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Enroll in the Dynamic Spine- Distance Learning option and receive 19 NCPT CECS upon completion of all 9 modules.
All 9 pre-recorded lectures, workbooks, assessment forms, and quizzes are included.

Monthly live mentoring sessions may be added a-la-carte for 4 additional CECS each.
Monthly live sessions are 50% off with Distance Learning enrollment.

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What is The Dynamic Spine?

Nine powerful, information-packed lessons that are based on the book Safe Movement for All Spines take teachers on a deeper dive into movement and pain science. Monthly mentoring sessions provide real-time access to a collaborative environment for learning actionable techniques to apply to current clients, or oneself, right away.

The entire curriculum is approved by American Council on Exercise (ACE), Yoga Alliance, and International Association of Yoga Therapists for 72 continuing education hours and National Pilates Certification Program (formerly PMA) for 60 continuing education hours.

Students may enroll at any time during the year, with immediate access to the entire course. 

The 41-hour original course is now available in smaller modules of 4 CECs each for ease of accessibility and to give you options to suit your busy schedule. You can now take each module separately to fulfill your Continuing Education requirements. Each module is accompanied by a Distance Learning component to complete prior to the live course. 

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What’s included?

A copy of Safe Movement for All Spines, A Guide to Spinal Anatomy and How to Work With 21 Spine and Hip Conditions 

Nine Pre-recorded PowerPoint lectures provide a foundation and expand on the textbook with additional research and information

In live, hybrid (in-person or Zoom) monthly mentoring sessions, join Gwen as she works with a model for assessment and program design in a collaborative learning environment.  This is where you can pre-arrange to bring a client, or volunteer to be the demonstration model for the meeting.  The live course is recorded for those who cannot make the meeting.

Practice The Language of Healing 
Explore and deepen the ongoing work 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.

Access to private FaceBook group for pre- or post-module mentoring regarding specific clients and exercises.

FREE audits and lifetime access to the course materials.

What you will learn:

  • Assessments within the scope of practice of your profession that up-level your problem-solving skills
  • Best practices across multiple movement modalities for safe and effective program design
  • Create a safe environment to facilitate optimal healing and support of pain relief
  • Communication and cueing in non-judgmental, healing, inclusive language
  • Tactile cueing, muscle energy techniques, and neurodynamic techniques as potent strategies for reducing pain and increasing your effectiveness as a practitioner
  • Activities of Daily Living that are biomechanically sound and support quality of life
  • Develop our “teacher’s eye” to connect assessment with meaning in movement

Modules

The Flexion-Intolerant Spine: Working with Disc Derangement and Herniation
The Flexion-Intolerant Spine: Working with Disc Derangement and Herniation is based on Chapter 1 of Safe Movement for All Spines.  Learn how to move beyond “no loaded flexion” into a realm of powerful, proven tools and techniques to help decrease pain and restore vitality. Apply assessments to differentiate the effects of disc herniation in movement, strength and sensation.  Learn when to refer to allied medical professionals and utilize proven techniques within the scope of practice of a movement teacher to help facilitate healing.

Beyond Mummification: Working with Osteopenia and Osteoporosis
Beyond Mummification: Working with Osteopenia and Osteoporosis is based on Chapter 2 of Safe Movement for All Spines. Learn about working with people who have osteopenia or osteoporosis, beyond “no flexion” strategies that basically mummify torso movement. Really understand the treatment options for bone density loss, and the most important factors to consider when working with this population. Explore movements designed to help prevent fractures and rebuild bone density, and exercises to strengthen muscles and reflexes involved in balance and fall prevention.

Spinal Stenosis: The Extension-Intolerant Spine
Spinal Stenosis: The Extension-Intolerant Spine is based on Chapter 3 of Safe Movement for All Spines. Learn how multidisciplinary approaches can organize movement effectively for pain relief, strength, flexibility, and long-term quality of life.  This module includes information about degenerative disc disease (DDD) and degenerative joint disease (DJD), also called spondylosis, common causes of stenosis. 

Learn how to help the person with spinal stenosis find more comfort and ease in movement based on the causes for, and location of, their spinal stenosis.  Exercises to strengthen without exacerbating pain help the person find long-term solutions for an active life.

The Complicated Spine: Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis + Special Cases
The Complicated Spine: Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis + Special Cases is based on Chapters 4 and 10 of Safe Movement for All Spines. Learn specific guidelines for safe movement and healthy maintenance of the spine with spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis and anterolisthesis or retrolisthesis.  Incorporate creative variations of Pilates repertoire that are challenging, inclusive and fun, while biomechanically safe for the “spondy” spine.

What do you do when a person has a complicated spine, with multiple conditions?  This course empowers instructors to learn, understand and apply a priority hierarchy when someone has multiple issues, and some of the contraindications are conflicting.  An example of the problem-solving and solution-oriented thinking for these special cases is illustrated by Susan’s story, a client case study that offers powerful lessons about how healing can occur.  

Effective Programming for Ankylosing Spondylitis + Spinal Fusion
Effective Programming for Ankylosing Spondylitis + Spinal Fusion is based on Chapter 5 of Safe Movement for All Spines, with additional information about working with people who have surgical spinal fusions. Learn about the stages of AK, a progressive form of arthritis, and become empowered to guide and experience healthy and appropriate movement at each stage.  Learn assessments that help refine your teachers’ eye when working with natural or surgical spinal fusions.  Understand what to watch for from various angles to determine appropriate ranges of movement.  Improve specificity in exercise selection and appropriate variations for the person with a partial or total spinal fusion. 

