Balanced Body Written Test Exam 2026/2027
NEWEST VERIFIED QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
ANSWERS
• Name the 4 muscles of the core/inner unit . CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Transverse
Abdominus
2. Pelvic floor
3. Multifidi
4. Diaphragm
• What country was Joseph Pilates born in? . CORRECT ANSWER: Germany around
1883
• In what year did Joesph Pilates move to the US? . CORRECT ANSWER: 1926
• What American city did Joesph Pilates live and teach in? . CORRECT ANSWER: New
York City
• Circle exercises that are contraindicated for clients with osteoporosis . CORRECT
ANSWER: 100
Rolling like a ball
Double straight leg stretch
OK =
-Swan
-Side leg series
-Side leg kicks
• Name 3 mat exercises that are safe throughout pregnancy . CORRECT ANSWER: 1.
Side leg series
2. Cat/cow
3. Pregnant cat
• What bony landmarks define a neutral pelvis . CORRECT ANSWER: Anterior
Superior Iliac Spine (ASIS)
Pubic Symphysis
• List two ways to modify spine stretch for clients with tight hamstrings . CORRECT
ANSWER: 1. Bend knees slightly
2. Sit on a mat, towel, block
• Name four mat exercises that require caution for clients with low back problems .
CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Rolling like a ball
2. Roll up
3. Neck pull
,4. Criss cross
• Create a short mat class using 15 exercises . CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Hundred
2. Roll up
3. Single leg circles
4. Rolling like a ball
5. Single leg stretch
6. Double leg stretch
7. Single straight leg stretch
8. Double straight leg stretch
9. Criss cross
10. Saw
11. Swan
12. Single leg kicks
13. Double leg kicks
14. Swimming
15. Side leg lifts
• Listing key areas that an exercise works...options are . CORRECT ANSWER: Abs -
Abdominal exercises (oblique/sagittal)
Lat - Lateral flexion exercises
Rot - Torso rotation
Back - Back extension
Legs - Lower body - hip, leg, and ankle
Arms - Upper body - Shoulder and arm
SS - Scapular stability
PS - Lumbopelvic stability
St - Stretches
• Pilates Reformer 1 . CORRECT ANSWER: Written
• Name 4 Pilates movement principles and list one reformer exercise you would use to
teach that principle . CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Lower core activation - Kneeling
abdominals
2. Lumbopelvic stability - Feet in straps (circles)
3. Shoulder stability/mobility - Long box - overhead press/swan
4. Abdominal strengthening - Hundred
• Placing the springs on the A or pre-loaded position on the reformer makes the
resistance . CORRECT ANSWER: Harder
• List the color coding of the Balanced Body Reformer Springs from lightest to heaviest
. CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Yellow (lightest)
2. Blue
3. Red
4. Green (heaviest)
, • In the footwork exercises, the footbar should ideally be adjusted so the client has a
_____________ degree angle at their hips . CORRECT ANSWER: 90 degree
• Name 3 ways to adjust the fit of the reformer for clients with knee and hip injuries that
don't tolerate deep flexion . CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Lower the bar away from the
carriage
2. Limit range of motion of client
3. Move carriage with blocks
• Name 5 pieces of equipment that Joesph Pilates invented . CORRECT ANSWER: 1.
Reformer
2. Cadallic
3. Wunda chair
4. Barrel
5. Spine Corrector
• Circle any reformer exercises that are CONTRAINDICATED for clients with
osteoporosis (reformer) . CORRECT ANSWER: Hundred and Short box abdominals
OK =
Swan
Feet in straps
Kneeling abdominals
Arm work sitting
• Circle any reformer exercises that are RECOMMENDED for clients with osteoporosis
. CORRECT ANSWER: Footwork
Feet in straps (if stable)
Pulling straps
Standing
Swan
Arm work - Facing back
NOT OK =
Rollbacks
Short box abdominals
• What points must line up for correct leg alignment when viewed from the front and the
side? . CORRECT ANSWER: Front =
Hips: ASIS
Knee: Center of patella
Ankle: Center of front of ankle
Side =
Hip: High point of iliac crest
NEWEST VERIFIED QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
ANSWERS
• Name the 4 muscles of the core/inner unit . CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Transverse
Abdominus
2. Pelvic floor
3. Multifidi
4. Diaphragm
• What country was Joseph Pilates born in? . CORRECT ANSWER: Germany around
1883
• In what year did Joesph Pilates move to the US? . CORRECT ANSWER: 1926
• What American city did Joesph Pilates live and teach in? . CORRECT ANSWER: New
York City
• Circle exercises that are contraindicated for clients with osteoporosis . CORRECT
ANSWER: 100
Rolling like a ball
Double straight leg stretch
OK =
-Swan
-Side leg series
-Side leg kicks
• Name 3 mat exercises that are safe throughout pregnancy . CORRECT ANSWER: 1.
