Pilates

Working with Clients with Scoliosis

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A teaser by Polestar Pilates International on the topic of our course: Scoliosis and Spinal Conditions, Pilates Master Course with Scroth educator Hagit Berdishevsky and Polestar educator Lise Stolze (Stolze Therapies)

WORKING WITH CLIENTS WITH SCOLIOSIS

Scoliosis is one of the most stubborn, abundant disorders in growing children and teens. The good news is that Pilates professionals can help ease the pain scoliosis sufferers experience through movement. The question is, how does one go about helping someone find peace with this condition?

WHAT IS SCOLIOSIS?

Scoliosis is a skeletal deformation, usually the result of growth spurts during adolescence, congenital spinal abnormalities, and other defects. 65 – 80% of scoliosis cases are idiopathic or of unknown origin. In sufferers, the spine is bent out of shape (no pun intended). Sometimes minimally or sometimes dramatically, the spine contorts into a C or an S shape. The Cobb angle is widely used to test for scoliosis, which is a measure done by locating distorted vertebrae and marking their paths on the back.

Early onset or early childhood scoliosis appears before 5 years of age and makes up 2% of all reported cases. It is sometimes associated with severe respiratory failure and, by affecting lung growth, may lead to decreased respiratory capacity even before puberty. Late-onset idiopathic scoliosis appears after 5 years through adolescence and usually occurs at puberty, around age 10. In such cases, complications with breath and healthy lung function have been reported. When left untreated, these conditions are exaggerated and the spine can be very distorted, to the point where the backbones can only be fixed through surgery. Most cases of scoliosis, however, resolve themselves with age, moderate exercise, and physical therapy.

HOW TO TREAT SCOLIOSIS

Lise Stolze and Hagit Berdishevsky discuss working with scoliosis clients on Pilates Hour.

ALTERNATIVES FOR SCOLIOSIS TREATMENT

  • Observation: where the deviation does not exceed 20º.
  • Use of corset: Used to slow the progression of the curve during the growth stage in people whose curvature is between 20º and 45º.
  • Surgery: Stop the evolution of the curve and, if possible, to correct it. It is indicated for the minors of growing age whose curve is greater than 45º and for adults with curves higher than 50º.
  • Physiotherapy and active rehabilitation: These treatments seek to slow the progression of curvature, improve respiratory function and reduce pain.

These types of treatments can be combined with different techniques. These include electro-stimulation through medium-frequency currents, heat treatments with IR to increase tissue elasticity and circulation, and lumbar traction to reduce compression in the spine. Kinesiotherapy uses movement-based exercises that include stretching, exercises to strengthen weakened muscles, and those that seek to invert the curves of the spine by position.

Therapeutic exercises for scoliosis treatment are based on principles that we manage day by day in Pilates such as postural reeducation, flexibility and muscular strength. The Schroth Method is a good example of a regimen that targets scoliosis to reduce pain and the rapid growth of scoliosis. The method focuses on postural and breathing exercises, spine flexibility, and convex-side stretching. It has been praised for being effective in minimizing symptoms.

These tips will not cure scoliosis, as most forms will resolve themselves naturally. However, these techniques will greatly reduce the discomfort that usually comes with this disorder. This is also true for recovery from extreme scoliosis. The key is to continue positive movement experiences and expanding our knowledge of this disorder to gain insight on how best to stop it.

What are the best Exercises for people with Scoliosis? Click here.

To learn more about the online course, click here: Scoliosis and Spinal Conditions, Pilates Master Course

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Educator Highlight : Alexander Bohlander

