Club Pilates – Certified Pilates Instructor
Exam Study Guide (2025–2026) Focus:
Anatomy for movement, equipment safety,
class sequencing, cueing strategies, and
exercise modifications.
Club Pilates Certified Pilates Instructor Exam: Study Guide (2025-2026)
Section 1: Anatomy for Movement (25 Questions)
1. What is the primary muscle targeted during the "Hundred" exercise?
a) Rectus Femoris
b) Transverse Abdominis ✓
c) Latissimus Dorsi
d) Gluteus Maximus
2. The "Powerhouse" in Pilates primarily refers to which group of muscles?
a) Shoulders and neck
b) Arms and legs
c) Abdominals, lower back, hips, and glutes ✓
d) Calves and ankles
3. Which of the following is an action of the Psoas Major muscle?
a) Spinal Extension
b) Hip Flexion ✓
c) Shoulder Depression
d) Ankle Dorsiflexion
4. During spinal articulation (like rolling like a ball), what is the ideal sequence for the
vertebrae to contact the mat?
a) All at once
b) Cervical, then Lumbar, then Thoracic
,c) Tailbone to the tips of the shoulder blades, one vertebra at a time ✓
d) Thoracic, then Lumbar, then Cervical
5. Scapular stabilization is crucial in Pilates. Which muscle is primarily responsible for scapular
retraction (drawing shoulders back)?
a) Pectoralis Major
b) Rhomboids ✓
c) Deltoids
d) Trapezius (Upper Fibers)
6. What is the term for maintaining a neutral spine?
a) Spinal Imprinting
b) Spinal Flexion
c) The Natural Curvature of the Spine ✓
d) Spinal Hyperextension
7. The action of "Pilates Stance" primarily engages which muscle group?
a) Quadriceps
b) Inner Thighs (Adductors) ✓
c) Hamstrings
d) Calves
8. Which of the following best describes "Rib Cage Placement" in Pilates?
a) Ribs flared open to maximize expansion
b) Ribs drawn down towards the hips to avoid flaring ✓
c) Ribs pressed firmly against the spine
d) Rib cage placement is not a focus
9. What movement occurs at the ankle during a pointed toe?
a) Dorsiflexion
b) Plantar Flexion ✓
c) Inversion
d) Eversion
10. The primary movement of the "Swan" exercise is?
a) Spinal Flexion
b) Spinal Extension ✓
c) Lateral Flexion
d) Rotation
,11. Which bone is the primary site for sitting bone awareness, crucial for hamstring
engagement?
a) Femur
b) Ilium
c) Ischium ✓
d) Sacrum
12. What type of joint is the hip?
a) Hinge Joint
b) Ball-and-Socket Joint ✓
c) Pivot Joint
d) Gliding Joint
13. During inhalation in Pilates breathing, which muscles are primarily engaged?
a) Rectus Abdominis
b) Diaphragm and Intercostals ✓
c) Transverse Abdominis
d) Pelvic Floor Muscles
14. Exhalation during effort helps to engage which part of the powerhouse?
a) Glutes
b) Deep Abdominals and Pelvic Floor ✓
c) Quadriceps
d) Latissimus Dorsi
15. What is the anatomical term for the movement of the shoulder blade away from the
spine?
a) Retraction
b) Protraction ✓
c) Elevation
d) Depression
16. The "C-Curve" of the spine primarily involves which spinal movement?
a) Extension
b) Lateral Flexion
c) Flexion ✓
d) Rotation
17. Which muscle is a key stabilizer for the shoulder girdle during push-ups and planks?
a) Biceps Brachii
, b) Serratus Anterior ✓
c) Pectoralis Minor
d) Triceps Brachii
18. The action of pulling the navel towards the spine primarily engages which muscle?
a) Rectus Abdominis
b) External Obliques
c) Transverse Abdominis ✓
d) Erector Spinae
19. What is the primary function of the Gluteus Medius?
a) Hip Extension
b) Hip Abduction and Pelvic Stability ✓
c) Hip Adduction
d) Knee Flexion
20. Which spinal condition involves an excessive inward curve of the lower back?
a) Kyphosis
b) Scoliosis
c) Lordosis ✓
d) Flatback
21. What is the ideal head and neck alignment in most supine exercises?
a) Chin tucked, back of the neck long, as if holding a small apple ✓
b) Head tilted back to open the airway
c) Chin pressed firmly to the chest
d) Head turned to the side for relaxation
22. The "Box" of the body, used for alignment, is formed by which two points at the front and
two at the back?
a) Knees and Elbows
b) Ankles and Wrists
c) Shoulder joints and Hip joints (ASIS) ✓
d) Ribs and Knees
23. Which of the following is a function of the pelvic floor muscles?
a) Hip Flexion
b) Support for pelvic organs and core stabilization ✓
c) Spinal Rotation
d) Shoulder Girdle Depression
Exam Study Guide (2025–2026) Focus:
Anatomy for movement, equipment safety,
class sequencing, cueing strategies, and
exercise modifications.
