Mat Pilates Instructor (Certificate of Achievement)

The Mat Pilates Instructor Certificate of Achievement is designed to prepare students for employment as a professional to instruct both groups and individuals in Pilates mat exercises. It is possible to complete this certificate in one calendar year. The curriculum has been designed to equip the student with the background, both theoretical and practical, to pursue a job promoting core training, injury prevention, alignment, and proper mechanics of movement for each exercise.

Courses in Pilates mat instruction, anatomy, training special populations, and Pilates activity classes will prepare the student for responsibilities in the field. The program will also expose students to other areas such as fitness, health promotion, coaching, pre-allied health, and medical fields as Pilates is often used in physical therapy rehabilitation, injury prevention, and enhancing the performance of athletes.

The area supported by the college has numerous people wanting fitness programs, and specific programs to help a working population strengthen the core and back muscles to prevent injury and eliminate pain. Employment of fitness trainers and Pilates instructors is projected to grow 15 percent from 2018-2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The increasing desire for fitness, and back exercise, and an aging population have bolstered the demand for Pilates Instructors, classes, and studios. These Instructors needed to be competitive, strong, and prevent injuries.

12 Students Annually projected to complete.  

This certificate will allow completers to assist individuals and groups to enhance core strength, increasing physical performance, and prevent injury. Students will learn to assess movement imbalances, and create programs using Pilates Mat exercises. In addition, students in this program will learn functional movement and be able to identify physical imbalances. Finally, the development of exercise prescription plans that accommodate varying levels of function and fitness will be implemented as part of the skills and knowledge training in this certificate.

Upon completion, students will:

1) Perform and instruct Pilates exercises.

2) Assess special populations and create modifications

3) Design, develop, and implement Pilates mat exercise programs

4) Interact with the public by working with, communicating with, and teaching Pilates mat exercises

5) Demonstrate sensitivity to a multicultural community

5) Be able to influence the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors of clients

6) Communicate knowledge and integrate anatomy and movement terminology

At the Spring 2021 advisory meeting for our fitness specialist and coaching certification programs, advisory members stressed the need for Pilates Instructors, especially since it was one of the more sustainable exercise formats on Zoom, as well as outdoor fitness.

Currently, there are no programs offering this specialty in the immediate area, and this would both fulfill the needs of community programs in fitness and recreation, and benefit workers at risk for low back injuries. 

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
KIN 131	Functional Anatomy of Movement	3	Y1
KIN 145	Theory and Analysis of Fitness Instruction	2	Y1
KIN 146	Training Principles for Special Populations	2	Y1
KIN 136	Pilates Mat Teaching: Foundations	3	Y1
KINA 136	Pilates Mat I	1	Y1
KINA 236	Plates Mat II	1	YI
KIN 115	Fitness Specialist Internship	2	Y1
	Total Units	14

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According to COCI, three colleges in the LA/OC region have Pilates programs: Fullerton (Pilates); Mt. San Antonio (Pilates Professional Teacher Training: Cadillac, Chair, Auxiliary; Pilates Processional Teacher Training: Mat and Reformer); and Orange Coast (Pilates Instructor).

3 Year average under fitness trainer 4 (0835.20) Awards

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