by Michelle Cohen

Martha Eddy’s SMTT program truly reflects her movement experience, in depth knowledge of the body, and responsiveness to connecting to community. Using her creativity, compassion, and intellect she weaves a dynamic system that is accessible for learning and provides a strong foundation from which practitioners can then layer their own movement perspective.

As a movement specialist and dancer, I fuse Pilates, Yoga, and Gyrotonics along with the Bartenieff Fundamentals to create a movement vocabulary. I tend to work from a sensing/listening approach which can sometimes be challenging to contain and shape from exploration into pro-movement action. The SMTT program gave me a structure and a tangible way of assessing movement, listening and perceiving the nervous system, organs, and glands as well as taping into movement expression along with movement function. This focus on motion and emotion helped me recognize how I can better support and hold the space for my clients so awareness and change can manifest from within the client. This work helps me create more on point custom programs for each client where I can address their specific needs.

Martha is a natural community builder and the program is truly a moving community that functions in the same way as we work. I feel we are all participating and energetically adding to thus huge web of movement approaches and communication. We are truly creating a support system not only for our clients but for us practitioners as well.

Michelle Cohen, a professional modern dancer, is a Pilates and movement instructor. She is a senior teacher at Movements Afoot as well as a senior teacher and teacher trainer of Pilates at the Kane School. She has conducted international teacher training workshops for the Kane School in Brighton, England and Tokyo, Japan as well as nationally in Indiana, New York, and Florida. Michelle’s own workshops in nutrition, dance, yoga, and Pilates have been received in places like California, New York, and Belgrade, Serbia. She initially received her Pilates certification with Kelly Kane through the PhysicalMind Institute in 1998 and has been a certified Gyrotonic® and Gyrokinesis® instructor since 2001. Michelle is also a Kettlebell Concepts™ Level I Instructor and integrates momentum training into her teaching practice. Michelle has studied anatomy with Irene Dowd and continues to study Pilates and Bartenieff Fundamentals with Lesley Powell. She has been studying the Alexander Technique with Nancy Wechter since 2001. Michelle has expertise in working with professional dancers and has worked with company members from American Ballet Theater, Limon Dance Company, Royal Danish Ballet, and Merce Cunningham Dance Company. She has been quoted in Pilates Style Magazine (July 2005) in the article ‘Healing Practice’ for her work with clients with disc herniations. As a dancer, Michelle continues to perform locally and internationally with several New York based dance companies. She holds a BA from the American University in Washington, DC and a dance certificate from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She is presently receiving her yoga certification at Laughing Lotus in New York City. As a teacher, Michelle uses her listening skills to hear the body and then fuses her movement sensibilities with sound biomechanics to create customized programs and classes.

by Marcy Schafler, a Pilates teacher in New Jersey

In December of 2006, I had a hysterectomy and subsequently found out I had uterine cancer. As I was finishing up my treatment, a routine mammogram unfortunately led to the discovery that I had breast cancer. I went through my training at Movements Afoot to become a teacher two years ago.
Writing about how Pilates and movement have helped through my recovery is not easy. Not because I find it emotional, but because I had to think how it helped me. Then I realized that is because of Pilates that I sailed through my treatments and recovery. The only time I stopped moving was during the 6-week period after my abdominal surgery.
I also began doing pole classes about 6 weeks out from my last abdominal surgery. The pole classes keep me moving and let me feel some sensuality even through operations and treatments which seem to nullify the sexual side of women going through treatments of cancer.

One of the things that I have become perpetually working on now is my flexibility. I have found that with the surgeries causing scar tissue, radiation and menopause the need to stay flexible is what enables me to have strength.

Continually doing some type of movement has helped me with my strength both physically and mentally. And, I thank Lesley, Sue and Doris at Movements Afoot for my support and invaluable knowledge they always share.

(212-904-1399

Dr. Martha Eddy and Lesley Powell’s mission is to help teachers to the next level of teaching. The next level of teaching is understanding the body, how people learn and having tools to motivate your clients in new ways.

Movements Afoot brings together workshops for trainers to have a deeper understanding of the body, introduction to unique body therapies/systems such as Bartenieff Fundamentals, BodyMind Centering and Laban Movement Analysis.

Students will learn to carefully observe and accurately describe movement, and how to integrate anatomical, physiological and neurological information into movement protocols. We will review the importance of the bones in initiation, and how the muscles interact in specific movements. This program also includes a bodymind approach by exploring “internal support” - how the organs and the other autonomic body systems affect posture and movement habits. Once observations are made hands-on and movement techniques for enhancing core support at this deeper level are shared. Teachers learn when to direct their attention to muscles, organs, glands or fluids to get the most meaningful results.