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Alexander Bohlander, PT is Polestar’s Licensee in Germany and Director of Polestar Pilates Education for Polestar Europe (including France, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria).  Teaching for over 25 years, Alex has a concentration in “Mindfulness” and brings this unique perspective to movement education and Pilates. Alex co-authored The Pilates Teacher’s Manual (published 2013, Springer Heidelberg)and his health centers present a state of the art combination of both athletic and therapeutic Pilates training in Germany (Springs Kohln).  Polestar: Where did you take your training and who was the educator? AB: I started over 25 years ago with Ingrid Lootvoet; I’ll never forget her beautiful studio in an luxurious villa in Knokke/Belgium. She took my hand and showed my body Pilates movements and my personality ways to unfold. Where would I be today without her? After two years she referred me to Brent and I went to Sacramento. My trust in her advice was only exceeded by being with him and Shelly Power in the studio. Polestar: What do you love about teaching and owning a Pilates studio? AB: Today I own several health centers that include beautiful Pilates studios in Cologne/Germany and it means everything to me- Here I am the best version of myself. Polestar: What are your current Inspirations?  What do you love about them? AB: Digitalization is powerful and should be seen as a great opportunity to share knowledge. I strive to be part of this massive transformation by using technology at its best. On the other hand the age of “holistic sciences” is all around us along with the rise of comprehensive, complete understanding. Read Factfulness by Hans Rosling- eye opening and fascinating. Polestar: Why Pilates?  How did you find the practice? AB: It found me – a young physical therapist and healer….no knowledge or definitely not enough for the big picture. Polestar: What do you hope to convey in your teaching? AB:  We are capable of being and doing wonderful; don’t be satisfied with numbness or being mediocre. Strive to be the best version of yourself! Polestar: Where would you love to vacation? AB: Brazil – Capada diamantina Polestar: What is your favorite quote? AB: “At the end we will have done what we come here to do and that’s enough.” (Deepak Chopra) Polestar: Describe your movement style… AB: Powerful, a bit too “kapha” because of my up-bringing in Palatinate- we were raised with heavy foods, love and nature. Polestar: What is your favorite apparatus or favorite way to move? What do you love about it? AB: Universal, elegant, powerful, shaping, refining, fun Reformer. It brings me right to the point, center, goal….to be balanced and not too bad looking 🙂 Polestar: What are you currently reading or learning about? AB: Science, spirituality, and love. Just received a beautiful book about Deva Premal and Miten and their Mantra-music! Very very beautiful. Polestar: How does Pilates inform your profession? AB:  Not enough yet- Germany is resisting the complete message, especially the therapists. They will not stop talking and lecturing about it. Polestar: Where can we find you? AB:  At the upcoming Polestar Experience in Herne Germany!  Also if you have not read my book The Pilates Teacher’s Manual (published 2013, Springer Heidelberg) read it and let me know what you think please! Like our Blog? Subscribe to our Polestar Life Weekly Newsletter and be the first in the know!

Polestar Grads Where are they Now? Mara Sievers’ Pilates Encyclopedia

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“We all know that we can choose from the following variations for Footwork on the Reformer:

Heels parallel, V-position with heels on the bar, point and flex (tendon stretch), running (prancing, walking), prehensile (wrapping) and a few others. But why would you choose one over the other?

Which variation is best for which type of student? Should I use only one variation or several? How many? Or all of them?”   – Mara Sievers (Pilates Encyclopedia)

