Requirements or Pre-Requisites for Polestar Courses

Requirements or Pre-Requisites for Polestar Courses

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  1. There are no prerequisites for the Gateway courses other than you are in good health to be able to take the course. We recommend taking some Pilates classes in order to prepare yourself, but the Gateway Course allows you to ease into the work. 

  2. The courses are designed in such a way so that somebody with little Pilates experience will be able to take them. How a course starts depends on which structure it follows. On the 2027 curriculum it starts with a taught, in-person Principles of Movement day; on the 2026 structure it starts with an introductory Gateway course. Either way the course builds gradually from that first module, and the prerequisites below are the same for both. We have established the following prerequisites for our Pilates Teacher Training qualification courses to ensure that our students have a strong foundation for success in their journey to become skilled and effective Pilates instructors. Although the may vary slightly from location to location, these pre-reqs are consistent around the Asia (and the world) for Polestar courses:


The only pre-reqs that are required are :

  1. That you take at least 15 (ideally 25 hours) Pilates classes before the start of your course (Ideally with a Polestar teacher, but this is not required). The classes you attend should be related to the course you are taking. I.e. If you are registering for a Mat course, you should attend 15 x mat classes. 
  2. That you have a basic knowledge of anatomy.
  3. That you have a reasonable standard of physical health that enables execution of the exercises in the course.
  4. That you have availability of time and resources sufficient to master the course material.



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These prerequisites are essential for several important reasons:
  1. Basic Knowledge of Anatomy:
    1. One of the pre-requisites for a Polestar course is a Basic Knowledge of Anatomy. In the US, they are requiring that students take the Polestar Anatomy course, or an equivalent in order to fulfill the pre-requisite requirements for the Polestar course. In Asia, we are not requiring that you take the course. However, it is still a pre-requisite that a student should have a basic knowledge of Anatomy in order to take a Polestar course. 
    2. Please note that anatomy training is not included in the course fee. It is obtained separately, before your course begins — either through prior study or by taking an anatomy course. 
    3. A thorough understanding of human anatomy is fundamental in Pilates instruction. It provides the necessary background to comprehend the biomechanics of the body and how various exercises impact different muscles and joints. With this knowledge, our students can make informed choices about exercise selection, modifications, and progressions to cater to individual needs and address potential contraindications or injuries. This understanding ultimately ensures that they can provide safe and effective instruction to their future clients. The level Polestar requires for course entry would be Basic to Intermediate.
    4. This can be achieved by:
      1. Taking the Polestar anatomy course online (or an equivalent course) .
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        Current Polestar students (defined as students you are currently enrolled in a qualification course)  are entitled to a 50% discount. If you are interested and once you are enrolled in a Polestar course, we (or your host) will provide you with the discount code. Please note that currently this course is only available in English. You can find out more about the course here - https://www.polestarpilatesasia.com/en/courses/polestar-anatomy-online-course/
      2. Confirming (on an honour system) that their standard of Anatomy knowledge is suitable for the course. This can be done via their own reading/research - there are many videos and books on the subject available. Recommendations include but are not limited to:
        1. “Trail Guide to the Body: How to Locate Muscles, Bones and More” . This has been translated into many languages, and is also the book that the Polestar anatomy course is based on. You can also use the provided pre-course material via the dropbox links in the welcome email.
        2. Anatomy of Movement’ (Blandine Calais Germain – author)
        3. See also  Muscle & Bone Anatomy 3D By Real Bodywork 
      3. In Hong Kong, we will also provide students with basic anatomy documents (Core training manual and Pre-course Preparation). If they become familiar with these documents, it will be enough to fulfil the pre-req and to continue on the course. 
    5. How is this verified? Either via qualification proof or by honor system. 
    6. The main thing to note is that the Polestar Educator will spend little time (if any) in the course explaining anatomical terms - it is the responsibility of the student to ensure they have the required knowledge, which is the reason for the pre-req.
  1. 25 Hours of Pilates Class Experience, preferably with a Polestar Teacher:
    1. Pilates is a highly nuanced and precise discipline that requires firsthand experience to truly grasp its principles and nuances. By having at least 25 hours of Pilates class experience, our students will have had the opportunity to explore a variety of exercises, apparatus, and teaching styles. This practical exposure not only builds a strong personal practice but also imparts insights into the teaching methods they will be learning in our program. These hours can be done anywhere with any teacher, although it is highly recommended that you take as many hours as possible with a Polestar Teacher to encourage seamless start to the course.  Furthermore, experiencing classes with a Polestar teacher is ideal as it aligns students with the specific principles and pedagogy they will encounter in our training, enhancing their readiness to engage with the curriculum.
    2. This type of pre-req is quite common in Pilates training courses around the world. 
    3. If the candidate has movement experience in other disciplines, then this can be relaxed (but at least 15 hours is always required). This will be dealt with on a case by case basis. 
    4. How is this verified? Honour system. 
  2. Note:
    1. Our Educators must be able to assume a certain degree of experience and knowledge among our students in order to effectively teach the course to the standard that is required. This enables us to maintain the integrity and quality of our program, ensuring that all students receive comprehensive and in-depth instruction.
    2. While Polestar offers both an Anatomy course and access to Pilates classes taught by Polestar teachers, we recognize the importance of flexibility. We allow students to fulfil these prerequisites on an honour system, giving them the freedom to choose alternative options, such as taking an Anatomy course from another provider.
    3. It's important to note that the host site you are registering with may have specific requirements as well. They may, for instance, request that you take at least some classes with one of their teachers. This additional step provides a level of security for both the host site and the students, ensuring that participants are indeed at the required level to join the course. These specific requirements may vary from host to host and are in place to further support the success of our students in their training journey.