Club Pilates Certified Pilates Instructor Exam: Study Guide (2025-2026)
Section 1: Anatomy for Movement (25 Questions)
1. What is the primary muscle targeted during the "Hundred" exercise?
a) Rectus Femoris
b) Transverse Abdominis ✓
c) Latissimus Dorsi
d) Gluteus Maximus
2. The "Powerhouse" in Pilates primarily refers to which group of muscles?
a) Shoulders and neck
b) Arms and legs
c) Abdominals, lower back, hips, and glutes ✓
d) Calves and ankles
3. Which of the following is an action of the Psoas Major muscle?
a) Spinal Extension
b) Hip Flexion ✓
c) Shoulder Depression
d) Ankle Dorsiflexion
4. During spinal articulation (like rolling like a ball), what is the ideal sequence for the
vertebrae to contact the mat?
a) All at once
b) Cervical, then Lumbar, then Thoracic
,c) Tailbone to the tips of the shoulder blades, one vertebra at a time ✓
d) Thoracic, then Lumbar, then Cervical
5. Scapular stabilization is crucial in Pilates. Which muscle is primarily responsible for scapular
retraction (drawing shoulders back)?
a) Pectoralis Major
b) Rhomboids ✓
c) Deltoids
d) Trapezius (Upper Fibers)
6. What is the term for maintaining a neutral spine?
a) Spinal Imprinting
b) Spinal Flexion
c) The Natural Curvature of the Spine ✓
d) Spinal Hyperextension
7. The action of "Pilates Stance" primarily engages which muscle group?
a) Quadriceps
b) Inner Thighs (Adductors) ✓
c) Hamstrings
d) Calves
8. Which of the following best describes "Rib Cage Placement" in Pilates?
a) Ribs flared open to maximize expansion
b) Ribs drawn down towards the hips to avoid flaring ✓
c) Ribs pressed firmly against the spine
d) Rib cage placement is not a focus
9. What movement occurs at the ankle during a pointed toe?
a) Dorsiflexion
b) Plantar Flexion ✓
c) Inversion
d) Eversion
10. The primary movement of the "Swan" exercise is?
a) Spinal Flexion
b) Spinal Extension ✓
c) Lateral Flexion
d) Rotation
,11. Which bone is the primary site for sitting bone awareness, crucial for hamstring
engagement?
a) Femur
b) Ilium
c) Ischium ✓
d) Sacrum
12. What type of joint is the hip?
a) Hinge Joint
b) Ball-and-Socket Joint ✓
c) Pivot Joint
d) Gliding Joint
13. During inhalation in Pilates breathing, which muscles are primarily engaged?
a) Rectus Abdominis
b) Diaphragm and Intercostals ✓
c) Transverse Abdominis
d) Pelvic Floor Muscles
14. Exhalation during effort helps to engage which part of the powerhouse?
a) Glutes
b) Deep Abdominals and Pelvic Floor ✓
c) Quadriceps
d) Latissimus Dorsi
15. What is the anatomical term for the movement of the shoulder blade away from the
spine?
a) Retraction
b) Protraction ✓
c) Elevation
d) Depression
16. The "C-Curve" of the spine primarily involves which spinal movement?
a) Extension
b) Lateral Flexion
c) Flexion ✓
d) Rotation
17. Which muscle is a key stabilizer for the shoulder girdle during push-ups and planks?
a) Biceps Brachii
, b) Serratus Anterior ✓
c) Pectoralis Minor
d) Triceps Brachii
18. The action of pulling the navel towards the spine primarily engages which muscle?
a) Rectus Abdominis
b) External Obliques
c) Transverse Abdominis ✓
d) Erector Spinae
19. What is the primary function of the Gluteus Medius?
a) Hip Extension
b) Hip Abduction and Pelvic Stability ✓
c) Hip Adduction
d) Knee Flexion
20. Which spinal condition involves an excessive inward curve of the lower back?
a) Kyphosis
b) Scoliosis
c) Lordosis ✓
d) Flatback
21. What is the ideal head and neck alignment in most supine exercises?
a) Chin tucked, back of the neck long, as if holding a small apple ✓
b) Head tilted back to open the airway
c) Chin pressed firmly to the chest
d) Head turned to the side for relaxation
22. The "Box" of the body, used for alignment, is formed by which two points at the front and
two at the back?
a) Knees and Elbows
b) Ankles and Wrists
c) Shoulder joints and Hip joints (ASIS) ✓
d) Ribs and Knees
23. Which of the following is a function of the pelvic floor muscles?
a) Hip Flexion
b) Support for pelvic organs and core stabilization ✓
c) Spinal Rotation
d) Shoulder Girdle Depression
