PEAK PILATES STUDY GUIDE LEVEL 1
EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A concept that describes how each exercise is stabilized by the powerhouse and supported by
critical connections - ANS anchoring
stacking one vertebrae at a time, lifting bone by bone, or rolling down and releasing the
vertebrae onto the mat one vertebrae at a time - ANS Articulate/Segment
Rectangle formed by 2 imaginary lines running from shoulder to shoulder and from hip to hip
and completed by 2 lines running from shoulder to hip - ANS Box
simpler versions of an exercise "stepping stone" - ANS building blocks
shape the spine and body assume during many Pilates exercises. Created by deep pull of the
transverse abdominus wrapping around the spine and opening the spinal column in flexion -
ANS C Curve
the line running downward from the nose, navel, and pubic bone to the heels -
ANS centerline
a symptom or health condition that makes a particular exercise inadvisable or unsuitable for a
student to perform - ANS contraindications
connections that deepen the work in the powerhouse and improve execution. 1. Three Anchors
2. Rib to scapula/scapula to rib 3. heel and buttock connection - ANS Critical Connections
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,What are the three critical connections? - ANS Three anchors, rib to scapula/scapula to rib,
heel and buttock connection
The action of elongating and creating space between the vertebrae - ANS Decompression
A way to approach and cue rolling the spine segments: tailbone to top of pelvis, top of pelvis to
base of sternum, bottom of ribs, and bottom of ribs to skull - ANS Dividing the Spine Into
Thirds
Image of buttons pressing from front to back and back to front through the body - ANS Five
Buttons
What are the 5 buttons - ANS 1. Pubic bone 2. Sacral Level 3. Navel 4. Xiphoid Process 5.
Breastbone
The Peak Pilates Principles include what two things? - ANS Pilates Principles and 5 parts of
the mind
The five Pilates Principles - ANS Concentration, Centering, Control, Breathing, Precision,
Flowing Movement
The 5 parts of the mind - ANS Intelligence, Memory, Imagination, Intuition, Will/Desire
The PPC1 Session Format - ANS a. Mat (15-20 minutes)
b. Reformer (20 minutes)
c. Individual Needs (10 minutes)
d. Endings (5 minutes)
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, Parts ___ and ___ of the Session Format are interchangeable. - ANS A, B
This Pilates Principle is useful in rehabbing an injury; - ANS Precision
Pilates believed in beginning the lesson lying down because? - ANS gravity assists in the
elongation and spinal placement
A Pilates Session ends in what position? - ANS standing/vertical to gravity
Focus on thoroughly teaching the _________ exercises before moving a student on to more
advanced exercises. - ANS basic
List 4 indicators of progressing a student too quickly: - ANS Loss of Concentration, loss of
coordination, poor technique, pain following the session
PPC1 Teaching Methodology - ANS 1. Set Up
2. Execution
3. Flow
4. Cueing
5. Rhythm
6. Voice
7. Breath Dynamics
Presentation Skills - ANS 1. Safety
2. Exercises Delivery
3. Teacher's Posture
4. Touch Techniques
5. Professionalism
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, 6. Teacher Mindfulness
Guidelines for Progression - ANS 1. Adhere to session format
2. Introduce no more that one variation or apparatus
3. teach to the student's ideal
4. Build strength and stamina through steps
5. Teach transitions as part of exercise
6. Challenge the ideal with props, variations, rhythms, flow, and breath- not with more reps
When extending the spine:
a. Always hold the breath
b. First stabilize the lumbo pelvic girdle
c. Engage the scapular adductors
d. Relax the body totally - ANS b.
The primary goal of Rolling Like a Ball is:
a. Strengthen the upper back through the holding of the ankles
b. Massage the internal organs
c. Massage the spine
d. Reverse the typical movement pattern - ANS c.
The primary abdominal muscle responsible for spinal flexion is:
a. Internal Oblique
b. External Oblique
c. Transverse Abdominis
d. Rectus Abdominis - ANS d.
