Taking your Pilates teaching to the next level

With Lesley Powell August 21   1- 5 PM  $75
Come together.  Pilates teachers. Share. Workout.  Problem solve.  Laugh.

This meeting will be moderated by Lesley Powell.  Come with ideas, questions about the body, problem solving about professional issues (i.e. Difficult clients, non-payment by clients, burn-out, etc.)

• Bring any questions about the body, Pilates exercises and teaching.  We will take time to explore issues coming up, your designed workout for your client and questions about learning to see movement.
• Then you will teach a client a session with Lesley Powell observing.
  Here we will look at your design of your workout, how you cue and issues about form with your client.
• After your workout,  Lesley will go over each person’s class, any specific problems with client’s movement history and how they can improve on their teaching.
  

Click here To Register

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

It is always wonderful to observe great teaching. Lisa Love has such an amazing knowledge about the body.  How she cues through words and touch is so inspiring.  I look forward to having her back to teach teachers again.

Back Extension Exercises from about.com

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.

Disc Risk

With Lisa Love
Date:  Saturday, June 5, 2010
Time:  1-5:30   $150
Early Bird Discount $120 by 5/28

Developing Pilates programs for adults with back pain associated with ruptured, herniated, bulging and/or degenerative discs.

Pilates teachers are often engaged in preventing or improving chronic or intermittent back problems.  Some of the most commonly diagnosed causes of back pain relate to disc pathologies. To be effective and not put clients at risk, it is important for the programs we design to contain relevant, customized exercises with intentional, flexible goals.

This four hour workshop will focus on disc problems and basics of how they might affect the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine.  Attendees will review related trunk anatomy and spinal biomechanics. We will then actively apply this focus to specific Pilates repertory, determining whether an exercise is indicated or contraindicated.

Lisa Love, Ed.M., R.M.T., has an Advanced Master of Education in Motor Learning from the Department of Movement Sciences & Education, Teachers College, Columbia University with additional graduate studies in biomechanics and clinical kinesiology at NYU.  She has taught movement reeducation for over 20 years, and maintains a private practice in Pilates in NYC.  She has been researching and working with MS clients for 15 years.

Great article about Sciatic pain and Pilates in about.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.

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.

When the hips are unleveled (this picture shows a subtle gluteal weakness) with lifting a leg up, this is a reflection of gluteal weakness.  This weakness can show up in back, knee and hip discomfort.  Even my working with dancers,  there is poor use of the gluteals to maintain good alignment of the spine and leg.  When the true function of a muscle is not working correctly, other muscles compensate to stabilize.

Rudolph Laban had a concept of stability/mobility.  We need both principles in any movement.  As in the movement above,  true function the standing leg and core should stabilize the mobility of lifting one leg up such as the passe in dance.   If the leg/hip hypermobilizes on the standing/working side,  the back has to compensate.

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

Join us this April.  Register before April 4 and save $20 on each workshops with Dianne Woodruff

for a workshop with Dianne Woodruff.  I took a workshop about the Gluteals with Dianne at a Laban Conference last year.  I felt amazing and it helped with my sacrum as well.

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 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