I created the Pilates Encyclopedia as a guide through the Pilates repertoire. Being a busy teacher and studio owner, I grew tired of having to sift through hours of videos and web pages to find a solution to a teaching question that came up regarding the Pilates repertoire. The Polestar comprehensive training has given me a tremendous foundation for my day-to-day teaching, but inevitably when you work with “real people” within a studio setting, you encounter situations you haven’t specifically studied. When, for example, you get your first student with a joint replacement, or when a student just doesn’t “get” the exercise …even after you’ve tried every possible cue you can think of. Maybe you have a student with a unique set of limitations, and you’re unsure of what to do. I decided to make lists of exercises for specific goals that I could scan quickly before a lesson to give me an idea of what to try with a particular client. I don’t consider myself the most creative teacher, but I love to organize. Most importantly, I wanted a shortcut for the next time I had a similar question. When you teach 6+ hours a day you just don’t have a lot of time or energy left to spend researching. I wanted a resource, a Wikipedia of Pilates, so to speak. A destination that would give me an answer to any Pilates exercise question. That’s the role I hope the Pilates Encyclopedia will provide. As you can imagine this is a huge endeavor, and I’m aware that I won’t be able to include every single variation in our library immediately, but over time we’ll create a huge collection of Pilates tools. I don’t ascribe to labels, such as classical or contemporary. I draw inspiration from both sides. Of foremost importance to me is understanding why someone teaches an exercise one way while another person teaches the opposite. Who’s right? Of course, the answer is both. It all depends on the person doing the exercise. It’s about the student, not the teacher. The student (initially) doesn’t care if they’re being taught by a classical or contemporary teacher, they just want to feel better and be stronger, more mobile, steadier on their feet, faster in the water, on their skis or on the bike. The Encyclopedia is organized by apparatus, then by position (supine, prone, sideline, seated, kneeling, standing etc), and then alphabetically. Just like you would look up a word in the dictionary, you can look up a specific exercise and learn all there is to know about it. Different schools use different terminology, so I’ve tried to list every possible name an exercise goes by so students of any school can use the “search” feature to quickly find what they are looking for. The whole library is accessible via any computer, smartphone or tablet. Let’s say you’re a teacher and you only have ten minutes in between students and you quickly want to look up a way to help your student avoid knee pain in Feet in Straps on the Reformer; you will find that answer in the short time you have. My absolute favorite feature of the Pilates Encyclopedia is the comment feature. I think it offers tremendous value to our community. Imagine you look up an exercise but you still can’t find the answer you need. Then you have the option to simply post a comment, ask what you want to know, and all the other members, as well as I or another teacher, will answer your specific question within 24-hours. This is something you might already be familiar with from Facebook groups where you can post a question and get answers from other highly trained teachers. This is very convenient. However, if you need this information a month later, it takes a long time to scroll through the endless feed of a group to find the answer. Sometimes these feeds get out of hand by veering off subject. We can monitor comments in Pilates Encyclopedia better, making useful information available where you need it when you need it. Over the years, the library will grow and grow, just like we grow as teachers. I enjoy the process of adding content to the library. I used to be an actor, singer, and dancer and I’m not shy in front of the camera. I love to learn new exercises (in live workshops, lessons with other teachers, on Instagram or Facebook), but I put each variation through a personal vetting process. I need a good reason for teaching a specific variation. It’s not enough for me that it looks fun. I’m very purpose driven. I’m sure each one of you has at least one exercise that you just don’t get. For me, it’s Stomach Massage. I know how I’m supposed to do it, I know the breathing pattern, I know the contraindications and precautions, but I don’t (yet) know the why. Why, why, why?! That’s my ultimate question for everything in life, not just Pilates. Who knows, maybe I’m still 3 years old?! Here’s an example: We all know that we can choose from the following variations for Footwork on the Reformer: heels parallel, V-position with heels on the bar, point and flex (tendon stretch), running (prancing, walking), prehensile (wrapping) and a few others. But why would you choose one over the other? Which variation is best for which type of student? Should I use only one variation or several? How many? Or all of them? Those are the types of questions I’d like to answer with Pilates Encyclopedia. I would love for it to be a Pilates study guide. Teacher training manuals for Pilates are limited in the sense that they show moments and positions, but it’s hard to tell what happens between picture A and picture B. How do I get from this first position to that second position? So much of Pilates happens in transitions, in the movement, obviously. Holding a position is one thing, but in the transition from one position to the next is where we see if a joint stays congruent or not. Pilates is an amazing method, and it can be hard. It requires a lot of time to master. With its many details, it can seem overwhelming at first. Even after completing a comprehensive training, there is still so much to learn. I see Pilates Encyclopedia as my legacy, as a way to aggregate the method in one place (instead of scattered about the interwebs) and my way of contributing to this amazing endeavor. I sincerely hope that it’ll help raise the bar in our industry, and makes us better movers and teachers by being accessible and affordable. Polestar Grads Where are they Now? Mara Sievers’ is a Polestar Graduate, Practitioner and the creator of Pilates Encyclopedia. Like our Blog? Sign up for the Polestar Life Weekly Newsletter!

Graduate Highlight: Mara Sievers

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“What really matters is that we feel good and that we can live our lives to the fullest. If we apply it correctly, Pilates is the tool to get there.

It’s the best tool I know.” – Mara Sievers

Mara Sievers is a Polestar Graduate, Practitioner and the creator of the Pilates Encyclopedia.  Read our interview with Mara and discover her thoughts on the body’s kinesthetic intelligence and what led her to Pilates.

Polestar: What do you love about teaching?

MS: I love that I get to know the whole person. Pilates gives me permission to take all aspects of a person into consideration… their body of course but also their emotions and thoughts. Feelings influence breathing and breathing influences movement. I love that my students leave the studio feeling better than when they came in. Often that’s my only goal for a session, especially for my clients with movement restrictions, limitations or pain. I work with a lot of people who’ve never experienced individualized Pilates on equipment before, and I love seeing their excitement when they realize that they CAN do this. That they don’t have to hurt and suffer to get stronger and move better with more ease.

Polestar: What is your current inspiration?

MS: My students’ activities outside the studio inspire me. I usually ask them what they’d like to be able to do outside the studio, in the real world. Often it’s hiking, skiing, tennis, gardening or playing with and lifting up their grand children. Once we have a goal that excites them we build the skills to get there and we find ways to mimic the movement in the studio in preparation for real world application.

