Melanie’s Workshop Details

These workshops are designed to deepen the understanding of anatomy, biomechanics and the mechanisms of injury in order to develop practical approaches to resolving injury through exercise.

Melanie Byford-Young is co-founder of Pacific NW Pilates and a Master Instructor Trainer of Rehabilitation for STOTT PILATES, involved in updating their internationally based program in 2007.  She builds her workshops around integrating her students’ knowledge, empowering them to truly understand what they have learned so they may find  the best healing solutions for their clients.

Many of these workshops are approved for STOTT PILATES continuing education credits. Instructors will be awarded a maximum of 0.2 STOTT PILATES CECs PER YEAR for workshops and courses that are not specifically from the STOTT PILATES syllabus.

Advanced Cervical Spine Stabilization

This four hour practical workshop is designed to give participants an in-depth understanding of how to use pilates to help clients with neck issues. Students will learn to apply their knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics to exercise selection and modifications to help clients restore normal movement and progress back to regular activities and sport.

Workshop Objectives

• Learn to relate detailed anatomy and biomechanics of the cervical spine to normal and pathological movement patterns
• Develop insight into the causes and issues related to cervical spine conditions
• Develop the logic and problem solving skills to effectively use props and exercise modifications to safely teach clients with neck issues
• Learn and practice a systematic approach to rehabilitation neck issues

Prerequisites:

• Studied basic anatomy and comfortable with basic anatomical terminology
• Prior pilates mat course
• Two years experience suggested

Punches, Plyometrics and Overhead activities

Challenge yourself and your clients with plyometrics and strength building exercises for return to sport and functional activity. We will look at the kinematics of throwing and overhead activities, and use exercise progressions to develop core and upper body strength, mobility and control.

Workshop Objectives:

• learn the biomechanics and functional requirements for overhead reaching and throwing
• practice analyzing reaching and throwing movements
• learn unique exercises, modifications and a systematic approach to restoring normal reaching and throwing patterns

Prerequisites:

• Studied ssential level anatomy
• Prior pilates mat course
• Familiar with shoulder biomechanics

Advanced Postural Analysis

(no STOTT PILATES CECS available for this course)

This three-hour lecture demonstration workshop will help participants develop a greater understanding of postural analysis. We go far beyond the basics, and examine the interconnections between the regions of the body. Specific pilates exercises and programming pertaining to the findings will be discussed throughout the workshop.

Workshop Objectives:

• Enhance instructors’ visual assessment skills of static and dynamic posture
• Develop greater ability to anticipate the causes and effects of postural and movement deviations
• Help relate restorative exercises to issues observed during a postural analysis

Prerequisites:

• Essential level anatomy
• Completed a  basic postural analysis course or workshops
• Prior pilates mat certification course

Lower Extremity

Understanding the Anatomy & Biomechanics of the Foot & Lower Leg

This three-hour practical workshop is designed to give participants an in-depth understanding of the bones, articulations and muscular forces acting across the foot and ankle. We will discuss the biomechanics of the foot and ankle and then evaluate normal abnormal movement patterns and then explore how pilates exercises can be used to recognize and address foot and ankle issues.

Workshop Objectives:

• develop an in-depth understanding of foot mechanics
• improve visual assessment skills
• practice teaching and performing foot exercises
• three dimensional appreciation / movements

Prerequisites:

• A basic anatomy course
• Pilates mat certification
• One years experience recommended

Integrated Function of the Hip and Knee

This three-hour workshop will focus on the functional interrelationships of the hip and knee. After a brief anatomy review, participants will examine the proper axes of movement and joint mechanics, muscle recruitment patterns and how improper mechanics create specific symptoms. All of this information will be applied to working with a client in a pilates setting.

Gait Assessment

The study of the phases of gait, functional requirements for proper gait, consequences of altered movement or strength.

Workshop Objectives

• Develop understanding of joint motions and muscular activity during gait
• Learn to use gait as an functional assessment tool
• Learn to choose Pilates exercises based on information gained by watching a client walk

This seven hour workshop is divided in two parts:

The Mechanics of Walking- Understanding the complexity of the gait cycle

The three hour gait analysis workshop will look at the theory and mechanics involved in gait. There will be a formal presentation describing the inter-relationship of the joints of the lower extremity and spine during gait, the ranges of motion required, and motor planning. This section will help participants appreciate what is required for normal gait, and what may cause deviations. Students will discuss how specific exercises can be used as an intervention.

