Understanding the cerebellum and the critical role it plays in movement

Understanding the cerebellum and the critical role it plays in movement What makes the cerebellum so interesting? The cerebellum plays a vital role in coordinating movement, maintaining balance, learning new skills, and fine-tuning motor activity. It is because of this “little brain” that activities like riding a bicycle or swimming become second nature to us.…

PD Part 2: Innovative Pilates & Movement programming for people with Parkinson’s disease

If you haven’t yet read Part 1 of our PD series, you can find it here. Although there is currently no way to correct the brain changes that cause Parkinson’s disease, we know that exercise can help fight the disease and that staying healthy can help reduce setbacks that make living with PD more challenging.…

PD Part 1: Living better with Parkinson’s disease through Pilates & Movement

According to the World Health Organization, “Disability and death due to Parkinson’s disease are increasing faster than for any other neurological disorder. The prevalence of PD has doubled in the past 25 years. Global estimates in 2019 showed over 8.5 million individuals with PD.”i Many people, including Pilates and movement professionals, are unaware of this…

Three reasons to consider trying hypopressive breathing

About hypopressive breathing You’ve no doubt heard of Kegel exercises, deliberate contractions of the pelvic floor intended to tone the layer of muscles that support the pelvic organs. But if you’re dealing with pelvic floor issues (or hoping to prevent them) and haven’t yet been introduced to the Abdominal Hypopressive Technique (AHT), you’ll want to…

Pelvic floor: where to start? A guide for the confused and overwhelmed

Understanding the pelvic floor If you’re female, you’ve almost certainly heard of “Kegel” exercises—deliberate contractions and releases of the pelvic floor muscles designed to strengthen them, especially before or after childbirth. Ever since an American gynecologist named Arnold Kegel published findings on exercising the pelvic floor in 1948, Kegels have been widely touted as the…

Hip health: Preventing, preparing for and recovering from hip replacement surgery

Hip health: Preventing, preparing for and recovering from hip replacement surgery

Healthy Hips Hip replacement surgeries are on the rise in the USA and Canada, with more than 360,000 being performed in the two countries annually (and rising). That’s an alarming statistic, one that no doubt correlates to an aging population prone to arthritis but also to overly sedentary lifestyles that have many of us sitting…