Approach to Movement Education

Approach to Movement Education

Embodiment is the awareness of our body (ourselves) moving in and relating to the environment. Understanding principles of movement helps you with your daily functional tasks.

As you begin to incorporate moving with awareness and breath support, your movements express ease and grace.  Shifting the mindset of exercise as work, to one of exercise as an exploration of the process of moving enlivens the practice. 

Focusing on the how of moving rather than the task of moving, creates mindful moving. We become more efficient and effective in accomplishing tasks and are never in danger of becoming bored by an exercise routine, because moving becomes playful, interesting and “bodyful”.

Imagination – Imagery is a profound way of accessing a sensing and feeling modality of being in your body and the world. Experiencing yourself from these places provides you with a means of reconnecting your mind and body.

Somatic Pilates

Pilates is a conditioning system developed by Josef Pilates in the 1920s. The goal of this exercise program is to tone and enhance alignment through deep abdominal and torso strength.  The technique balances strength with flexibility with range of motion through the spinal column and joints of the body.

In order to destress, it is important to listen to your body and pay attention to how you feel. Developed by Physiotherapist Irmgard Bartenieff, Bartenieff Fundamentals ^SM (BF) practice enhances self awareness and self development by increasing functional movement in our everyday tasks at the level of the nervous system.

Connecting physically allows us to connect emotionally. The embodiment of reflexes and and developmental movement patterns are explored in simple movement sequences. Applying this practice to Pilates conditioning enhances the experience of  the technique which utilizes abdominal connectivity to balance strength and flexibility with range of motion through the spinal column and joints of the body.

Using breath support as the motivator in movement, Somatic Pilates focuses on efficiency of movement as well as core strength and flexibility. Nadine practices and teaches Somatic Pilates in Toronto.

Somatic Movement Therapy and Conditioning addresses a variety of physical concerns and, in the process educates you about your own movement preferences. Benefits include:

• Increased breath /body /spatial awareness
• Improved core support
• Enhanced coordination and flexibility
• Reduction of muscle tension and strain
• Improved dynamic alignment
• Increase strength
• A means of injury prevention
• Ergonomic connectivity
• Variety in movement and creativity