49 W. 27th St. Mezzanine B, New York City 212-904-1399

Pilates is more than abdominal workout.  It is about connection of the entire body.  When the lower and/or upper body works in harmony with your torso, you create better alignment, strength, balance of tone and mobility with your entire body.

Newcomers to Pilates sometimes get stuck on the idea that a hard muscle is a functional muscle.  A lot of people are hardening their muscles that is destroying correct movement of the body.

As you advance in your practice, Pilates repertory has more sequencing of movement and level changes.  This teaches you to have dynamic stabilization of your body.  What I have to stabilize changes as I move in Space.

We all have to start with basics.  Even I perform the below exercise as a warmup.  It helps me waken up my lower abdominals before I go to more advanced exercises.

Differentiation of thigh bone

Your goal is to maintain the hollow when you lift a leg up.  This is the underlying concept in all Pilates exercises.

BodyMind Fitness

UPPER:July 31- Aug 2: 
Revolution of Hand-Scapula & Shoulders

• Friday:     UPPER Overview and Anatomical Info: Rib cage, Shoulder Girdle and Arms
• Saturday:     Body fitness class and seminar Sat: Ribs, Forearms and Hands
• Sunday:     Scapula Revolution: Hand-scapula Relationship
• Monday:     Assessment, Feedback and more Applications including business and marketing

Each workshop weekend $450

Friday: 5:30-8:30 PM
Saturday & Sunday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Monday 9:30 AM-3:00 PM
To register

SHOULDER WORKSHOP: 
Scapular Revolution

with Lesley Powell
Time:  
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Sunday August 1 9:00 AM- 4 PM $200
PMA Approved

The arms connect to the torso through the shoulder girdle, shoulder blades, clavicles and humerus bones. Each bone moves in different degrees of rotation and timing. The timing and the control of these motions are essential to a healthy shoulder. This “scapular-humeral rhythm” is like a symphony—each bone is an instrument playing a different variation of a melody.
When the shoulder girdle moves correctly, great function is invited.  Each bone of the shoulder girdle; the clavicles, the scapulae and the humerus bone, have a unique rhythm of movement to facilitate the arm moving in space.
A great scapular-humeral rhythm will invite the correct phrasing of the arm and core muscles. When you get a client to better use her shoulder girdle, her arm strength, posture and connection to the core will improve. Learn how this rhythm works and how to help your clients improve theirs.

To register and more information

Many are pressing the shoulders down from the wrong place.  This is compressing the ribs and the spine down as well as locking the scapulae.  Sometimes teachers see the shoulders are up and try to solve shoulders pressing down.  The real source of the problem could be somewhere else.

This last weekend Lisa Love had this wonderful cue about the first rib.

Feel the first rib lift in the front and slide down in the back.

The placement of the ribs will influence the spine.  Here is a picture of the ribs being dropped because of the spine having scoliosis. How the ribs and spine can affect the placement of the shoulder girdle.  Slump and feel where the shoulder blade comes.  Pressing the shoulders down from the wrong place could make your posture worse.

Lift the first rib up and now slide the back of the rib down.  Feel how lifting the first rib changes the other ribs.  With the change of the ribs, observe how it changes your shoulder girdle.  Lift your arms up and feel the ease.

Go back to back version with the ribs compresses and lift the arms.  The arms lifting do not have the same ease.

My image is the first rib is a necklace, diamonds of course.  I want to place the necklace on a horizontal plane over my pelvic floor. Practice this image throughout your workout.  Especially in plank pose, see how you use your core and arms differently.

]]> http://movementsafootblog.com/2010/06/14/change-the-spine-change-the-shoulders/feed/ 0 Body thinker uprotation First rib down w. scoliosis First rib up with spine Diamond ribs. http://movementsafootblog.com/2010/06/06/wellness-is-more-than-the-burn-and-burning-calories/ http://movementsafootblog.com/2010/06/06/wellness-is-more-than-the-burn-and-burning-calories/#comments Sun, 06 Jun 2010 11:49:38 +0000 Body thinker http://movementsafootblog.com/?p=1556 Read more]]> Wellness is more than the burn and burning calories.

Our bodies should be like a Alexander Calder mobile.  As one body part moves, there is a response in the entire system.  Even lifting an arm, the rest of the body organizes to facilitate this simple movement.

When we have habitual poor habits of posture and/or repetitive stress from doing the same movement over and over again, the body disorganizes.  When one part of the body is not moving correctly, it affects the entire body.  Look at it like a car with misaligned wheels.   The tires out of line will put stress on the car parts from this imbalance.

This is what happens to the body.  If the upper body is slumped forward, there is a chain reaction to the rest of the body.  With the upper body in constant flexion, the back body is kicked out.  There will be compensations of the body to maintain erect.  A lot of my clients with this posture tighten their shoulders or backs to find erectness.

