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Choose a topic from the roster below - or - let us know if you'd like us to create a workshop of special interest to your staff or clients.
 

CoreConnections®PILATES 
"THE ART & SCIENCE OF TEACHING"
Skills for Advancement – Building a Brilliant Practice
“Mastering technique is, in and of itself, not mastery; it may take years, but it is only the beginning. Journeying into the essence, the heart of our practice, that is where mastery lies. When we become aware of what’s needed to “embody” a movement fully, rather than “correctly” execute an exercise, we open ourselves to profound, new possibilities. Our core becomes more supple, our body softer, our movements more seamless, and our being more connected with the world within, and without.”
Wendy LeBlanc-Arbuckle
Founder, CoreConnections® PILATES

"Breath as Prime Mover"
Joseph Pilates knew the importance and power of the breath. Yet, we often don't question…more

"Re-Defining POSTURE – a Dynamic 3-Core Perspective"
There are many "Shoulds" about the topic of posture. Often, a static image of…more

Matwork “Taking it to the Wall”
Take your practice within any style of Pilates to a deeper place … more

Props as Enlivening Tools for Change
It’s our experience that props are often looked on as a crutch… more
 

CoreConnections®PILATES "SPECIAL CONDITIONS"
Shifting the Focus from Problem to Process
In this special series, we will address frequently encountered injuries and special needs using the expanded CoreConnections ®Pilates model of 3 Cores ( Lower, Central and Upper Cores). Rather than trying to “fix” a clients problem, the perspective of our work will be to empower the client to see beyond it and embrace their potential for total health and wellbeing. From this expanded perspective, you will learn how to address client needs from de-conditioned to post-rehab, to specific client imbalances.

"A Conversation with Your Psoas: Creating Abdominal-Psoas-Diaphragm Balance" more

Releasing Scoliosis: A Dynamic/Somatic Perspective
Have your clients to embrace their scoliosis as the key… more

"The MYTH of Aging – Revitalizing the PILATES WAY"…more

CoreConnections®PILATES "LIVING ANATOMY"
Exploring the Magic of the Body Matrix
In this Series, we will explore movement dynamically, as an integrated whole, rather than a didactic study of independent muscles, using the CoreConnections® Pilates 3-Core Perspective of Lower Core (feet to the pelvis), Central Core (pelvic floor to the diaphragm) and Upper Core (diaphragm to the cranial base/palate). This unique approach expands our understanding of core to a synergistic relationship of the domes, arcs and spirals that connect the body from the feet to the cranial base. We know that “core control” involves the whole body – CoreConnections® Pilates shows us HOW it happens.  Our 3-Core Bodymapping Perspective enables you to clearly see how core control dynamically connects your powerhouse to your extremities and your body in relationship to gravity, expanding your perceptual field, from a developmental, embryological perspective. 

Domes, Arcs and Spirals:
The CoreConnections® Pilates Model of Integrative Anatomy… more

Getting Hip to the Foot –
The Pivotal Relationships Emanating from Our Lower Core®… more

Looking Inside the “Box” –
The Spatial and Layering Dynamics of the Central Core® … more

Getting it off Your Shoulders –
Taking Flight through the Upper Core® … more

CORECONNECTIONS®PILATES
"THE ART & SCIENCE OF TEACHING"
Skills for Advancement – Building a Brilliant Practice

“Breath as Prime Mover”
Joseph Pilates knew the importance and power of the breath.  Whether referenced as…life force, chi or spirit, he was clear about what visionaries have known since ancient times….that the breath is the key to a vital, healthy, centered life.  And he infused this pervading awareness deeply into his work.  Yet,  we often don’t question the quality of difference between nasal or mouth breathing, and how the body systems are affected on a cellular level. 

This  workshop will plum the depths of breath as the prime mover.  Our inquiry will be grounded in this key premise:  that while normal unconscious breathing is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, the breath is readily accessible to conscious control and can provide a vital and profound link between our conscious mind and our anatomy, physiology, deeper emotional states  and  our deepest spiritual potential.

“Re-Defining POSTURE – a Dynamic 3-Core Perspective”
There are many “should’s” about the topic of posture – from our parents, teachers and society in general.  Often, a static image of “upright posture” persists as proper alignment, but static posture is in contrast to our natural way of moving.   The muscles and bones approach to posture misses a deeper understanding of posture as an expression not only of the body, but also of the whole person – how we breathe, use our eyes, hands and feet, along with how we meet one another. 

The CoreConnections®Pilates 3-Core Perspective  presents new developments in movement education so you can better understand your individual postural needs. Ergonomic principles are presented  for choosing the best shoes, chair and desk height, along with sleep positions for ease of postural support.  We’ll also discuss the anatomical and emotional aspects of different postures as awareness and attention create tools for change. And lastly we’ll discover how to balance and coordinate sitting, standing, walking and moving into the world.

Matwork – Taking it to the Wall
(Offered as a half-day, full-day or two-day workshop)

Take your practice, within any style of Pilates, to a deeper place through the CoreConnections® Pilates unique approach to the matwork. The support of the body from foot to head is crucial in performing the matwork. Therefore, just as we create a closed chain support for the body when we use the Reformer, we will explore “the wall as apparatus” to create a similar support.

Through this unique approach, you will discover how to dramatically enhance the integration of the matwork. You will feel a new access to your body’s “core connections”, as you use the wall’s supportive “feedback” to relax more deeply into the sensation of internal support. Our unique building blocks will ensure your success in mastering the work from Basic to Advanced.

