Pilates was originally called Contrology by the founder, Joseph Pilates. It is an isotonic practice, meaning the muscles are in motion both strengthening and stretching at the same time. Students are encouraged to work within the range they can efficiently support both concentrically and eccentrically. Sometimes we pause where it is useful, but the system itself is self discovery through motion. For me, the motion can be very small or big. As long as it is executed with integrity in the present moment.

Equipment and props are often used to help give feedback to the person practicing.  This is helpful to feel things about yourself that you may not otherwise. I use equipment by Balanced Body; the reformer, chair, trapeze table, barrel, and numerous other props such as balls and rollers. It is a practice that builds centering, concentration, control, precision, breath, and flow as the 6 basic principles that overlap in their usefulness to each other.

BENEFITS

Ease of motion.
Ease and fullness of breath.
Increased strength and range.
Body Awareness.
Reduced or pain free motion.
Increased movement options.

A "Return To Life" as Joseph Pilates intended and named one of his books

APPROACH

My skill set allows for a great diversity of approaches.  Pilates Based Movement Therapy Sessions are personally developed for your needs both short and long term.  I can creatively use, rethink, and adapt the Pilates repertoire to help open up new body movement connections for healthy pain free movement. Through careful facilitation, the session is yours to discover your own healthy movement needs.

Observing movement as a Registered Somatic Movement Therapist provides a full perspective from which to provide healthy movement options. I draw on a strong knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and developmental movement to create careful tips and cuing that are meaningful to my clients. Hands on skills from a strong Dynamic Embodiment™ and CranioSacral Therapy practice furthers the proprioceptive feedback of performing the Pilates repertoire as well as providing support where needed. 

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a full body treatment where the client remains fully clothed, and is usually lying down on a massage table.  I am working with both a biomechanical and biodynamic approach. Both utilize a very light touch of the therapist’s hands on the client’s body.

In the biomechanical approach, restrictions are relieved from the bones and connective tissue to restore their natural motion inspired by the Cranial Rhythmic Impulse. This rhythm is created by the cerebral spinal fluid as it travels in between the connective tissue surrounding the brain and spinal chord. It “breathes” at a rate between 3 and 20 cycles per minute. A very light force is used in the techniques, generally about 5 grams of pressure.  The biomechanical approach removes traumatic forces in the body.

The biodynamic approach is working with a lower frequency between 2 and 3 cycles per minute where the motion is perceived as organic, fluid, and arising within the whole person. It is a quantum energy present from conception until 3 days after death. There is no force used as the therapist is attending to the motion present within this quantum energy referred to as the fluid body.

The biodynamic approach makes available the client’s own healing forces, thus stimulating the body to correct itself.

BENEFITS

Relief for headaches and migraines.
Nervous System Balancing.
Help with stress and emotional difficulties.
Relief for muscle tension and joint discomfort.
Relief for nervous system disorders like chronic fatigue, Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis.

APPROACH

My focus is on getting people moving, but what moves us? Sometimes we need to slow down and work on the body’s internal holding patterns by coming into stillness and paying attention to the movement on the inside. CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle but powerful therapy that can help reduce tension, promote a sense of grounded-ness and spaciousness.

It can be difficult to move from your centre with the support of the ground if you have no sense of centre and can’t let your weight down, so taking time for some hands on work can be very beneficial to being able to work effectively with one’s movement practice.

I have been practicing CST since 2003.  My studies in Authentic Movement and Body Based Psychotherapies give me a strong base for dialoguing through Somato Emotional Release and my studies in Biodynamic CranioSacral Therapy help balance out the CranioSacral therapy mechanical techniques.  As a Dynamic Embodiment practitioner, I can switch my hands on work between the various systems where and when it’s needed.

Often I am providing CranioSacral Therapy sessions as a choice from time to time for regular Pilates clients. If you are buying private packages, you may take it off your package. There is no extra charge.

Dynamic Embodiment™ is a holistic healing practice and mind/body education that includes observation, touch, movement, and mindfulness. The program was developed by Dr. Martha Eddy who has been an educator for both the School for Body Mind Centering© and the Laban Institute for Movement Studies.

It is a blend of concepts from Body-Mind Centering©, Laban Movement Analysis, and body based psychotherapies. The practice follows the dynamic cycle of growth which in short involves observing what is happening, providing support where needed, and providing options for different movement strategies where desired. The key focus of this embodiment practice is to "wake up" your own body to the fullest of your ability or desire. We can be dynamically present, fluid, and whole in stillness, motion, expression, and purpose.

Dynamic Embodiment™ training is intended to further the development of movement educators and therapists. Training includes learning to touch appropriately and specifically, learning anatomy and physiology by book and by experience, body-mind counselling, movement analysis, movement re-patterning, and developmental movement.

BENEFITS

Mind/body relaxation.
Stress reduction/relief.
Grounded-ness.
Pain free movement or pain reduction.
Body awareness.
Greater movement abilities.
Body-Mind awakenings and resolutions through movement.
Dynamic embodiment.

APPROACH

I often will facilitate movement for you with the use of equipment and my hands. Touch is an important tool I use for your proprioceptive learning. Careful cuing is very helpful, but often it is the use of touch that takes us from thinking about what is happening to feeling what is really happening. Once you are aware of what you are doing you can look at other options. After a period of hands on support, I will let you play with it yourself to see if you can support the new idea yourself. If it feels good, then we look for ways to strengthen it via particular exercises that may relate to your day to day life. 

During our process together, we may incorporate your use of space, effort, body, and shape. We may work with the qualities of particular body systems to "wake up" your own felt sense of , for example, your skeleton. We will also likely touch on developmental stages for support where helpful, and all the while encouraging the development and trust in your own body sensations. This process can work within the Pilates repertoire or we can work with any kind of movement (or stillness) that feels right for you.

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