Pilates Movement Therapy- What IS it?
Pilates Movement Therapy
One thing that’s evolved in the 3.5 years since opening my own studio is that I’m able to really pour into my strengths as a Pilates Instructor. For me, I thrive in the early stages with a client- when they are in pain, recovering from an injury or surgery, or have been to every doctor and can’t figure out what the problem is. In the past when I worked at studios around town, I would often see that type of client as well as fitness clients who were working in the maintenance stage- feeling good & strength building with little to no issues. These days I see more of the acute stage and work to GET them to the fitness stage. Then, they join my small group classes and do private sessions only infrequently for check-ins, while going about their regular, active life in whatever ways they want (and often couldn’t do as easily before!)
One thing I noticed back in my early days of teaching that was sometimes missing and contributed to difficulty with results for my students was a lack of a super solid foundation. Unwinding the tensions and misloadings in the body that have led to pain or discomfort is so important BEFORE getting into the strength building stage. The best time to strengthen is once we have had a chance to bring your body back into ideal alignment. I take it back to the very basics and then build on them, teaching you how to realign your posture so you can do that every time you go to exercise. The key is to TEACH you, not just do it for you. I help you hone in on your skills of interoception and proprioception to be able to notice, sense and feel when you’re doing it properly rather than wasting time doing things in inopportune positions.
Another key component that’s really enhanced the healing of my students is collaborating with their other providers. Being in communication with your Physical Therapist can speed up the time it takes to see results as the sessions from both providers can build off each other. I see mutual students of several PT’s, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapists, gentle Chiropractor's and Acupuncturists in the area. If you’re not already seeing a PT or other bodywork provider, I can refer you to some that I tend to work with the most. There are several providers who are willing to send notes back and forth with me, with your permission. It's not required to do this, but when providers collaborate, the results are not only better, but also happen faster.
Props can be really helpful to feel where you are in space. They help us improve our proprioception.
So at Studio 400 it’s no longer just your average Pilates session. It’s Pilates Movement Therapy, which serves as a bridge between physical therapy and fitness activities, empowering individuals to observe, sense, and improve their body’s form and technique. By tailoring movements rooted in Pilates to each person, we see noticeable changes in body alignment, strengthening, and pain reduction.
What You Can Expect in Pilates Movement Therapy:
*Learn the foundations of Pilates tailored to your own body.
*Know exactly which exercises to do for YOU, and HOW to do them properly.
*Access to detailed notes from the session.
*Videos to support and guide you at home.
*Collaboration with your PT or other provider to expedite recovery.
Do you have a nagging pain or injury that you just can’t seem to resolve? Is there something that bugs you when you do the activities you love, or you aren’t sensing the muscles you think you should be in your regular exercise activity? What are you waiting for? Fill out the Pilates Movement Therapy form to get started!