Keeping muscles well toned and aerobic conditioning is important.  Keeping our joints moving in healthy ranges is just as important.  I am not talking about stretching (this can help at times).  When one single joint (i.e. A bone in the foot, a vertebra of the spine, the femur in the hip socket) is locked, it will affect the entire body.

Walk with your body slumped.
How does this affect your legs?
Can you walk fast?
How is your hip extension and back extension because of this posture?

We need to educate ourselves to bring back in our lives movements that invites proper sequencing of our joints.  If a client who loves golfs and does not rotate well in their spine and legs, the movement will go into their backs in a unhealthy fashion.

There are simple movements that we can do in our daily life that will enhance our well being.  It could take a few minutes during each day to keep the joints moving well.  The time allotted depends on your variations of movements within your day.  If you sit at a computer all day,  I would recommend at least 5 minutes of every hour sitting.

Somatic practices like Hanna Somatics, Bartenieff Fundamentals, BodyMind Centering, Franklin Method and Feldenkrais are great examples of possible classes to bring back healthy movement to the body.  Pilates Teachers here is a great workshop to explore how to improve wellness in a Pilates Mat.

Stay tune next time for sneaky exercies for the offices.

Before the exercise we observed each other’s walking.  What was amazing…Targeting the exact physicality made such an incredible change.  One person whose walk and posture had an anterior tilted pelvis, made incredible changes in her walk.  Even though we did low repetitions, you could see her tone of her gluts change.  The first few times without the cueing,  she was compensating in other places to do prone leg lifts.

I felt absolutely amazing.  Grounded. My back felt great (I have SI dysfunction from dancing).

We are hoping to have Dianne Woodruff come back for more workshops.  Stay tune.

A former client was facing a 24-hour flight to  Australia  to get married only he was in so much back pain he could not stand, sit or lie down with any comfort. On the phone, I talked him through a movement sequence to target his specific problem. This took about 10 minutes. He made it to the plane and the church on time in no pain. The workshop, Sacroiliac Protocol, helps you understand this frequent low back complaint and solve it with the most useful approach I have ever used.  Dianne Woodruff

Dianne L. Woodruff, CMA, PhD, has been teaching for 35 years and has been in private practice for 20 working with people who have movement difficulties and unresolved myofascial pain. Her newest video, 3-D WORKOUT™, vol II, an integrated approach to fitness, was released in 2006. A Certified Movement Analyst with a doctorate in Somatic Education, she developed the anatomy curriculum for Stott Pilates in Toronto. She writes and lectures widely.www.body-in-motion.com.

Sacroiliac Treatment Protocol

With Dianne Woodruff
Date: Sunday 11 April 2010
Time: 9:30-12:30  $120

This workshop offers a step-by-step method of assessment and treatment for sacroiliac pain. It includes the anatomical framework and function, observation of whole-body and defined body parts in motion, various tests for sacroiliac dysfunction and methods for treating the problem. The workshop, aimed at “the dead seven inches” is an application of Bartenieff Fundamentals in a therapeutic framework. Open to personal trainers, pilates/yoga instructors and health practitioners.

Register before 4/4/10 and get a $20 discount on all workshops.

A 68 year-old client comments: “I didn’t think twice about taking off after that taxi after leaving my parcel, but I would never have been able to it without my 3-D Workout practice. What fun to realize I could do that!”  My workshop, An introduction to 3-D Workout™, will demonstrate to you how truly functional fitness can be, especially when inspired by the work of Laban and Bartenieff.

Dianne L. Woodruff, CMA, PhD, has been teaching for 35 years and has been in private practice for 20 working with people who have movement difficulties and unresolved myofascial pain. Her newest video, 3-D WORKOUT™, vol II, an integrated approach to fitness, was released in 2006. A Certified Movement Analyst with a doctorate in Somatic Education, she developed the anatomy curriculum for Stott Pilates in Toronto. She writes and lectures widely.www.body-in-motion.com.

Introduction to 3-D Workout
With Dianne Woodruff
Date: Sunday 11 April 2010
Time: 2-5 p.m. $120

3-D Workout is a low-impact, low-tech fitness program you can do anywhere. This workshop introduces you to the basics as shown on the DVD and then some. We use our bodies in three-dimensions at all times so your exercise should go beyond the conventional biceps curl and other single plane exercises. The 3-D Workout program, developed by Dianne Woodruff, CMA, PhD, is inspired by the Laban/Bartenieff framework. Available in classes and as instructor training, this workshop is open to all. DVDs will be available for sale at a discount.

To Register

Register before 4/4/4o and get $20 off any workshop w. Dianne.

