I love Pilates! So naturally, I think that it is an awesome modality for most physical therapy diagnoses. But it has been shown to be especially beneficial for people with scoliosis. I was trained by Polestar Pilates and their principles are: breath, axial elongation, movement integration, organization of head, neck and shoulders, spinal articulation, centering, control, flow and precision.

In my last blog post, I explained how suspension based physical therapy has helped me and others with dysautonomia. Today I am excited to tell you about another hidden gem. This one is called GYROTONIC®.‍ Originally created in the 1980s for dancers, the Gyrotonic Expansion System is a holistic movement method that combines elements of yoga, tai chi, gymnastics and swimming.

Pilates, a fitness method developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century, has gained widespread popularity for its focus on strength, flexibility, and mind-body connection. It seems everyone wants to do Pilates and I am here for it! As a Certified Pilates Instructor at Activcore in Atlanta, Georgia, I am passionate about all things fitness, especially the practice of Pilates.

As a Performance Specialist at Activcore, I perform a comprehensive movement assessment with each new client. These tests provide a wealth of information about your movement capacity and a baseline for improving your stability, mobility, strength and resiliency. Essentially, they are a roadmap for addressing asymmetries and imbalances through the application of corrective exercises.

Flexibility is often celebrated in the dance world. But for individuals with Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), it can pose some unique challenges. My career as a Pilates Instructor and former ballet dancer has been marked by extraordinary flexibility coupled with a history of injuries. In my quest for a solution, I discovered the Redcord suspension system.

Most people that first come into my physical therapy practice have a primary complaint of pain. And generally speaking, that pain creates some type of limitation in their daily life. While they don’t typically complain about their ability (or inability) to squat, this functional movement is something that I always screen for. That's because I get a ton of information from it.

In the world of fitness, finding the perfect balance between personalized attention and the motivating energy of a group setting can be a challenge. That's where semi-private Pilates sessions at Activcore shine. At our Atlanta (Druid Hills) location, we specialize in classical Pilates instruction led by comprehensively trained instructors.

Intra-abdominal pressure is the pressure within the abdominal cavity created by the interaction between the abdominal wall and organs. This pressure changes with breathing and the resistance from the abdominal wall. When you are lifting an object or even lifting a limb, you increase intra-abdominal pressure.

In my last blog post, I talked about the most common soccer injuries, and how I use a suspension system from Norway to help my clients overcome injury and get back to an active life by rebalancing their muscles. Today I'm going to talk specifically about how I apply suspension exercises to strengthen the hamstring, since this group of muscles (Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus, and Biceps Femoris) is so difficult and painful to heal from when injured.

Before becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy, I completed my 200-hour Yoga teacher training and then taught several classes weekly at a popular studio in Los Angeles. During that time, I also completed my Pilates Instructor certification through Balanced Body. I was fortunate to train under one of my PT school professors who incorporated Pilates into her physical therapy practice. (She also taught me how to use the Redcord suspension system, but that's a story for another time!)