The medical model has been to look at the pathology of specific static structures through special tests (X-Ray, MRI, CT Scan, etc).  Many medical practitioners do not know how to look at the organization of a moving body to understand poor function. This model can be good when there is acute injury or exacerbation like a car accident.

On the other hand, many injuries are the causes of poor function, muscular imbalances and overuse injuries.  A functional approach looks at the body; its processes and systems within the body.  Pain at a specific place is not always the originator.  Janda looked at how the neurological and muscular system can be reflected at different parts.

Join us this January with Dianne Woodruff teaching about Janda’s work.  I am so excited to have Dianne return back to Movements Afoot.  Her workshops last spring were amazing.

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

Lower-Crossed Syndrome

With Dianne Woodruff Date: Saturday January 15.2011 Time: 9- 5 PM  $200
Lower-Crossed Syndrome is a faulty postural pattern that starts from the feet and knees and shows up as an excessive lumbar lordosis and weak abdominal wall. The problem cascades into the upper body so that our dynamically self-regulating posture is compromised. Dr. Janda identified this problem as a series of dysfunctional muscular relationships which, when understood, can be changed and maintained. You will need a working knowledge of human anatomy.

Upper-Crossed Syndrome

With Dianne Woodruff Date: Sunday January 16.2011 Time: 9- 5 PM  $200
Upper-Crossed Syndrome is that slumped posture of the back/shoulders along with a forward neck and head. Learn how to recognize, assess and treat this wide-spread postural problem identified by the late Dr. Vladimir Janda. An understanding of this syndrome and how to work with it are excellent tools for solving postural issues in yourself or in your clients. Participants must have a working knowledge of human anatomy.

To register click here.

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.

by Lesley Powell

I have had the great fortune to start my Pilates career in a physical therapy practice.  We had clients with Repetitive Stress Injuries (reporters injured from the work on  the computer), back, knee and shoulder injuries.  Pilates works on the entire body, not just the injured place on the body.

As with the journalists, Pilates worked on improving their posture and the foundations of support.  When you have poor posture, it changes how you use your shoulders and arms.  Try it. Slump and lift your arms up.  Stand tall and feel how different your arms feel.

Dianne Woodruff

Just out in JBMT (Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies), is an arresting article on the assumptions about core stability, “The Myth of Core Stability” by British osteopathic physician, Eyal Lederman.

You can download this article at no charge from this link  http://www.cpdo.net/shop/bs1.html

Dianne L. Woodruff, CMA, PhD

When a person comes in with back issues, I always observe how they use their legs.  I find many are very weak in leg strength and how it relates to posture, walking and everyday movements.  Irmgard Bartenieff explained it beautifully with with her Bartenieff Fundamental: pelvic shift forward and Lateral.  I introduce these concepts to my clients.   Pelvic shift forward is a bridge that requires you to use your legs.  When you see someone weak in the legs, the client will compensate with their backs.  With this weakness, you see the back higher than the legs.

Then the next step is bringing this to standing.  This Spring Dianne joins up in April and Dr. Martha Eddy and I teach BodyMind Fitness: UNDERSTANDING May 21-24.

More information about Dianne Workshops this April

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 for Dianne’s workshops at Movements Afoot

More info about BodyMind Fitness

Cutting edge for Movement professionals Bridging the mind and body
through fitness.

BodyMind Faculty: Dr. Martha Eddy,
Doris Pasteleur Hall and Lesley Powell

Dr. Martha Eddy, alias Dr. Move says:

“As a BodyMind Fitness© specialist, you become an intelligent detective of bodily challenges. These skills help you and your clients to reach their highest potential. You are welcomed through the gates of wellness, and wellness coaching. Somatic education is a growing field of research and therapies regarding human awareness. Bodymind fitness Certification offers the next level of education for health and fitness professionals. It uses somatic movement education to expand your skills in the rich arena of neuro-muscular retraining and its relationship to human behavior”

Lesley Powell & Dr. Martha Eddy

Dr. Martha Eddy with Lesley Powell at Movements Afoot NYC have created BodyMind Fitness Certificate,  the next level in fitness training starting this spring 2010.  Be on the top of your game by bridging the body and mind through fitness.  Learn these cutting edge somatic techniques for the body and mind.

For more information

Early Bird Discount: Deadline 3/1 $1620 (total value $1800)

This pays for 4 weekends of BodyMind Fitness Workshops: Core, Lower Body, Upper Body and Integration.  Must call for this Deal: Full BodyMind Fitness Certification $1620
(212)904-1399 or email at movementsafoot@mac.com

Certification also requires 40 hours of group classes
and 4 privatesat an additional costs.

