PEAK PILATES STUDY GUIDE EXAM
2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
100% PASS
What is Pilates exercise? - ANS teaches balance and control of the body; stretches,
strengthens, and balances the body; "contrology"
Joseph Pilates based Pilates exercise on what other forms of movement? - ANS yoga, Zen,
and ancient Greek and Roman physical regimens and self-study
Joseph Pilates called his system of exercise -. - ANS contrology
The first piece of equipment Joe created was the -; however, the first exercises he created were
the - exercises. - ANS reformer, mat work
Peak Pilates teaches Pilates with a - approach. - ANS classical
List 3 Peak Pilates "differences": -, -, and -. - ANS fitness-based, systematic, integrated
Who are the 'Elders'? - ANS those who learned directly under Joseph Pilates
pg. 1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,List 8 benefits of regular Pilates exercise: - ANS 1. Whole Body Health 2. Whole Body
Commitment and Breath 3. Concentration 4. Centering 5. Control 6. Breathing 7. Precision 8.
Flowing Movement
Two parts of the Peak Pilates Principles - ANS Pilates Principles + 5 Parts of the Mind
Pilates Principles: - ANS Concentration, Centering, Control, Breathing, Precision, Flowing
Movement
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. Ending (5 minutes)
Parts - and - of the Session Format are interchangeable. - ANS A, B
PPC1 Teaching Methodology: - ANS Setup, Execution, Flow, Cueing, Rhythm, Voice, Breath
Dynamics
Presentation Skills: - ANS Safety, Exercise Delivery, Teacher's Posture, Touch Techniques,
Professionalism, Teacher Mindfulness
Guidelines for Progression: - ANS Adhere to session format, Introduce no more than one
variation or apparatus, Teach to the student's ideal, Build strength and stamina through steps,
Teach transitions as part of an exercise, Challenge the ideal with props, variations, rhythms,
flow, and breath- not with more reps
Pilates believed in beginning the lesson lying down because ---------. - ANS gravity assists in
the elongation and spinal placement
Focus on thoroughly teaching the - exercises before moving a student on to more advanced
exercises. - ANS basic
pg. 2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,List 4 indicators of progressing a student too quickly: - ANS loss of concentration, loss of
coordination, poor technique, pain following the session
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 vertebra 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 assumed during many Pilates exercises. Created by deep pull of the
transverse abdominis 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
The action of elongating and creating space between the vertebrae - ANS Decompression
pg. 3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, A way to approach and cue rolling the spine segments: tailbone to top off 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.
Segments:
Lowest- Pubic Bone
Second- Sacral Level
Third- Navel
Fourth- Xiphoid Process
Fifth- Breastbone - ANS Five Buttons
A reference point that describes the limit of healthy movement in Pilates. Outline of the body
or apparatus. Body frames movement. Apparatus frames body. - ANS Frame
An image that invokes the feeling of power, strength, and stability created by the Pilates stance.
- ANS The Greek Column
A term used to distinguish movements starting from the Powerhouse and center and flowing
outward. - ANS Initiate
A movement quality of reaching an extremity without tensing it. Deepens work in powerhouse.
- ANS Length
Adaptations to an exercise that are used for special cases. Accessible for health concerns. -
ANS Modifications
Concept that every exercise has an anchor and a force reaching away from the anchor. -
ANS Opposition
Active engagement of the buttocks muscles "pinch, lift, and grow tall as you sit" - ANS Perch
pg. 4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
100% PASS
What is Pilates exercise? - ANS teaches balance and control of the body; stretches,
strengthens, and balances the body; "contrology"
Joseph Pilates based Pilates exercise on what other forms of movement? - ANS yoga, Zen,
and ancient Greek and Roman physical regimens and self-study
Joseph Pilates called his system of exercise -. - ANS contrology
The first piece of equipment Joe created was the -; however, the first exercises he created were
the - exercises. - ANS reformer, mat work
Peak Pilates teaches Pilates with a - approach. - ANS classical
List 3 Peak Pilates "differences": -, -, and -. - ANS fitness-based, systematic, integrated
Who are the 'Elders'? - ANS those who learned directly under Joseph Pilates
pg. 1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,List 8 benefits of regular Pilates exercise: - ANS 1. Whole Body Health 2. Whole Body
Commitment and Breath 3. Concentration 4. Centering 5. Control 6. Breathing 7. Precision 8.
Flowing Movement
Two parts of the Peak Pilates Principles - ANS Pilates Principles + 5 Parts of the Mind
Pilates Principles: - ANS Concentration, Centering, Control, Breathing, Precision, Flowing
Movement
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. Ending (5 minutes)
Parts - and - of the Session Format are interchangeable. - ANS A, B
PPC1 Teaching Methodology: - ANS Setup, Execution, Flow, Cueing, Rhythm, Voice, Breath
Dynamics
Presentation Skills: - ANS Safety, Exercise Delivery, Teacher's Posture, Touch Techniques,
Professionalism, Teacher Mindfulness
Guidelines for Progression: - ANS Adhere to session format, Introduce no more than one
variation or apparatus, Teach to the student's ideal, Build strength and stamina through steps,
Teach transitions as part of an exercise, Challenge the ideal with props, variations, rhythms,
flow, and breath- not with more reps
Pilates believed in beginning the lesson lying down because ---------. - ANS gravity assists in
the elongation and spinal placement
Focus on thoroughly teaching the - exercises before moving a student on to more advanced
exercises. - ANS basic
pg. 2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,List 4 indicators of progressing a student too quickly: - ANS loss of concentration, loss of
coordination, poor technique, pain following the session
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 vertebra 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 assumed during many Pilates exercises. Created by deep pull of the
transverse abdominis 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
The action of elongating and creating space between the vertebrae - ANS Decompression
pg. 3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, A way to approach and cue rolling the spine segments: tailbone to top off 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.
Segments:
Lowest- Pubic Bone
Second- Sacral Level
Third- Navel
Fourth- Xiphoid Process
Fifth- Breastbone - ANS Five Buttons
A reference point that describes the limit of healthy movement in Pilates. Outline of the body
or apparatus. Body frames movement. Apparatus frames body. - ANS Frame
An image that invokes the feeling of power, strength, and stability created by the Pilates stance.
- ANS The Greek Column
A term used to distinguish movements starting from the Powerhouse and center and flowing
outward. - ANS Initiate
A movement quality of reaching an extremity without tensing it. Deepens work in powerhouse.
- ANS Length
Adaptations to an exercise that are used for special cases. Accessible for health concerns. -
ANS Modifications
Concept that every exercise has an anchor and a force reaching away from the anchor. -
ANS Opposition
Active engagement of the buttocks muscles "pinch, lift, and grow tall as you sit" - ANS Perch
pg. 4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
