Main Conference: Friday, August 28, 2020
 

 

Morning Workshops: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

 

Workshop 1, Friday AM

The Functional Reformer

Instructor: Nora St. John and Joy Puleo

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What is functional training and how does it relate to Pilates? In this workshop, we will discuss the definition of functional training and how we can use the Pilates studio environment to improve clients daily and athletic performance. This workshop will challenge some commonly held assumptions about Pilates and teach you new ways to think about exercise selection and class programming to maximize the real life benefits to your client or class.

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Appropriate for Reformer instructors.

Hours 3 

 

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Workshop 2, Friday AM

Fascia Oriented Training in the Contemporary Pilates Environment

Instructor: Elizabeth Larkam 

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Although Pilates movement principles can be considered a subset of fascia oriented training, the design of Fascia-Focused Movement programs in the Pilates environment requires new consideration of all elements of Pilates program design. Research on fascia suggests new criteria for exercise sequencing, new choices of movement tempo and rhythm and different language for verbal cueing as well as clarification of the quality and direction of touch cues. An overview of the current research and publications on fascia in motion prepares Pilates teachers to apply these findings to the practice and teaching of mat, reformer and studio sequences. Videos of client case studies illustrate the sequencing of Fascia-Focused Movement in the contemporary Pilates environment.

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Appropriate for comprehensively trained instructors.

Hours 3 

 

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Workshop 3, Friday AM

Training Athletes in the Pilates Environment

Instructor: Portia Page and Helen Vanderburg

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Pilates is the ideal environment for improving movement patterns, combating sport induced imbalances and recovering from hard training days. Join Helen Vanderburg and Portia Page for a day of exercises, strategies and training plans for working with clients in triathlete sports (running, swimming, biking), reactive sports (football, tennis) and artistic sports (dance, gymnastics, martial arts). Learn the key principles for working with each population, when and how to add new exercises and how Pilates fits into their larger training goals. Exercises on all the Pilates equipment will be used.

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Appropriate for comprehensively

Appropriate for experienced instructors. 

Hours 3 

 

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Workshop 4, Friday AM

Improving What We do Most: Three Dimensional Mobility and Myofascial Loading for Gait

Instructor: Tom McCook

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As our understanding of the incredible intelligence of the human body expands, new insights and more accurate modelling can be used to better direct our movement training. Based on the Anatomy in Motion model from creator Gary Ward, this workshop will guide you in exploring new concepts in improving gait while using the Franklin Method to enhance our embodiment and understanding in movement.

 

Appropriate for all instructors.

Hours 3 

 

 

Afternoon Workshops: 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm:

 

Workshop 1, Friday PM

Balancing Stability and Mobility on the Reformer

Instructor: Erika Quest 

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Are you striking a balance in your workouts? Be inspired in this workshop to create multidimensional programming incorporating both strength and power while flowing through elongating sequences. Learn athletic, total-body exercises and sequences that are designed to functionally strengthen the body from head to toe combined and complemented with a variety of dynamic flexibility sequences. Don't miss this chance to get the best of both worlds!

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Appropriate for reformer instructors.

Hours 3 

 

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Workshop 2, Friday PM

The Functional Tower

Instructor: Portia Page and Nora St John

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The Pilates Tower is a wonderful environment for replicating functional movements. The flexibility of the spring attachment points makes the Tower ideal for optimizing angles of pull and creating truly functional exercises for all kinds of clients from post-rehabilitation to professional athletes. In this workshop, you will learn several progressive sequences on the Tower using both traditional and novel exercise setups to get your clients moving better every day.

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Appropriate for all instructors.

Hours 3 

 

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Workshop 3, Friday PM

Breast Cancer: Training to Heal

Instructor: Joy Puleo

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A diagnosis of breast cancer can leave a person feeling abandoned by their body.  The onslaught of doctors, medical decisions, surgeries and their physical aftermath greatly impacts the body's resiliency.  The biomechanical functioning of the shoulder is one part of assisting a client on their path to restored health after breast cancer surgery.  However, the mobility and pliability of the ribcage is often overlooked and of great importance to the overall healing process.  Through breath and simple floor exercises we will explore how to assess shoulder girdle and ribcage mechanics and to gently create change that will leave your clients feeling a renewed sense of physical self-confidence.

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Open to all levels and all styles!

Hours 3

 

Workshop 4, Friday PM

Fascia-Focused Mat Sequences

Instructor: Elizabeth Larkam

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"Although the Pilates movement principles can be considered a subset of fascia oriented training, the design of fascia training programs in the contemporary Pilates environment requires new consideration of all elements of Pilates program design. Research on fascia suggests new criteria for exercise sequencing, new choices of movement tempo and rhythm and different language for verbal cueing as well as clarification of the quality and direction of touch for tactile cues...In fascia oriented training the client is the active agent who has the responsibility of shaping the movement rather than the role of a passive recipient of instructor actions." - Extract from the chapter 'Fascia oriented Pilates Training' by Elizabeth Larkam in the book Fascia in Sport and Movement edited by Robert Schleip. 

In this Mat workshop learn how the structure and function of fascia informs motor control and functional movement. Reframe your understanding of the value of the original Pilates mat exercises. Update your Mat repertoire with contemporary sequences, rhythms and cues that train elastic recoil and a multitude of vectors in all planes of movement.

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Appropriate for all instructors.