Learn to apply principles of BodyMind Fitness (c) to your fitness training; Pilates,yoga, dance, wellness, kickboxing, personal training, practice and coaching. Each workshop weekend costs $450.00

March 12 – 15 Core of Anatomy; Core
May 21 – 24 Understanding; Lower Body
July 31 – Aug 2 Revolution of Hand-scapula & Shoulders:Upper Body
October 1 – 4 Whole Integrated Body; Whole Body

Friday: 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Saturday & Sunday 9:00am – 4:00pm
Monday 9:30am – 3:00pm

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

BodyMind Fitness-Cutting edge for Movement professionals

Bridging the mind and body through fitness

Dr. Martha Eddy with Lesley Powell at Movements Afoot NYC have created BodyMind Fitness Certificate, the next level in fitness training starting this spring 2010.  Be on the top of your game by bridging the body and mind through fitness.  Learn these cutting edge somatic techniquesfor the body and mind. For more information, contact (212)904-1399 or email at movementsafoot@mac.com

BodyMind Fitness Certificate Program

Somatic education is a growing field of research and therapies regarding human awareness.  Bodymind fitness Certification offers the next level of education for health and fitness professionals.  It uses somatic movement education to expand your skills in the rich arena of neuro-muscular retraining and its relationship to human behavior.

Specializing in Somatic Movement educates the health and fitness professional to motivate and move your client into better health.  By integrating:

• Breath
• biomechanically correct movement
• sensory-motor connections
• the relationship between the brain, physiology and the psyche

Kick out winter and spring into action with Level I.

Learn to apply principles of BodyMind Fitness (c) to your fitness training; Pilates,yoga, dance, wellness, kickboxing, personal training, practice and coaching.

• March 12 -15          Core of Anatomy; Core
• May     21 -24         Understanding; Lower Body
• July     31 – Aug 2   Revolution of Hand-scapula & Shoulders:Upper Body
• October 1 -4           Whole Integrated Body

Friday:                       5:30pm -8:30pm
Saturday & Sunday   9:00am -4:00pm
Monday                     9:30am -3:00pm

Each workshop weekend costs $450.00
For more information please contact us at:

Email us at: movementsafoot@mac.com or call us at 212-904-1399

New Balanced Body Mat  & Toys
and PMA Approved Workshops

are happening this year.  Inspire your Pilates practice with new ideas and connections.

BBU PILATES ARC ON THE ROAD – April 23, 2010 2-8 PM

$299 (education and equipment purchase) Workshop includes 6 hour workshop, DVD workout, instructor manual and a Pilates Arc.
To register: 877-PILATES (745-2837).

Create exciting new Pilates workouts with the Pilates Arc. It’s a lightweight Pilates Step Barrel and a whole lot more!

Balanced Body’s Mat & Toys in May

Dates: Sun   5/2/2010
Time:  9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Balanced Body’s Pilates Mat & Toys with Lesley Powell $249 per day (6 hours of training).
Workshops include props and manuals.
Please join us for our third ‘On the Road’ program

To register: 877-PILATES (745-2837).
Learn how to use a variety of small props in your Pilates Mat classes with this two part workshop including the resistance bands, and small balls. New moves, new choreography and a lot of fun will be had as you learn how to play with your new toys! Choreography, prop safety and creativity will be covered.

BBU – Resist and Reform with Elastic Bands This workshop includes a heavy and extra heavy Thera-bands and a set of Thera-Band Exercise handles ($22 value) and a BBU Mat & Tubes Manual ($25 value) mat

BBU – Small Ball Magic
Make boredom disappear and health and vitality return using 2″, 5″ and 13″ balls for classes that stimulate, educate, strengthen and release. Whether you want to loosen a tight spot, strengthen a weak one or add energy to the whole body, small balls can speed you on your way.  This workshop includes a Togu ball, “Pinky” ball and a Red Playground ball, 5″ ($35 value) and a BBU Mat & Small Balls Manual ($25 value)

PMA Accredited Workshops

PILATES UPRIGHT

with Lesley Powell
Dates: Sun   5/23/2010 Time:  9:00 AM – 4:00 PM $200
PMA Accredited

Pilates Upright is a dynamic workout that incorporates the training of Pilates mat with weight bearing exercises in standing. Pilates Upright gives you a new underSTANDing of the coordination of your muscles & bones in standing, which is very different from exercising on the floor

Functional fitness

• Organization/coordination of bones and muscles different in weight bearing. This is closed chain.
• Challenging balance
• Challenging Pilates concepts to Standing
• Dynamic stabilization changing levels, i.e. Supine to sidelying
• New stabilization principles
• “Embodied anatomy improves function” Eric Franklin

For more indepth study see our BodyMind Fitness Schedule.  Experience all the lower connections to enhance your teaching.