If my energy gets drained from teaching a lot I make sure to take lessons from other teachers. Getting out of my head is important. Having another teacher look at my body and help me find better movement patterns is invaluable and incredibly inspirational. When my own body feels great I want to share this feeling with my students. Ultimately, Pilates teachers are practitioners first.

I live in New Hampshire, and we’re pretty outdoorsy. Moving in nature is the best meditation and inspiration for me. It helps me put things into perspective, clears my mind from clutter, and helps me focus on the essentials.

Polestar: Why Pilates?

MS: I used to be a dancer. Then I got injured and Pilates helped me get back on stage. I later started to teach all sorts of group fitness, aerobics, step aerobics and yoga. Eventually, I decided to fully focus on Pilates because it was the only modality that gave me the skill to work with everyone, no matter their limitations. You can’t be too inflexible, too weak or too out of shape to do Pilates. You’re out of excuses to feel better, stronger and happier.

Polestar: What do you hope to convey in your teaching?

MS: That Pilates doesn’t matter. What? Did I just say that? What I mean is that it’s not important to do Pilates perfectly. What’s the point in practicing a gazillion Roll Ups to “perfect” them if I end up with neck pain. What really matters is that we feel good and that we can live our lives to the fullest. If we apply it correctly, Pilates is the tool to get there. It’s the best tool I know. So in that regard Pilates matters. A lot.

Polestar: Where would you love to vacation?

MS: Any of the National Parks in the western US. I’m an avid hiker, and I’ve never been to Yosemite, Zion, Yellowstone, etc. I’m also getting more and more intrigued with Alaska.

Polestar: What is your favorite quote?

MS: “Everyone is the architect of their own happiness.”

It reminds me that it’s all about personal responsibility. I sometimes get the feeling that my desire for my students to get better is stronger than their own. Probably because I have more faith in Pilates than they do. I’ve seen with my own eyes and felt in my own body the power of the method. But ultimately, I can’t do it for them. The student has to believe in it, too. If you can’t believe it, then you can’t achieve it, right?

Polestar: Describe your movement style?

MS: Slow, precise, soft, gentle, and with intention. I came to Pilates through an injury due to hyper-mobility.  This set the stage for me to focus on exercising within my abilities and not pushing outside of my comfort zone until I’m able to fully control the movement. I focus on building a strong foundation first for each of my students. They want to see me do the most difficult exercises in the repertoire. But I know exactly what I can and can’t do (correctly). I know which exercises will help me and which ones I’d be cheating (compensating) my way through. I don’t care about showing off. Unfortunately most of us are very impressionable by the “shiny things,” the flashy exercises, the upside down ones. The subtle work that happens inside the body is often not visible to the outside (especially not to the untrained eye). But it changes everything. It makes all the difference.

Polestar: What is your favorite apparatus?

MS: At the moment the Ladder Barrel. Pilates can get a bit linear and rigid. The curves of the Barrel remind me and my students to keep the spine supple (as a cat’s).

The Oov has been tremendously helpful with this same goal. It provides a shortcut by helping the student feel a neutral spine position without having to explain so much. It’s a direct line to the body’s kinesthetic intelligence.

Polestar: What are you reading?

MS: I recently read Critical Hours: Search and Rescue in the White Mountains by Sandy Stott. As a hiker and outdoor enthusiast, I was humbled by how much effort goes into rescuing hikers who get into trouble. I learned a ton about how to stay safe.

I also highly recommend Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown for anyone who, like me, tends to have too many ideas and wants to do too much. Its philosophy of dropping all non-essential activities resonates with the “less is more” Pilates mindset. He calls it “less but better.” I remind my students that fewer repetitions but performed with more focus are worth more than 20 sloppy repetitions.  One of Joe’s quotes comes to mind:  “A few well-designed movements, properly performed in a balanced sequence, are worth hours of sloppy calisthenics or forced contortion.”

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From Pilates to Neuroscience

