PILATES & THERAPEUTIC MOVEMENT LABS

February 12th
Esoteric Abs and a Happy Low Back

March 19th
Resilient Shoulders and Neck

April 16th
Standing on One Leg! aka Happy Hips

May 14th
Knees & Feet Need Love

Each workshop in this series will include embodied/experiential anatomy learning alongside gentle, and more rigorous, physical practices to develop awareness, alignment, proper joint mechanics, balanced strength and release, coordination and pain-free range of motion. We will use mats, balls, rollers and, of course, our own bodies.

Time & Location :: Monthly on Sundays 1-3pm at Shawl Anderson Dance Center, Berkeley, CA
Registration :: Please email me or use the contact form here. $65/workshop, $120/two, $220/all four
Payment information available upon registration ;)

February 12th  -  Esoteric Abs and a Happy Low Back

Don’t be scared, we will not “do abs” for the whole two hours! In this workshop we will nurture a healthy three-dimensional collaborative relationship between the pelvic wings, sacrum, and lumbar spine. We will learn the about the musculature of this region and develop our understanding of pelvic, sacral and lumbar motion to cultivate a gentle yet dynamic core integrity. No gripping, squeezing or “sucking-it-in” allowed! This workshop will support folks negotiating pelvic imbalance, scoliosis, lower back pain and cranky sacroiliac joints. Bonus: learn to palpate your own psoas!

March 19th  -  Resilient Shoulders and Neck

In this workshop we will nurture a healthy three-dimensional collaborative relationship between the clavicles, scapulae, ribs, and the thoracic and cervical spine. We will learn the about the musculature of this region and develop our understanding of spiral and counter-spiral within the whole upper extremity to cultivate a stable, relaxed and articulate shoulder, arm and hand. This workshop will support folks negotiating tight shoulders, tech neck, headaches, forward head posture, shoulder pain and/or those who want to hone their down dog and inversions. Bonus: You will learn why “shoulders down the back” is a very dirty word (um, phrase).

April 16th  -  Standing on One Leg! aka Happy Hips

In this workshop we will return to the collaborative relationship between the pelvic wings, sacrum, and lumbar spine to learn how this dynamic relationship can serve us well in standing, walking and balancing. We will learn the about the musculature of this region and develop our understanding of spiral and counter-spiral within the whole lower extremity (the whole body really!) to cultivate a stable, relaxed and dynamic single leg balance. We will include exercises lying down, side-lying, on all fours, and, of course, standing on one leg. This workshop will support folks with leg strength imbalances, dancers, yogis and anyone who wants to take good care of their hips. Bonus: Your gluteus medius will thank you!

May 14th  -  Knees & Feet Need Love

In this workshop we will learn about healthy balanced motion and stability in our knees and feet. We will learn the about the musculature of this region and develop our understanding of what motions or lack of motion impede the happiness of this area and its many joints. We will learn about healthy knee rotation and go home with a lovely bag of tricks for keeping our knees and feet out of trouble. This workshop will support folks negotiating tight calves, knee pain, weak arches, bunions and ankle instability. Bonus: You’ll make friends with your vastus medialis.