SHOULDER WORKSHOP: 
Scapular Revolution with Lesley Powell

Time:  9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Sunday August 1 9:00 AM- 4 PM $200

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.

For more indepth study see our BodyMind Fitness Schedule.  Experience all the upper connections to enhance your teaching.

To Register

Meet NYC’s finest BodyMind Fitness leaders

September 25 10-5 PM
Sign up online with Movements Afoot and it is free all day!
If you sign-up at the door by 9:30 am its $25.
If they come later to sign-up at the door they need to pay $10 per workshop.

Join us for a free event, FITNESS Forward: New BodyMind Trends with internationally acclaimed teachers, Friday, September 25, 2009 10-5:15 PMat 320 Studios, 320West 37th St, 14th Floor. To register online at Movementsafoot.com

Registration: 9:30, Workshops: 10-5pm

Fitness Forward: New BodyMind Trends brings together international leaders of the bodymind and fitness field.

Fitness Forward, featuring four pioneers in BodyMind Fitness, will introduce integrated yet unique approaches to this increasingly popular and exciting field.  Each of our dynamic presentations is designed to inspire participants towards a new vision for health and fitness.

Join for free classes to get a taste of the unique trends upcoming about the body and its function. Internationally acclaimed leaders of fitness and bodymind therapies will be Tom Myers, author of Anatomy Trains, Dr. Martha Eddy, CMA, exercise physiologist and director of The Center for Kinesthetic Education, Lesley Powell, CMA Directors of BodyMind Fitness Certification and Movements Afoot, Doris Pasteleur Hall- renowned Pilates teacher and BMF faculty and Colleen Wahl, CLMA and director of Move into Greatness.

Entire free day of classes.*

• 10-11:30am Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridian System with Tom Myers
• 11:45-1:00pm Dynamic Gait Analysis: A 3-D approach to walking with Dr. Martha Eddy, Lesley Powell, Doris Pasteleur  Hall
• 2-3:15pm  Inspiring Fitness: Learning techniques to enhance your physical progress with BMF faculty and Colleen Wahl, CLMA and director of Move into Greatness.

• 3:30-4:30pm Moving On Aerobics: Unique Aerobics class that not only changes your heart rate but improves your lymph health, flexiblity and feels absolutely great on your body; heart & soul.
• 4:30-5 BodyMind Fitness Q and A

To register, visit MovementsAfoot sign up through their website.

Teacher Biographies:

Tom Myers
Thomas Myers trained directly with Drs. Ida Rolf, Moshe Feldenkrais, and Buckminster Fuller and has practiced integrative bodywork for over 30 years.  Tom directs Kinesis, Inc., which offers professional seminars worldwide. Tom is the author of Anatomy Trains (Elsevier 2001) and numerous articles for trade magazines and journals.

Dr Martha Eddy
Martha, an internationally reknowned educator is co-director of BodyMind Fitness, within her Dynamic Embodiment Therapist Training Certification.  As founder of Center for Kinesthetic Education she brings somatic principles to an array of disciplines.  She received her doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University in movement science and education in 1998, and has a Masters of Arts in Applied Physiology.

Lesley Powell
Lesley has been a leader in movement education for over 20 years.  She is the founder and director of Movements Afoot, a Pilates Wellness Studio and co-directs BodyMind Fitness.  Other teaching credits include faculty at Drew University, international lecturer and Faculty of  BalancedBody University. As a regular contributor her words have been featured in numerous magazines including Oprah, Shape and Elle.

Doris Pasteleur Hall
Doris has been in the Pilates world since 1970.  This internationally known as a Pilates’ teacher has studied with pioneers in both fitness and somatics and rigorouslycombines the two practices. Her teaching experience includes the Joffrey Ballet and Alvin Ailey dance companies.  She is about to become a CMA.

Colleen Wahl
Colleen is fitness’s rising star. This powerhouse is owner and founder of Move Into Greatness where she combines fitness and somatics to empower self-awareness and personal transformation through mindful exercise.  Her ideas have been featured in publications including Fitness magazine. As a PhD candidate in Somatic Psychology she is developing her model for body-based creativity.