Using Laban’s theories of how the body moves 3-dimensionally in space, the importance of the balance of stability/mobility for every action,
Bartenieff Fundamentals and biomechanics, students gain a more profound understanding of how to move the body with efficiency.

Throughout the training we apply the principles of biomechanics, Laban’s and Bartenieff’s theories, and other body-mind principles to our movement practices, fitness training, Pilates, yoga, dance, wellness, etc. All participants will practice how to “train without strain.”

Learn

* Biomechanical principles of the joints and musculature
* Improving efficiency and increasing healthy functioning
* Dynamic stability to improve mobility
* 3-dimensional understanding of the whole body
* Practical applications to your teaching
And more!

Sunday and Monday courses are part of the required course of study for Soma II BodyMind FITNESS Certificate.
Monday classes are led by Dr Martha Eddy, exercise physiologist, motor learning specialist and former presidentof the International Somatic Education and Therapy Association (www.ISMETA.org). She is director of the Center for Kinesthetic Education

Join us on weekends for Soma I throughout the fall to learn the basics and get a taste!

• Fundamentals of Fitness (Bartenieff work)
• Evolution of Fitness (Motor development)
• Body-Mind Fitness Coaching (LMA)
• Functional Anatomy and Physiology (BodyMind Centering)

Become a leader in the greatest approach to fitness - addressing the whole person through an intelligent fitness program: Body-Mind Fitness.

Learn more at Movements Afoot (212) 904-1399

(212) 904-1399

By Dr. Martha Eddy, CMA and Lesley Powell, CMA

Movements Afoot brings together workshops for trainers to have a deeper understanding of the body, introduction to unique body therapies/systems such as Bartenieff Fundamentals, BodyMind Centering and Laban Movement Analysis.

Become a leader in the greatest approach to fitness - the whole person,intelligent fitness program:
Body-Mind Fitness.

Students will learn to carefully observe and accurately describe movement, and how to integrate anatomical, physiological and neurological information into movement protocols. We will review the importance of the bones in initiation, and how the muscles interact in specific movements. This program also includes a bodymind approach by exploring “internal support” - how the organs and the other autonomic body systems affect posture and movement habits. Once observations are made hands-on and movement techniques for enhancing core support at this deeper level are shared. Teachers learn when to direct their attention to muscles, organs, glands or fluids to get the most meaningful results.

Using Laban’s theories of how the body moves 3-dimensionally in space, the importance of the balance of stability/mobility for every action, Bartenieff Fundamentals and biomechanics, students gain a more profound understanding of how to move the body with efficiency.

Throughout the training we apply the principles of biomechanics, Laban’s and Bartenieff’s theories, and other body-mind principles to our movement practices, fitness training, Pilates, yoga, dance, wellness, etc. All participants will practice how to “train without strain.”

Learn:

* Biomechanical principles of the joints and musculature
* Improving efficiency and increasing healthy functioning
* Dynamic stability to improve mobility
* 3-dimensional understanding of the whole body
* Practical applications to your teaching

And more! Sunday workshops:

* Integrating the Pelvis October 21 Doris Pasteleur Hall
* Integrating the Upper Spine November 18 John Chanik
* Integrating Breathe December 16 Amy Matthews
* Integrating the Legs January 20 Lesley Powell

Sunday and Monday courses are part of the required course of study for Soma II BodyMind FITNESS Certificate.
Monday classes are led by Dr Martha Eddy, exercise physiologist and motor learning specialist and former president of the International Somatic Education and Therapy Association and Director of Center of Kinesthetic Education

Join us on weekends for Soma I throughout the fall to learn the basics and get a taste!

• Fundamentals of Fitness (Bartenieff work)
• Evolution of Fitness (Motor development)
• Body-Mind Fitness Coaching (LMA)
• Functional Anatomy and Physiology (BodyMind Centering)

Learn more at Movements Afoot
(212) 904-1399

by Doris Pasteleur Hall Master Pilates Teacher at Movements Afoot

When one is dealing with Breast Cancer on a personal level, I found many stages of healing.

• The first part of the healing is realizing that one has the disease and how one finds the support system that helps them.

• The next stage is dealing with the healing of chemo, radiation, medication, or combinations of the above.

• Then when all is done is the next stage of healing which I feel takes a lot longer and needs great inspiration, support.

This is where the Pilates method can be a help. If one looks at Breast Cancer in a general way, it deals with the shoulder girdle, arm and of the thoracic. Encouraging bone alignment, working with muscular imbalances, (while moving slowly in each part of the body) is something that can be placed into a session at whatever speed that the client can handle.

I do not think that Scar tissue is talked about enough. When one is cut, small or large one, this affects the fascia. Imagine a tight sweater being pulled somewhere. This displacement can over a period of time not only affect the surrounding area of the scar tissue, but move upwards or downwards into other parts of the body.