Hours 3 

 

 

Main Conference, Saturday, August 29, 2020 

 

Morning Workshops: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

 

Workshop 1, Saturday AM

The Unstable Reformer

Instructor: Portia Page

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Adding small stability balls, rollers and rotator discs to the Reformer increases core work, balance and coordination. Learn several sequences using different tools to challenge your more advanced clients, train athletes and add variety to your classes. Learn the do’s and don’ts of using unstable surfaces safely while adding creativity and fun to your Reformer workouts.

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Appropriate for reformer instructors.

Hours 3

 

Workshop 2, Saturday AM

Invigorating Equipment Circuit with Props

Instructor: Erika Quest

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Pilates circuit training is an innovative way to take small groups of clients and provide an inventive and cardio driven circuit training session. Pilates repertoire and utilization of props will be spliced into rotations and sequences of 3-4 circuits on the reformer, chair and/or tower to keep your heart rate pounding, balance challenged while tying back to traditional and foundational movements. This total body workshop will leave you with creative new sequences as well as feeling 3 inches taller, functionally fit and rejuvenated from head to toe.

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Appropriate for comprehensively trained instructors.

Hours 3 

 

 

Workshop 3, Saturday AM

Clear Cueing: Essential Tactile Cues

Instructor: Elizabeth Larkam

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Advance your effectiveness as a Pilates professional by learning and practising skilful tactile cues that enhance the value of exercises on the Reformer, Chair, Trapeze Table, and Barrels. Working within your scope of practice as a movement educator in the Pilates environment learn to convey valuable alignment information using precise touch that gives directional intent to a bony landmark.  During the course become aware of the boundaries of your energy field and learn the importance of maintaining your field with integrity. Develop a practice of subtle movements of your hands and arms that increase your sensitivity and improve your ability to convey accurate information. Then practice each tactile cue with a partner in order to develop the skill needed to cue with respect, compassion, and clarity. During the course you will learn cues that facilitate breathing, neutral spine, scapula stability, spine articulation and ankle-foot alignment.

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Though there is some apparatus work, this is appropriate for all instructors.

Hours 3

 

Workshop 4, Saturday AM

Mindful Mat

Instructor: Tom McCook 

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True change happens through paying attention. Deepen your experience and understanding of mindful movement using imagery, the Franklin Method, Pilates, meditation and Yoga. Learn teaching skills, cueing and self management to improve your ability to reach your clients at a deep level and to create true, lasting change in their mind, body and spirit. Teaching your clients to move with awareness will make your teaching more effective, efficient and enjoyable and keep clients coming back for more. This workshop will inspire you to a deeper level of commitment in your teaching and your personal practice.

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Appropriate for all instructors.

Hours 3 

 

 

Afternoon Workshops: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

 

 

Workshop 1, Saturday PM

Healthy Hips: Pilates and the Franklin Method

Instructor: Tom McCook

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In this workshop, you will develop a refined understanding and experience of the design and function of the Pelvis and how to improve movement ability and well being.  This lesson will also inform and direct our verbal, visual and hands-on cuing for better results from our exercise routines. You'll learn self-massage techniques to release tension, relax and align the pelvis and spine prior to more demanding conditioning exercises. You’ll learn how the pelvic bones dynamically move to absorb and transfer force for movement efficiency, vital to our upright posture. Following the lesson, we’ll use the Pilates Reformer and Chair with relevant exercises to deepen the learning. Come prepared to learn and have an insightful movement experience.

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Appropriate for comprehensively trained instructors.

Hours 3 

 

Workshop 2, Saturday PM

The Shoulder in 360˚

Instructor: Joy Puleo  

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This dynamic workshop explores muscular balance, coordination, strength and flexibility of the shoulder. We will literally journey 360⁰ around the Reformer as we examine exercises from all positions to facilitate optimal functioning of the shoulder complex. We will look at the relationships of the anatomy of the shoulder to function, and integrate the function of the shoulder with thoracic mobility and ultimately to whole-body movement. Come and learn shoulder focused exercises that are safe, practical and immediately applicable to practice in both private, semi-private and group settings. 

 

Appropriate for reformer and apparatus instructors.

Hours 3

 

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Workshop 3, Saturday PM

Mindful Mobility

Instructors: Helen Vanderburg

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Like oil for your joints, this workshop is designed to give you the ability to teach how to systematically open the different areas of the body and to bring more mobility into a Pilates mat class without losing rhythm and flow. By working on flexibility, we reduce muscle resistance. This, in turn, helps to increase strength in the Pilates traditional repertoire without needing to use additional muscles, thereby ensuring an experience of freedom and ease.

While exploring the different body positions of a conventional mat class like supine, prone, side-lying, seated quadruped and standing, this workshop will provide you with strategies to:

- Intelligently weave flexibility into your everyday Pilates class using a large variety of stretching methods, yoga techniques and breathing exercises,

- How to release layers of tension before starting the traditional mat exercise routine,

- Wave and spiral movements for a supple spine,

- Breathe in order to increase range of motion,

- Different strategies to stretch and mobilize the neck, shoulders, hips, hamstring and the spine.

- Effective verbal and tactile cues to avoid injuries.

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Appropriate for all instructors

Hours 3 

 

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Workshop 4, Saturday PM

Pilates Based Circuits for Whole Body Fitness

Instructor: Portia Page  

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Balanced Body applies Pilates principles of correct alignment, control and balanced muscular development to circuit class formats including High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and classes designed for small group training for clients at all levels of ability. Learn how to successfully structure a circuit class with Pilates-based exercises to create a well-rounded workout, foster motivation through friendly competition and allow you to train more clients using less equipment. This format brings the focus and precision of Pilates to the more fitness-oriented client.

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Appropriate for all instructors.

Hours 3 

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