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EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A concept that describes how each exercise is stabilized by the powerhouse and supported by
critical connections - ANS anchoring
stacking one vertebrae at a time, lifting bone by bone, or rolling down and releasing the
vertebrae onto the mat one vertebrae at a time - ANS Articulate/Segment
Rectangle formed by 2 imaginary lines running from shoulder to shoulder and from hip to hip
and completed by 2 lines running from shoulder to hip - ANS Box
simpler versions of an exercise "stepping stone" - ANS building blocks
shape the spine and body assume during many Pilates exercises. Created by deep pull of the
transverse abdominus wrapping around the spine and opening the spinal column in flexion -
ANS C Curve
the line running downward from the nose, navel, and pubic bone to the heels -
ANS centerline
a symptom or health condition that makes a particular exercise inadvisable or unsuitable for a
student to perform - ANS contraindications
connections that deepen the work in the powerhouse and improve execution. 1. Three Anchors
2. Rib to scapula/scapula to rib 3. heel and buttock connection - ANS Critical Connections
1 Copyright ©BRIGHSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2025
,What are the three critical connections? - ANS Three anchors, rib to scapula/scapula to rib,
heel and buttock connection
The action of elongating and creating space between the vertebrae - ANS Decompression
A way to approach and cue rolling the spine segments: tailbone to top of pelvis, top of pelvis to
base of sternum, bottom of ribs, and bottom of ribs to skull - ANS Dividing the Spine Into
Thirds
Image of buttons pressing from front to back and back to front through the body - ANS Five
Buttons
What are the 5 buttons - ANS 1. Pubic bone 2. Sacral Level 3. Navel 4. Xiphoid Process 5.
Breastbone
The Peak Pilates Principles include what two things? - ANS Pilates Principles and 5 parts of
the mind
The five Pilates Principles - ANS Concentration, Centering, Control, Breathing, Precision,
Flowing Movement
The 5 parts of the mind - ANS Intelligence, Memory, Imagination, Intuition, Will/Desire
The PPC1 Session Format - ANS a. Mat (15-20 minutes)
b. Reformer (20 minutes)
c. Individual Needs (10 minutes)
d. Endings (5 minutes)
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, Parts ___ and ___ of the Session Format are interchangeable. - ANS A, B
This Pilates Principle is useful in rehabbing an injury; - ANS Precision
Pilates believed in beginning the lesson lying down because? - ANS gravity assists in the
elongation and spinal placement
A Pilates Session ends in what position? - ANS standing/vertical to gravity
Focus on thoroughly teaching the _________ exercises before moving a student on to more
advanced exercises. - ANS basic
List 4 indicators of progressing a student too quickly: - ANS Loss of Concentration, loss of
coordination, poor technique, pain following the session
PPC1 Teaching Methodology - ANS 1. Set Up
2. Execution
3. Flow
4. Cueing
5. Rhythm
6. Voice
7. Breath Dynamics
Presentation Skills - ANS 1. Safety
2. Exercises Delivery
3. Teacher's Posture
4. Touch Techniques
5. Professionalism
3 Copyright ©BRIGHSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2025
, 6. Teacher Mindfulness
Guidelines for Progression - ANS 1. Adhere to session format
2. Introduce no more that one variation or apparatus
3. teach to the student's ideal
4. Build strength and stamina through steps
5. Teach transitions as part of exercise
6. Challenge the ideal with props, variations, rhythms, flow, and breath- not with more reps
When extending the spine:
a. Always hold the breath
b. First stabilize the lumbo pelvic girdle
c. Engage the scapular adductors
d. Relax the body totally - ANS b.
The primary goal of Rolling Like a Ball is:
a. Strengthen the upper back through the holding of the ankles
b. Massage the internal organs
c. Massage the spine
d. Reverse the typical movement pattern - ANS c.
The primary abdominal muscle responsible for spinal flexion is:
a. Internal Oblique
b. External Oblique
c. Transverse Abdominis
d. Rectus Abdominis - ANS d.
4 Copyright ©BRIGHSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2025