Props as Enlivening Tools for Change
(Offered as a half-day, full-day or two-day workshop)

It’s our experience that props are often looked on as a crutch, dismissed as unnecessary, or even a sign of weakness or dependence.. They can be, in fact, a powerful assist to teach your body how to properly support itself, and let go more deeply into the exercise – it all depends on how YOU use the prop to create new access. From this perspective, we can then move on to a deeper, stronger, unassisted practice.

In this workshop, we will explore the uses of a wide array of props, as well as create a new sensitivity for what, when and how long you or your client’s body is “requesting” a prop assist. How do you know when a prop is no longer needed? Where are you looking to assist a client’s progress? Is a longtime weakness sometimes creating reliance on a particular prop? How can you discover another avenue for seeing what’s needed?

CoreConnections® PILATES SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Shifting the Focus from Problem to Process

In the series of workshops that follow, we can address frequently encountered injuries and special needs using the expanded CoreConnections®PILATES Lower, Central and Upper Cores. Rather than trying to “fix” a clients problem, the perspective of our work will be to empower the client to see beyond it and embrace their potential for total health and wellbeing. From this expanded perspective, you will learn how to address client needs from de-conditioned to post-rehab injuries.

“A Conversation with Your Psoas:
Creating Abdominal-Psoas-Diaphragm Balance”
(offered as a full-day or two-day workshop)

Effortless walking or standing implies a precise balance between the legs, arms and the torso.  Without a dynamic, supple core support from foot to head, it is virtually impossible to achieve this potent balance – a balance that is critical to our human potential.

The psoas is  a critical player here - a shortened upper psoas compromises the support of the shoulder girdle; a weak lower psoas creates tension in the groin, limiting the ability of the leg to freely float (not to mention exacerbating digestion and elimination problems).

In this workshop we will, though the the CoreConnections®Pilates 3-Core Perspective create a deeper awareness and access to the vibrant partnership between the diaphragm, abdominals and psoas, and their relationship to full body breathing and sitting,  standing, walking and moving with a dynamic,  flexible spine –and to their immeasurable contribution to our health, fitness and well-being.

Releasing Scoliosis: A Dynamic/Somatic Perspective
(Offered as a half-day, full-day or two-day workshop)

The word “scoliosis” is derived from the Greek word “skol” which means twists and turns. The goal of our practice, however, is not to straighten the spine, but rather to open the body to find balance and grace in any movement. We will explore key CoreConnections principles, specifically as they relate to scoliosis (utilizing gravity as a partner, 3-dimensional body mapping and full body breathing). You’ll come away from this workshop with a renewed ability to enable your clients to awaken their body’s natural wisdom for self-healing, and to embrace their scoliosis as the key to addressing whole bodymind fitness.

 “The MYTH of Aging – Revitalizing the PILATES WAY”

CoreConnections® PILATES LIVING ANATOMY
Exploring the Magic of the Body Matrix

In this Series, we will explore movement dynamically, as a synergistic, integrated whole, rather than a didactic study of independent muscles, using the CoreConnections® Pilates 3-Core Perspective of Lower Core (feet to the pelvis ), Central Core (pelvic floor to the diaphragm) and Upper Core (diaphragm to the cranial base/palate),. This unique approach expands our understanding of core to a synergistic relationship of the domes, arcs and spirals that connect the body from the feet to the cranial base. We know that “core control” involves the whole body – CoreConnections® Pilates shows us HOW it happens.  Our 3-Core Bodymapping Perspective enables you to clearly see how core control dynamically connects your  powerhouse to your extremities and your body in relationship to gravity, expanding your perceptual field.

Domes, Arcs and Spirals: The CoreConnections® PILATES Perspective of Living Anatomy
(Offered as a half-day, full-day or two-day workshop)

Getting Hip to the Foot – the Pivotal Relationships Emanating from Our Lower Core® (4 hours)
The feet are our body’s sensory foundation. The bones, joints and nerves in the feet, along with the energy meridians which begin or end at every toe, are a portal to the entire body. We will explore the pivotal relationships emanating from our Lower Core (feet to the pelvis) to the Central and Upper Cores, and discover how we can “wake up” the feet and “spatially open” the hips to create a gateway to self healing, body balance...and stronger core support.

Looking Inside the “Box” - the Spatial and Layering Dynamics of the Central Core® (4 hours)
Exclusive emphasis on what we classically call the “Powerhouse” can easily lead to an overworking of the abdominals and tightening of the back muscles. Just as it is true that all connections must “travel” through Grand Central Station, it, much like our Central Core (pelvic floor to the diaphragm), must, if it is to operate as an efficient and effective central hub, work in concert with its “connecting lines”. When we move to a more expansive perspective of the “Powerhouse”, there emerges a more fluid relationship within the muscular and fascial layers that support the body’s center. In this workshop, we will explore the full range of actions of the pelvic girdle and spine and how the Lower and Upper Cores work with the breath energetically to support dynamic ease and function within the shoulder girdle, head and neck.

Getting it off Your Shoulders – Taking Flight through the Upper Core® (4 hours)
If our hands, arms, shoulders and chest are the “instruments” in the orchestration of creative expression, sense perception, and our outward action into the world, then an energized Upper Core (diaphragm to the cranial base/palate), is the symphony’s “first chair”. With the right cues (“shoulder blade to belly”, “diaphragm to dome of the palate”, etc.), it becomes a crucial partner in our 3 Core trinity, under the guidance of our esteemed “conductor” (our Central Core). By bringing into play our Upper Core, we discover a deeper access that allows the shoulder girdle to open to its full range, freeing our body to “take flight” in its full creative expression.

 

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