Strategies for SI Joint Dysfunction and Sciatica
Strategies for SI Joint Dysfunction and Sciatica is based on Chapter 6 of Safe Movement for All Spines. 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.  Assessments that are within the scope of practice for movement teachers guide exercise and prop selection.  Learn effective strategies for both acute and chronic SI Joint dysfunction, and multiple techniques for alleviating sciatica that are immediately actionable in private or group sessions, and may be assigned as home programs.

Beyond the Total Hip Replacement
Beyond the Total Hip Replacement is based on Chapter 7 of Safe Movement for All Spines.  Confidently work with a variety of total and partial hip replacements by understanding the implications of their contraindications. Learn how to assess soft-tissue issues, hip degeneration, and structural variations in hip structure.  Understand how to apply intelligently designed movements for optimal function and healing.  Understand structural variants and explore what these mean in terms of ranges of movement and exercise selection.  Utilize specific guidelines and learn cueing for safe and inclusive exercise participation. 

Hypermobility: New School Techniques
Hypermobility: New School Techniques is based on Chapter 8 of Safe Movement for All Spines and takes a deeper dive into learning and understanding hypermobile physiology, neurology, and assessment.  A broader perspective, informed by pain science and biomechanics, takes the teacher 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.  Application of uniquely developed exercises and manual techniques prepare the client living in a hypermobile body for movement.  Move beyond the Old School myths of working with a person who has a hypermobile body and assess, understand and teach the body in front of you.

Confidence and Clarity working with Scoliosis
Confidence and Clarity working with Scoliosis is based on Chapter 9 of Safe Movement for All Spines. 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. Instructors learn and understand the various considerations and ideas about working with the person who has scoliosis.  Overview of various methodologies, the theories that support them, and how to determine which methods to employ and when.  Learn what best practices to employ – and what to avoid – when working with a person who has scoliosis.  Learn techniques and exercises that can be easily incorporated into 1:1 or group sessions for elongation, de-rotation and strengthening.  This course is a great intro and overview with depth prior to participating in more intensive scoliosis – specific curriculum.

Live/Hybrid Mentoring Sessions are held at Breathe Diversity Pilates + Fitness and Zoom at 12pm – 4pm PDT/PST on the following dates:

2024: 

January 28 – The Flexion-Intolerant Spine: Working with Disc Derangement and Herniation
February 25 – Beyond Mummification: Working with Osteopenia and Osteoporosis
April 28 – Spinal Stenosis: the Extension-Intolerant Spine
June 30 – The Complicated Spine: Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis + Special Cases
July 28 – Effective Programming for Ankylosing Spondylitis + Spinal Fusion
August 25 – Strategies for SI Joint Dysfunction and Sciatica
September 22 – Beyond the Total Hip Replacement
October 27 – Hypermobility: New School Techniques
November 24 – Confidence and Clarity working with Scoliosis

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Thank you SO much for your workshop today. You have a WEALTH of knowledge and I’m so appreciative that I met you.  See you soon and thank you again and my brain thanks you!
Darien Gold, Second Generation Pilates Instructor
Gwen Miller is one of the finest instructors I have ever had, as well as someone who brings grace, humor, and a keen intellect to all her classes, presentations, and day-to-day interactions.
Mary Terbush, Personal Trainer
I have functional scoliosis in my low back, and even after all my years of teaching and practicing yoga, she was able to give me information that has helped me personally and tips to pass on to my students.  Gwen teaches with knowledge, compassion and kindness for each and every student.  She has the ability to see each person as a unique individual.  In Gwen’s care you feel seen and heard for the individual you are.
Donna Connell, Integrative Yoga Therapist
I wanted to hear Gwen’s perspective on what a beneficial practice might look like.  I had completed Yoga Teacher Training and Yoga Therapy Training, so I wasn’t expecting to learn much more than I already knew.  Was I wrong!  Gwen spoke simply and clearly…then had all 20 of us on our feet learning smart, basic moves that I had never seen before.  I was given some…specific, doable moves that I could do everyday as part of my home practice – and that I could share with my students….It is rare to find an instructor, a therapist like Gwen who is thoroughly trained in both yoga and pilates; she has a big tool box from which to draw.  She is passionate and thorough about her field.
Ellen Kaplan Cheek, Yoga Therapist
It is obvious to me that the creation of Safe Movement for All Spines and The Dynamic Spine as a book and course is a labor of love for Gwen. Her commitment and dedication to share what she has learned from all her years of experience as a teacher of movement can only be born out of a passion to help others.
As a teacher of both yoga and pilates myself, The Dynamic Spine has provided me with the resources, tools and confidence to work with populations I would have never considered before due to my lack of knowledge and experience. The material in this course has become an invaluable, comprehensive resource for me. Gwen makes complex medical information about the variations in the human body easy to understand. What I find most useful is that she not only addresses what to avoid and what to emphasize when doing or teaching yoga, pilates and fitness but also how to perform daily living activities with more ease. Gwen and the Dynamic Spine inspire me to continue to grow and expand as a teacher.
Thank you Gwen for having the heart of a yoga teacher and the mind of a pilates instructor.
Charlene Lowe
Yoga, Pilates & Meditation Instructor