommended by my rheumatologist), and have run into a lot of practitioners who incorporate it in the rehabilitation setting. For the most part, I heard Stott, Physical Mind Institute, and the Pilates Method Alliance are some of the more reputable and more in-depth certification programs. I know Stott and Physical Mind both have rehab-based certificates you can get after becoming certified to teach on the mat and apparatuses.
 
markelmarcel said:
I think an important thing to remember when choosing any type of fitness certification (ESPECIALLY pilates/yoga) the more "training time required" generally = the better/more reputable the certification.
Click to expand...

I believe it's a year long course.

Thanks for the input guys!
 
jesspt said:
For those of you considering applying your time and money toward this certification, some things to consider:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20972339

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21457897
Click to expand...


Thanks for the links, jesspt. Personally, I don't think one should become certified in pilates solely because they are going to be/are a PT.

Now, if you are in the fitness industry and you have a pilates certification and then become a PT, I can see how your pilates training may influence some exercise decisions you may make on relieving pain...

That's just my opinion though! 🙂 Pilates is a great exercise and it really helps clear the mind- it's more powerful that way (as a fitness class) than implementing elsewhere.
 
As a first year PT student and certified Pilates instructor for 7 years I see a lot of pros and cons about integrating Pilates into rehab. First, evidence is practically non-existent. I compiled an evidence table last fall for EBP class comparing Pilates-based exercises to traditional rehab for non-specific LBP. I struggled to find 10 studies (of varying quality). I concluded that Pilates is better than no treatment, and although most studies resulted in equal or slightly better outcomes for the Pilates group there were too many unconsidered variables/homogenous groups/lack of protocol/bias/etc.

Based on my own Pilates certification process, there was insufficient focus on anatomy and a lot of "this is how we do it here" and "trust the process." However, I know that Polestar is more clinically-focused and I found some research out of the University of Miami on Pilates who I believe are Polestar people (don't take my word for that). I personally would look into Polestar first.
As for PMA, Boulder, Stott - all good certifications, but no certification is perfect. Whatever you choose, take classes/continuing ed from a variety of places. Use your critical reasoning skills and don't drink their kool-aid. Pilates is a business. They are there to make money off of you. The certification is expensive, the equipment is expensive, and the continuing education is expensive.
I've known people who successfully completed Pilates certifications in PT school, but I suggest you spend your time in school taking advantage of the resources only available to you as a student.
 
Lizarde brings up a good point re: rehab.

But, that said, there are basic pilates and yoga elements in almost every treatment plan I've seen at outpatient clinics (i.e. "the plank", "cat/camel", "cobra" aka "prone press up") because there are great benefits to these exercises, but as for using a full pilates session as a rehab method...that'd be hard to justify without supporting evidence.

If I get my certification, it'd be primarily as a side-job to make extra money. Since I worked at an OP company that had a full on pilates studio (both mat and reformer), a lot of time the pilates clients would come from PT...when a patient maxed on insurance, or was DC'd but still didn't feel 100%, then a lot of times they'd start doing pilates (even though that sometimes cost more than the PT sessions...oh irony). And a lot of time the pilates instructors did double duty as PT aides when they weren't training clients, which worked well because they already were familiar with the patient's history.
 
Lizarde said:
As a first year PT student and certified Pilates instructor for 7 years I see a lot of pros and cons about integrating Pilates into rehab. First, evidence is practically non-existent. I compiled an evidence table last fall for EBP class comparing Pilates-based exercises to traditional rehab for non-specific LBP. I struggled to find 10 studies (of varying quality). I concluded that Pilates is better than no treatment, and although most studies resulted in equal or slightly better outcomes for the Pilates group there were too many unconsidered variables/homogenous groups/lack of protocol/bias/etc.

Based on my own Pilates certification process, there was insufficient focus on anatomy and a lot of "this is how we do it here" and "trust the process." However, I know that Polestar is more clinically-focused and I found some research out of the University of Miami on Pilates who I believe are Polestar people (don't take my word for that). I personally would look into Polestar first.
As for PMA, Boulder, Stott - all good certifications, but no certification is perfect. Whatever you choose, take classes/continuing ed from a variety of places. Use your critical reasoning skills and don't drink their kool-aid. Pilates is a business. They are there to make money off of you. The certification is expensive, the equipment is expensive, and the continuing education is expensive.
I've known people who successfully completed Pilates certifications in PT school, but I suggest you spend your time in school taking advantage of the resources only available to you as a student.
Click to expand...


My point exactly. Pilates certification does not seem like a wise purchase from the standpoint of a consumer of physical therapy education given the expense one has in purchasing the coursework and equipment, expecially when one looks at the dearth of evidence supporting its use.
 
I guess I kind of look at it this way- I'm a certified Spinning instructor-- do I think that Spinning can help rehab people? Sure! Am I going to start teaching spinning classes in "my" out-patient clinic (if I had one) - Uh, probably not.

So, the Spinning certification is great for me to have, I really enjoy it and it's a great stress relief- did I get it because I wanted to be a PT? No. But getting it did lead me on the path of realizing how much the human body intrigues me!
 
I've also seen several OP clinics offer Pilates on the equipment or mat classes and I think a wellness component in a clinic is a great idea.
There is also a Pilates-based PT Fellowship in NC so it does seem that Pilates in PT is expanding.
 
Lizarde said:
I've also seen several OP clinics offer Pilates on the equipment or mat classes and I think a wellness component in a clinic is a great idea.
There is also a Pilates-based PT Fellowship in NC so it does seem that Pilates in PT is expanding.
Click to expand...


That's really cool! 🙂
 
Lizarde said:
I've also seen several OP clinics offer Pilates on the equipment or mat classes and I think a wellness component in a clinic is a great idea.
There is also a Pilates-based PT Fellowship in NC so it does seem that Pilates in PT is expanding.
Click to expand...

Yeah, my experience at this clinic was similar. It wasn't really a "pilates for fitness" atmosphere, it was a "pilates for proper body mechanics" kind of thing. It was just really interesting.

Thanks a bunch for the info everyone has posted!
 
Lizarde said:
I've also seen several OP clinics offer Pilates on the equipment or mat classes and I think a wellness component in a clinic is a great idea.
There is also a Pilates-based PT Fellowship in NC so it does seem that Pilates in PT is expanding.
Click to expand...


If Pilates useage is expanding in PT clinics, let's hope that the research starts to "catch up."

I don't see the fellowship on the APTA website. I wold be cautious about going through a fellowship that wasn't APTA-accredited.
 
I'm about to obtain certification for authentic / classical Pilates. I have been doing Classical for several years and love it. I want to take the PMA exam yet the place I'm going to also offers certification at the end so I'll already be certified.

I know Polestar is focused towards physical therapy and rehabilitation. And, Stott is a contemporary form of Pilates. Polestar is my 2nd choice because they never replied to my last message.
 
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