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Class Dates

Students may enroll at any time during the year, with immediate access to the entire course. Live/hybrid sessions are the last Sunday of the month.  Second year audits are included with lifetime access to the course material.

Classes are 10am – 2:30pm PDT/PST on the following dates:

2023:

January 29 – Disc Derangement and Herniation
February 26 – Osteoporosis and Osteopenia
March 26 – Spinal Stenosis – Degenerative Disc and Degenerative Joint Disease and Spondylosis
April 30 – Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis and Special Cases
June 25 – Ankylosing Spondylosis and Spinal Fusion
July 30 – Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction and Sciatica
August 27 – Hips
September 24 – Hypermobility
October 29 – Scoliosis

What’s included?

Nine powerful, information-packed lessons approved by American Council on Exercise (ACE), National Pilates Certification Program (formerly PMA), Yoga Alliance, and International Association of Yoga Therapists for 72 continuing education hours

Pre-recorded PowerPoint lecture and demonstration provides foundational information for each month’s topic prior to the live course

Handbook for each module with Assessment Sheets, Exercises and Guidelines for Pilates, yoga, fitness and movement teachers

The Language of Healing booklet 
Review and deepen the ongoing work in modules 1 through 9 of how our language choices may affect others, and how our tone sets the stage for creating a safe space for healing. Explore what inclusion means from physical, cultural, and spiritual perspectives to lead with truly heart-centered and empathetic lovingkindness.

Live, hybrid (in-person or Zoom) instruction for Assessments and Exercises, Q&A for module topic and pre-course information

Access to private FaceBook group for pre- or post-module Q&A regarding specific clients and exercises

FREE second year audits and lifetime access to the course materials including updates.

Access to live course recordings provided to currently enrolled students.

All students enrolled by December 31, 2022 will receive a signed copy of Safe Movement for All Spines, a Guide to Spinal Anatomy and How to Work With 21 Spine and Hip Conditions, when it is published in May, 2023.

What you will learn:

  • How to assess and apply best practices for spinal, hip, and sacral pathologies across multiple movement modalities.
  • Understand how to design safe and effective programs for individual application or group environments.
  • Understand how to create a safe and effective environment for optimal healing and support of pain relief.
  • Learn, understand, and apply activities for daily living (ADLs) to support optimal healing, pain relief and quality of life.
  • Explore how to communicate and cue movement in non-judgmental, healing, inclusive language for spinal, sacral, and hip pathologies.

Course Outline

Module One: Disc Derangement/Herniation. 
Move beyond “no loaded flexion” into a realm of powerful, proven tools and techniques to facilitate healing and help restore vitality.

Module Two: Osteoporosis/Osteopenia. 
Is it realistic to “mummify” everyone with bone density loss? Explore movements designed to help prevent fractures and rebuild bone density.  Includes exercises to strengthen muscles involved in balance and fall prevention. 

Module Three: Spinal Stenosis and Osteoarthritis. 
Learn how multidisciplinary approaches can organize movement effectively for pain relief, strength, flexibility, and long-term quality of life.  Includes information about degenerative disc disease (DDD) and degenerative joint disease (DJD), also called spondylosis, common causes of stenosis.            

Module Four: Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis. 
What are these? How do you pronounce them? What is the difference? Understand and learn to apply specific guidelines for safe movement and healthy maintenance of the spine with spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis.

Special Cases. 
What happens when someone has multiple pathologies, and some of the contraindications are conflicting? Learn to develop a priority hierarchy for these special cases through Susan’s story, a client case study that offers powerful lessons about how healing can occur. 

Module Five: Ankylosing Spondylosis and Spinal Fusion. 
Learn about the stages of this progressive form of arthritis, and become empowered to guide and experience healthy and appropriate movement at each stage. Sample Exercises and Teacher sections are also appropriate for people with surgical spinal fusion. 

Module Six: SI Joint Dysfunction and Sciatica. 
Explore the sacrum as the keystone for stability, movement, and force transference between the spine, pelvis, and femurs. Learn what issues can affect this delicate interplay, creating dysfunction and causing pain, and simple yet effective solutions to help restore and maintain pain-free movement.

Module Seven: Hips. 
Beyond the total hip replacement: Learn to assess and understand soft-tissue issues, hip degeneration, and normal variants in hip structure. Apply intelligently designed movements for optimal function and healing, and utilize specific guidelines for safe exercise participation. 

Module Eight: Hypermobility. 
Learning and understanding hypermobile physiology, neurology, and assessment leads to application of uniquely developed exercises for people with hypermobile bodies.  A broader perspective, informed by pain science and biomechanics, takes the reader beyond old paradigms of limiting range of motion as a solution for hypermobility.  Exploring multiple diagnoses in hypermobile populations gives valuable information that helps guide teacher and student in navigating health and movement environments.  

Module Nine: Scoliosis. 
So much is written and taught about scoliosis—how do you really know what to do? We move from a “fixing” mindset to facilitating a mutually empowering relationship with the person who has scoliosis. Understand the various methodologies, the theories that support them, and how to determine which methods to employ and when.