This is important to observe this with clients as they move and how they breath. The only other thing, that I would add, is the work of breath. The constriction of the pectoral girdle can affect how the diaphragm functions. So allowing the three-dimensional movement of the ribcage and thoracic spine will not only help with the shoulder girdle and humeral bone, but also help the diaphragm. Breath is also be used as a way to recoup between movements or can be used as something soothing.

Read more in PilatesStyle Newsletter

by Lesley Powell, Director of Movements Afoot

One of my top teachers, Doris Pasteleur Hall, had gone through many surgeries for her breast cancer. Doris is very articulate about how her body changed and the process of getting back to shape. I had a woman client with similar surgeries, to the breast and abdominals. She kept getting injured with back, hip and foot pain. I learned a lot from Doris’ experience in how to train clients with similar issues.

Scar tissue and the affects of the drugs, chemo and radiation has affects on the body’s movement. I went back to basics, retraining of the pelvic floor, multifidus and abdominals. I also worked on a gentle range of motion, but I didn’t push range. Remember, when a muscles thinks that it is going to be overstretch, it will contract to protect itself. Scar tissues brings a different quality of tone/flexibility.

Also Doris and those women, who work with a massage therapist specializing in scar tissue, made more progress in fitness and relief from discomfort.

The bennies of 2x’s per/week over one.

“Two times per week is more than twice the benefit. Your nervous system gets the opportunity to learn an develop at a much deeper level. This will have greater carry over in all areas of your daily activities and you will be able to progress into more challenging repertoire. One time per week is a great benefit but it’s fairly slow for progress.”

Tom McCook, Director of Center of Balance in Mountain View, Ca.

by Lesley Powell, Director of Movements Afoot
Tom and I are both directors of Pilates Movement Centers on both coasts. We are both committed in teaching people the rewards of taking care of their bodies through Pilates, yoga and different body therapies. Movement is essential for health. It does not have to be always heavy duty workouts. Poor workouts can diminish natural range of motion and create injuries. Movement should enhance your fitness and your longevity.

Especially as I get older, my practice includes Pilates, yoga, Hanna Somatics and a daily practice of constructive rest. Sometimes I will do some floor exercises as I watch TV or listen to music/radio just to take my joints in a gentle range of motion.

Even though I am a fitness professional, taking class with other teachers takes my body and mind to a different place. It is so easy to be distracted by your work and chores. Taking time out to work under a teacher deepens your practice. The teacher will guide you through a warm-up and forcing you to concentrate on what you are doing.

by Lesley Powell, Director of Movements Afoot

Read the rest of this entry »

by Dr. Martha Eddy, Director of Center for Kinesthetic Education

Did you know that its Ovarian Cancer Awareness month? Next month is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Using our body-mind (somatic) approach to fitness we have helped hundreds of survivors to feel better, have more energy and to be stronger physically. In particular I designed Moving On Aerobics in response to a colleagues experience of deep fatigue due to chemo. Due to her persistent research she learned over seven years ago what journals are making commonplace knowledge over the past year and a half - aerobic exercise is a great boon to cancer survivorship (and prevention).

As an exercise physiologist and dancer it was natural to create a program including dance and aerobics. What the somatic approach also brings to Moving On Aerobics is careful awareness of the body, working with breath support and three-dimensionality, as well as being open to taking time to speak about our life experiences, worries, and joys.

Classes throughout New York City are free or by donation. For more information visit Moving On Aerobic’s calendar

by Lesley Powell, Director of Movements Afoot

This weekend I did a lot of traveling on planes and cars. We also did a lot of sitting. Sitting is really hard on the back. The seats of planes and cars are the worse. It put the spine in flexion. When the body is in one position too much, certain muscles are too much on the stretch and others are shorten. This does not mean that they are working. The body is confused about what muscles should hold the body up. Certain muscles tighten in a wrong response to the positions endured over a long time.

We really need to look at how we design seats. When I was traveling to Manchu Picchu. Peru, the travel on the 4 hour train trip, I had two different experiences. The train to the site was an old fashion train with flat seats. I was able to make many position changes in sitting and sleeping on the ride. On the ride back, the seat was the same as in planes. The curve of the seat made changing positions difficult. I felt stuck in one position. My back was killing me.

When I travel on long rides, I try to bring a pillow or a sweater to put behind my back. This is to bring back the natural curve in the waist.

During my travels this weekend, I did a lot of lying on the floor to relax my back. Then I did small tilts in both directions to bring some gentle movement back into my body. Then I did some gentle rocking side to side to bring back gentle rotation. Bridging also helped. Another thing is to take a walk. Walking can get the body moving and get the body vertical.