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What to we mean by Honour system?

  1. We trust the student to do what is necessary in order to be ready for the course. Polestar Pilates Asia will not police or officially verify claims made by students. 
  2. An honor system is a trust-based approach where individuals are expected to adhere to certain rules or requirements without enforcement or verification, relying instead on their personal integrity and honesty to comply.

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Why do we have pre-reqs?

  1. Prerequisites are in place to ensure that our students are well-prepared for the depth and rigor of our Pilates Teacher Training program. By entering the course with a solid understanding of anatomy and a substantial amount of hands-on experience, our students will be better equipped to absorb and apply the teaching techniques and principles taught in the training, ultimately enabling them to excel as confident, knowledgeable, and effective Pilates instructors. 
  2. Additionally, these prerequisites help us maintain a consistent level of competence and experience among all students in the course, fostering a more cohesive and collaborative learning environment where everyone can progress together and engage with the material effectively.

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Is there a specific order I need to take the course? 

No, all courses (Mat, Reformer, Comprehensive) are standalone - there is no order in which you need to complete them. For example, you do not need to complete the Reformer course before enrolling in Comprehensive. The Comprehensive course is designed as a complete, standalone qualification that covers all apparatus (Mat, Reformer, and Studio equipment) from the beginning. You can start your Polestar journey directly with Comprehensive without taking any other courses first, as long as you meet the prerequisites stated in this article. Which course or order you choose entirely depends on your goals and circumstances. See here for more information about how to choose your course. 


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I have a degree in Physical Education, Physiotherapy, Medicine, Nursing, or another health or movement science field. Am I exempt from the anatomy prerequisite?

Yes — if your degree or professional qualification includes a meaningful anatomy component, you are considered to have met the anatomy prerequisite for Polestar courses. You do not need to take the Polestar Anatomy course or any additional anatomy study.

Qualifications that would typically satisfy this requirement include (but are not limited to):

  • Physical Education (PE) or Sports Science degrees
  • Physiotherapy / Physical Therapy
  • Medicine (MD, MBBS, or equivalent)
  • Nursing or Allied Health degrees
  • Kinesiology or Exercise Physiology
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Chiropractic or Osteopathy
  • Dance, Sport, or Movement Science degrees with a human biology or anatomy component

The key consideration is whether anatomy — particularly musculoskeletal anatomy — formed a substantive part of your studies. If it did, you are exempt. This is assessed on an honour system: we trust you to make an honest assessment of your own knowledge. You are not required to submit transcripts or qualification documents, though you are welcome to if you would like confirmation.

If you are unsure whether your background qualifies, please contact us.