Often, when she kicks off one of her prenatal Pilates and postnatal Pilates Advanced Education courses at Body Harmonics, Teacher Trainer Dee Osborne breaks the ice with a “diastasis recti” story from when she first started teaching Pilates 13 years ago. Since then she’s become an expert in helping people prepare for and overcome some of the most common challenges of pregnancy.

“The first person I saw with a diastasis was a medical doctor,” she tells her students. “She came into my Pilates class and said ‘I have this abdominal separation, my abs have split.’ … I don’t want to have surgery!”

She uses this story to illustrate:

1) how little was once known about diastasis recti (and other so-called “women’s issues”)

2) how much CAN be done non-surgically using Pilates & Movement to correct diastasis recti (along other perinatal conditions such a prolapse, leakage and pelvic floor weakness)

But, Dee’s story also illustrates something else. It illustrates how fully certified Pilates teachers can use their curiosity to learn more, to help more and to stand out as specialists. If you follow Dee’s highly informative (and entertaining) Instagram channel, you’ll know that this is exactly what she has done over the course of her career.

In this Q&A, Dee shares a little bit about what makes her tick as a Pilates & Movement professional and why she’s committed to helping others to stay strong and well before, during and after pregnancy.

About Dee and her business

BH: Can you tell us a little about yourself and your business.

Dee: I am a Pilates & Movement instructor and a postpartum corrective exercise specialist. I work with clients specifically with diastasis recti, leaking and prolapse.
(Note: in addition to being a comprehensively certified Body Harmonics Pilates & Movement teacher/teacher trainer, Dee is a level 3 Fascial Stretch therapist.)

BH: Why were you driven to help people through and beyond pregnancy?

Dee: Pregnancy and postpartum are such unique times in a person’s life. They comes with so many different challenges and joys. I love being able to be a part of that window in my clients’ lives. Honestly, I have had my share of highs and lows in pregnancy and postpartum. I’ve had a traumatic birth and one that would make me do it over and over. I’ve experienced debilitating back pain, diastasis, leaking, and prolapse and I’ve come out the other side of all of these issues stronger and with so much more respect for our bodies and the process.

BH: How was your Pilates & Movement training instrumental in where you’ve ended up today?

Dee: Pilates has always been the foundation of good movement mechanics for me. It was through my training with Body Harmonics that I fell in love with the intricacies and possibilities of how our core and pelvic floor influence pretty much every part of our body and vice versa.

The Pilates path to wellbeing isn’t always linear, but it’s always worth it

BH: What would you define as your greatest professional accomplishment?

Dee: I get to teach what I love and to train instructors to help pregnant people with a better understanding of their core and pelvic floor. And of course seeing my own clients’ success. It’s not always a linear path, but helping them learn to trust their bodies and put themselves first to heal and become confident is huge.

BH: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received since starting your Pilates & Movement career?

Dee: Hire a coach/Pilates teacher and get one-on-one training for yourself. Being a client makes you a better instructor.

Dee on curiosity and competition

BH: Why do you think high quality training and continuing education is essential in our field?

Dee: There is always something to learn. The more we explore and understand, stay creative and inquisitive, the better we can serve the needs and wants of our clients.

BH: How do you stay competitive in your field?

Dee: I actually put on blinders when it comes to ‘competition’ in my field. There will always be postpartum clients and there will always be people who need my help. If you worry about your competition or what others are doing, you’ll always be second guessing yourself. Stay committed and confident about your expertise and your goals—it will show and your clients will see that.

BH: How do you balance seeing clients in-person and online with raising two rambunctious boys?

Dee: My boys are 5 and almost 8, and incredibly busy, creative kids. I wouldn’t say I have perfect balance, but boundaries have been really important for me. I carve out what is important to me first. What do I need to show up for my family and my clients? That is usually daily movement and mindset work, and some extra learning or personal time each week. I have my online clients at certain times/ days, my in-person clients on certain days, and we just make it work. As almost all of my clients are also busy Moms, it’s really important for me to model how I show up for myself, so they also learn to show up for themselves.

BH: How do you unwind after a busy day?

Dee: So I’m a big anatomy nerd and I love listening to podcasts or training about the body or the mind while taking the dog for a walk at night, but you can also catch me with a glass of wine or a beer and a good Netflixs series.

Connect with Dee and learn more

Want to train with Dee at Body Harmonics? Check out these Advanced Education courses she teaches within our Continuing Education program:

• Post Natal Conditioning and Diastasis Recti Repair
• Towards a Healthy Pelvic Floor
• Movement and Exercise for Pregnancy

Become a Body Harmonics Pre-Post Natal Specialist.

Read Dee’s first-hand account of her experience with prenatal Pilates here.

To learn more about Dee and pick up some great tips, please check her out: IG | Facebook | Website