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We interviewed Polestar Educator Kate Strozak MSc, LMT, NCPT of Chicago,  Illinois.  Not only is Kate a leader in Pilates education in Chicago and the Mid-West she is also a Runity coach, Oov educator and JB-MFR trained.  Kate is a contributor for Polestar Life Weekly (check out her blogs on Neuroplasticity, Fascia, Healthcare and Pilates Chairs).  Watch Kate as a special guest on the #PilatesHour episode “Neuro-Concepts in Pilates”. 
Polestar: What do you love about teaching? KS: I love the challenge of helping anybody surpass their movement expectations and goals. It’s one thing to meet goals and another to exceed them. I also love the uniqueness of each individual and how there are beautiful similarities that we all share. We are complex systems of gliding tissues with this incredible spark of life. This keeps me in constant awe and amazement and makes me feel like it’s an honor and privilege to be able to collaborate with my clients and students. Polestar: What are your current inspirations? KS: Nature is my perpetual inspiration. Whenever I start to feel in need of inspiration or if I feel in need of balance or grounding, I head outside as fast as I can. Polestar: Why Pilates? KS: Pilates made movement accessible and fascinating to me. It’s my foundation to start from and return to for my personal movement inquiries or for my clients’ movement exploration. Polestar: What do you hope to convey in your teaching? KS: I hope to empower my clients to revel in their movement, health, and fitness. I aim to be a resource and a collaborator, not a teacher or practitioner. Polestar: Where would you love to vacation? KS: I love to hike and would love an extended trip to visit a few countries in Africa. But I would go anywhere…I love to travel. Polestar: Do you have a favorite quote? KS: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Polestar: Describe your movement style? KS: Explorative, Playful, and Varied. Polestar: Do you have a favorite apparatus? KS: The mat. I think of that apparatus being there as a tool to help me better access my own body’s capabilities. But if I had to choose an apparatus I’d go with the cadillac for purposes of hanging and flips . Polestar: What are you currently reading? KS: H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald, and Fascia: The Tensional Network of the Human Body by Leon Chaitow.

Polestar Graduate Highlight: Amy Foster Berntsen

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Dance, Yoga, Gyrotonic, Pilates…she does it all!  We interviewed Polestar graduate and practitioner Amy Foster Berntsen in Miami, FL.  Her unique perspective of movement informs her teaching and lifestyle -read more to learn about Amy! Catch her on instagram @amynamaste Polestar: What do you love about teaching? AFB: Teaching for me, is a service of giving back the wonderful gifts that were given to me by my teachers. I’m passionate about my work. Being a professional dancer in premier ballet companies around the world, I had to cultivate an awareness of how to care for my own body. Having battled many different types of injuries with the mindset “the show must go on!” I couldn’t let an injury hold me back from dancing. I first discovered Pilates and GYROTONIC® in my youth while training to become a ballet dancer. My teachers were strict and I was dedicated. I loved finding new ways to strengthen my physic and I absolutely fell in love with these two practices. With all the different modalities I’ve picked-up along the way, Pilates and GYROTONIC® methods contributed to faster recovery time when injured. Through my ballet career I developed a broader understanding of alternative movement modalities. Being a teacher of movement has been in my wheelhouse for about 20 years now. It’s very fulfilling and I believe it’s my dharma, my life’s purpose. I also teach yoga which deepens my spiritual practice and I meditate everyday to help me relax and connect within. I meet a lot of incredible people in my field and I’ve been fortunate enough to train with some great minds en route my movement journey. I’m always grateful and love to incorporate little tidbits of my favorite teachers style into my classes. That’s what keeps me growing. We learn from each other. We are all teachers and we never stop learning. To me that’s magic! Polestar: What are your current inspirations?​ AFB: I’m inspired by my students. How they show up to class. Ready to learn and take care of their bodies. It is a pleasure to see that and feel like my teachings makes a difference in their life. Polestar: Why Pilates? AFB: Pilates is a vehicle for everyday movement. It creates structure in the body, resets the nervous system and reeducates the tissues. Pilates keeps the body in-check with less aches and pains. As we get older it is important to find a movement practice if we want to stay healthy and rejuvenated. This is what I find to be true in my own body. I always tell my students “consistency is key”. Polestar: What do you hope to convey in your teaching? AFB: Knowledge and new skills through an experience of movement. I hope people leave my class happy and feel good about themselves. Polestar: Where would you love to Vacation to? AFB: Hawaii is the next place I’d love to visit or Italy, but Hawaii first. Polestar: What is your favorite Quote? AFB: This is hard because I have so many favs but here’s a potent one that I resonate with. “We may act sophisticated and worldly but I believe we feel safest when we go inside ourselves and find home, a place where we belong and maybe the only place we really do.” -Maya Angelou Polestar: Describe your movement style? AFB: Dynamic, poised, strong, challenging, flexible, mindful, graceful and chill Polestar: What is your favorite apparatus? AFB: Ladder Barrel. I love doing back bends on it every morning before teaching. And the reformer of coarse. Polestar: What are you reading? AFB: Currently listening to audio book: Mindfulness In Action by Chogyam Trungpa
Amy Foster Berntsen
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