See the body and fitness in a whole way!

“I have a training question for you. I have a client that has come to me with SI Joint problem. She is seeing a doctor who wants her to get an injection to diagnose it and at this point doesn’t know of any underlying cause for it.

I want to know what movements and exercises will be best for her. Should I work to strengthen the muscles around the SI joint? Also she is a fitness instructor who is pretty flexible & mobile in her joints. Is there anything I can do to bring some sort of stability to her ligaments/joints etc?” BBU Student

I have SI Dysfunction. I primarily got it from my dancing. Especially dancers and gymnasts are prone to this because of movements of extreme range such as splits, arabesques and attitudes can stretch the ligaments of the sacrum.

Lumbopelvic stability is essential and relieving for this condition. I have to work on this all the time. Pre-Pilates, BBU movement principles and/or Bartenieff Fundamentals(tm) are great to address this.

1. Pelvic clock. Observe in 6-12 how both sides of the pelvis/sacrum is sequencing evenly on the floor. Sometimes the pelvis is rotated. The pelvic clock can educate your preferences of movement of the pelvis. Put attention to the sides not grounding as well.
2. Pelvic floor, transverse abdominal & multifidus training
   Thigh lift/toe taps/marching Look how they lift their legs. Many people are not gliding the thigh bone in the hip socket well. This will give the appearance of hip hiking or tightening around the femoral fold.
3. Foam roll training is great for this.
   It also addresses the stability of the legs.  Other ideas on foam rolls
4. Bridging- getting the legs to do the work. Observe if the hips rise at the same time.
   neutral bridging-pelvic shift forward
   pelvic shift lateral-typewriter, figure 8′s, bridging with thigh lift
5. Sometimes mobility exercises such as full short spine are not great for my sacrum.
6. Observe how they do foot work and standing. Is their weight on the outside of the foot. Training of the medial lines of the legs are also helpful.

“Abdominals come in many Flavors” Doris Pasteleur Hall

“I do have a question – on the KNEE STRETCH & KNEELING ABDOMINAL SERIES – why would you choose the rounded back vs the flat back — would it be for body type, body issues, difficult/easier, different focus? Could you explain.” Kris

For a healthy body, training the abdominals with the spine in many positions of neutral, flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation is very important. The core muscles coordinate differently for each position. Training core muscles for dynamic movement is essential. This kind of training supports the physicality for good posture and necessary for our movement loves. This will also teach clients how to use their spines without unhealthy compression. A healthy spine should be able to move through all planes: flexion-extension, lateral flexion and rotation.

Knee stretch is the preparation for Advanced Knee Stretch, plank pose, downward dog, Long stretch and Up stretch. It teaches the client the coordination of the all the limbs with the core.

Advanced Knee Stretch

Certain health conditions require modifications. With osteoporosis of the spine and disk problems, knee stretch in flexion is contraindicated. With Stenosis and spondylolisthesis (go to BBU’s Movement principles – info about neutral spine), knee stretch in flexion is a great exercise. As with Stenosis and spondylolisthesis, you might have the client perform a neutral spine with a imprinted spine or supported neutral.

Traditionally in fitness “core” use to refer just to the abdominals. When someone has back problems, the traditional approach has been to train the “abs” and then the back separately. In our BodyMind Fitness training, one has to train the spine 3 dimensionally for posture and daily movements. First a person has to get in touch with how the spine moves in different directions – moving front-back, sideways and rotating.

3-D Spine with Dr. Martha Eddy & Lesley Powell at Movements Afoot
Dates: Sat   4/12/2008
Time:  4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Somatic Saturday with Dr. Martha Eddy & Lesley Powell
April 12 4-6 PM $60

In our upcoming workshop at Movements Afoot, the 3-D Spine the 3-dimensionality refers to the anatomy of the spine as well as to these various movements of the spine. Part of the lack of effectiveness in overcoming back problems is that people do not understand how the spine moves. So in our workshops, we get you to experience how the spine works. We look at the shape of each vertebra and the Sliding action of the facets in movement. The 3-D core refers to the volume of the torso and the internal contents. This awareness gives you a different understanding of your body. We learn some of the organ anatomy and how to breathe into the torso to feel supported.

IN our upcoming workshop at the BodyMind Expo called Laban Space Harmony: Bringing 3-D to your Session we will incorporate concepts from the 3D Spine, 3D Walking, and 3D Swing. Perhaps you will join us in New York or in CA!