Gait Observation
Assessment and Application to Pilates

During the four hour Gait Observation and Assessment workshop, students will practice gait analysis by looking at video clips as a group, comparing observations, and interpreting findings. Students will then practice assessing individuals walking, program a Pilates intervention based on the findings and then reassess the gait pattern to evaluate the effectiveness of the exercises.

Prerequisites:

• Anatomy
• Pilates Mat course

Pilates for Dancers

This three-hour workshop is designed to help pilates instructors understand how to effectively work with elite dancers. We shall discuss the functional requirements for dancing in terms of strength, mobility, fluidity, and control. Participants will learn about common injuries, how prevent them, and special considerations during rehabilitation. Particular emphasis will be placed on programming pilates for dancers.

Understanding the Role of Pilates and Breast Cancer and Lymphedema

(no STOTT PILATES CECS available for this course)

This workshop was designed by Melanie Byford-Young for STOTT PILATES in 2006. This is a three-hour lecture and problem-solving workshop covering etiology, trends in breast cancer treatment, surgical interventions, therapeutic exercise, case studies, indications and contraindications involved with this population.

Workshop Objectives

• Provide information about the incidences and types of breast cancer
• Discuss diagnosis and treatments for breast cancer and the side effects of treatments including lymphedema, osteoporosis and neuropathies
• Present indications and contraindications for exercise within the breast cancer population
• Use case studies to develop Pilates programming for clients with breast cancer

Small Group Learning Sessions – Advanced Level Rehab Students

Each session is comprised of three 2-hour classes, and will focus on a specific region of the body. This is designed to be interactive, allowing students plenty of time to ask questions and work together as a group.  Students will be given pre-reading to prepare; learning assignments will be be given after each session.

• Students enrolling must be fully certified and have a minimum of 2 years teaching experience or, if in Rehab program must have at least completed RMR1 course
• .3 CECs for the series
• Session 1 will begin with a review the regional anatomy and biomechanics, followed by practicing observation and manual facilitation techniques
• Sessions 2 & 3 will progressively teach facilitation of motion and clinical reasoning with exercises on all pieces of equipment

Workshop objectives:

• develop clinical reasoning skills
• develop observation skills
• practice manual facilitation of movement
• practice problem solving with specific client cases

Prerequisites:

• Fully certified instructors (mat, reformer, CCB level 1) with a minimum of 2 years teaching experience, or clinicians who have taken RMRI minimally

Suggested Workshop Itineraries

Upper Extremity Series:
This intensive weekend series is designed to give instructors practical and theoretical knowledge of the mechanics of the neck and upper extremity. All four sections are designed to build upon each other giving participants a unique opportunity to develop a comprehensive understanding of the neck and upper extremity in functional movements and client conditions. These workshops are intended for certified pilates instructors with teaching experience

• Advanced Cervical Spine Stabilization (3-4 hours)
• The Shoulder (STOTT PILATES) (2-3 hours)
• Advanced Postural Analysis (3 hours)
• Punches, Plyometric and Overhead Activities (3-4 hours)

Gait: An assessment and problem solving tool: (0.2 – 0.4 CECs for series)

This intensive weekend series is designed to give instructors practical and theoretical knowledge of the mechanics of the lower extremity and proficiency in analyzing gait patterns. All four sections are designed to build upon each other giving participants a unique opportunity to develop a comprehensive  understanding of the lower extremity in functional movements and client conditions.

• The Foot and Ankle (3-4 hours)
• The Knee/ Lumbar Spine/ Hip-Pelvis
• The Mechanics of Walking: Understanding the    complexity of the Gait Cycle
• Gait Observation, Assessment and Application to Pilates Programming

Lower Extremity Series:

This intensive weekend series is designed to give instructors practical and theoretical knowledge of the mechanics of the lower extremity and proficiency in analyzing gait patterns. All four sections are designed to build upon each other giving participants a unique opportunity to develop a comprehensive  understanding of the lower extremity in functional movements and client conditions.

• Foot and Ankle (3-4 hours)
• The Integrated Hip and Pelvis (3 hours)

Or

• The Integrated Hip and Knee (3 hours)