Side leg series
2. Cat/cow
3. Pregnant cat
• What bony landmarks define a neutral pelvis . CORRECT ANSWER: Anterior
Superior Iliac Spine (ASIS)
Pubic Symphysis
• List two ways to modify spine stretch for clients with tight hamstrings . CORRECT
ANSWER: 1. Bend knees slightly
2. Sit on a mat, towel, block
• Name four mat exercises that require caution for clients with low back problems .
CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Rolling like a ball
2. Roll up
3. Neck pull
,4. Criss cross
• Create a short mat class using 15 exercises . CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Hundred
2. Roll up
3. Single leg circles
4. Rolling like a ball
5. Single leg stretch
6. Double leg stretch
7. Single straight leg stretch
8. Double straight leg stretch
9. Criss cross
10. Saw
11. Swan
12. Single leg kicks
13. Double leg kicks
14. Swimming
15. Side leg lifts
• Listing key areas that an exercise works...options are . CORRECT ANSWER: Abs -
Abdominal exercises (oblique/sagittal)
Lat - Lateral flexion exercises
Rot - Torso rotation
Back - Back extension
Legs - Lower body - hip, leg, and ankle
Arms - Upper body - Shoulder and arm
SS - Scapular stability
PS - Lumbopelvic stability
St - Stretches
• Pilates Reformer 1 . CORRECT ANSWER: Written
• Name 4 Pilates movement principles and list one reformer exercise you would use to
teach that principle . CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Lower core activation - Kneeling
abdominals
2. Lumbopelvic stability - Feet in straps (circles)
3. Shoulder stability/mobility - Long box - overhead press/swan
4. Abdominal strengthening - Hundred
• Placing the springs on the A or pre-loaded position on the reformer makes the
resistance . CORRECT ANSWER: Harder
• List the color coding of the Balanced Body Reformer Springs from lightest to heaviest
. CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Yellow (lightest)
2. Blue
3. Red
4. Green (heaviest)
, • In the footwork exercises, the footbar should ideally be adjusted so the client has a
_____________ degree angle at their hips . CORRECT ANSWER: 90 degree
• Name 3 ways to adjust the fit of the reformer for clients with knee and hip injuries that
don't tolerate deep flexion . CORRECT ANSWER: 1. Lower the bar away from the
carriage
2. Limit range of motion of client
3. Move carriage with blocks
• Name 5 pieces of equipment that Joesph Pilates invented . CORRECT ANSWER: 1.
Reformer
2. Cadallic
3. Wunda chair
4. Barrel
5. Spine Corrector
• Circle any reformer exercises that are CONTRAINDICATED for clients with
osteoporosis (reformer) . CORRECT ANSWER: Hundred and Short box abdominals
OK =
Swan
Feet in straps
Kneeling abdominals
Arm work sitting
• Circle any reformer exercises that are RECOMMENDED for clients with osteoporosis
. CORRECT ANSWER: Footwork
Feet in straps (if stable)
Pulling straps
Standing
Swan
Arm work - Facing back
NOT OK =
Rollbacks
Short box abdominals
• What points must line up for correct leg alignment when viewed from the front and the
side? . CORRECT ANSWER: Front =
Hips: ASIS
Knee: Center of patella
Ankle: Center of front of ankle
Side =
Hip: High point of iliac crest