My approach as a Pilates instructor and bodyworker is greatly influenced by my movement training in Dance, Yoga, Gymnastics, Feldenkrais, the Franklin Method, Aerial Dance, and sports. As a current professional dancer, and student of movement, they have all influenced my understanding of biomechanics.

My training in the neuro-muscular rehabilitation work of Vladimir Janda, MD, a Czech Orthopedist, taught me to see and identify common patterns of structural imbalance, and inefficiency.  I was taught this work by a phenomenal healer, Jayne Edwards, who approached the Janda method very instinctively and taught it from the perspective of listening to the client’s body.  She felt it important to always be guided by the idea that the client’s body remembers it’s history and knows more about it’s needs than the practitioner does. I try to listen with my hands and see sensitively with my eyes so I can best help my clients. With additional study in Aston-Patterning, the Bodywork of Stephen Coleman, L.Ac., (blending Rolfing, Lauren Berry work and Massage), Muscle Energy Techniques, and the genius imagery work of Erik Franklin, I blend hands on release work with active therapy to help release overly active and tight muscles and to activate dormant muscles to create more efficient firing patterns for the whole system.  This generally leaves the client feeling like their whole body and nervous system gets to take a long deep exhale, and everyday tasks are easier.

The way that I work with each person is very individual, based on the goals of the client and the state of their body that day. If someone has acute or chronic pain, I tend to approach their healing with neuromuscular reeducation and bodywork first, and then start building their core strength safely with the Pilates Method. I help my clients develop the most efficient movement patterns by utilizing imagery to shift how they see their bodies and their potential. I also commonly use gait training in rehabilitative work as it is the activity we all do more than any other. It’s a necessary bridge of integrating the centering and postural restructuring work of Pilates into our functional activities in life.

On the other end of the spectrum, if someone comes to see me that is a teacher or wants to become one, I may put them through a rigorous classic style workout with transitions and flow. I try to be open to what the client’s body needs that day and what the client is hoping for…..sometimes people just need to move and breathe….and sometimes bodies just need a little nurturing.