Dianne L. Woodruff, CMA, PhD, has been teaching for 35 years and has been in private practice for 20 working with people who have movement difficulties and unresolved myofascial pain. Her newest video, 3-D WORKOUT™, vol II, an integrated approach to fitness, was released in 2006. A Certified Movement Analyst with a doctorate in Somatic Education, she developed the anatomy curriculum for Stott Pilates in Toronto. She writes and lectures widely.www.body-in-motion.com.

Early Bird Discount for Workshops

with Dianne L. Woodruff, CMA, PhD
$20 off each workshop if registered by 4/4/2010

Introduction to 3-D Workout

With Dianne Woodruff
Date: Sunday 11 April 2010
Time: 2-5 p.m. $120

3-D Workout is a low-impact, low-tech fitness program you can do anywhere. This workshop introduces you to the basics as shown on the DVD and then some. We use our bodies in three-dimensions at all times so your exercise should go beyond the conventional biceps curl and other single plane exercises. The 3-D Workout program, developed by Dianne Woodruff, CMA, PhD, is inspired by the Laban/Bartenieff framework. Available in classes and as instructor training, this workshop is open to all. DVDs will be available for sale at a discount.

Sacroiliac treatment protocol

With Dianne Woodruff
Date: Sunday 11 April 2010
Time: 9:30-12:30  $120

This workshop offers a step-by-step method of assessment and treatment for sacroiliac pain. It includes the anatomical framework and function, observation of whole-body and defined body parts in motion, various tests for sacroiliac dysfunction and methods for treating the problem. The workshop, aimed at “the dead seven inches” is an application of Bartenieff Fundamentals in a therapeutic framework. Open to personal trainers, pilates/yoga instructors and health practitioners. Taught by Dianne Woodruff.

Glute strength for true balance

With Dianne Woodruff
Date: Saturday 10 April 2010
Time: 1-4 p.m. $120

We have only two legs and must stand on one of them to take a step. No one would argue the importance of good balance and prevention of falls. Balance boards and other devices are fine but the anatomical and functional issues behind bipedal stability deserve more attention. This seminar for pilates instructors, personal trainers and health-care practitioners addresses essential movement patterns for bipedal stability and a healthy back in a pedestrian culture. Such patterns were identified and researched by Dr. Vladimir Janda as early as 1964. Over the last 20 years Dr. Woodruff has developed an approach to assessment, correction and preventive exercise that you will learn in this seminar.

To register

Dianne Woodruff

Dianne Woodruff will take your teaching and your body to a new fitness level this April.  Whether you are a Pilates teacher, fitness trainer or just a client, experience unique workshops to fine tune your body’s and your client’s connection to wellness and fitness.  Lesley Powell

Dianne L. Woodruff, CMA, PhD, has been teaching for 35 years and has been in private practice for 20 working with people who have movement difficulties and unresolved myofascial pain. Her newest video, 3-D WORKOUT™, vol II, an integrated approach to fitness, was released in 2006. A Certified Movement Analyst with a doctorate in Somatic Education, she developed the anatomy curriculum for Stott Pilates in Toronto. She writes and lectures widely.www.body-in-motion.com.

Introduction to 3-D Workout

With Dianne Woodruff
Date: Sunday 11 April 2010
Time: 2-5 p.m. $120

3-D Workout is a low-impact, low-tech fitness program you can do anywhere. This workshop introduces you to the basics as shown on the DVD and then some. We use our bodies in three-dimensions at all times so your exercise should go beyond the conventional biceps curl and other single plane exercises. The 3-D Workout program, developed by Dianne Woodruff, CMA, PhD, is inspired by the Laban/Bartenieff framework. Available in classes and as instructor training, this workshop is open to all. DVDs will be available for sale at a discount.

Sacroiliac treatment protocol

With Dianne Woodruff
Date: Sunday 11 April 2010
Time: 9:30-12:30  $120

This workshop offers a step-by-step method of assessment and treatment for sacroiliac pain. It includes the anatomical framework and function, observation of whole-body and defined body parts in motion, various tests for sacroiliac dysfunction and methods for treating the problem. The workshop, aimed at “the dead seven inches” is an application of Bartenieff Fundamentals in a therapeutic framework. Open to personal trainers, pilates/yoga instructors and health practitioners. Taught by Dianne Woodruff.

Glute strength for true balance

With Dianne Woodruff
Date: Saturday 10 April 2010
Time: 1-4 p.m. $120

We have only two legs and must stand on one of them to take a step. No one would argue the importance of good balance and prevention of falls. Balance boards and other devices are fine but the anatomical and functional issues behind bipedal stability deserve more attention. This seminar for pilates instructors, personal trainers and health-care practitioners addresses essential movement patterns for bipedal stability and a healthy back in a pedestrian culture. Such patterns were identified and researched by Dr. Vladimir Janda as early as 1964. Over the last 20 years Dr. Woodruff has developed an approach to assessment, correction and preventive exercise that you will learn in this seminar.

To register