You’re an experienced Pilates teacher, a movement educator. You see people struggling with serious movement impairments due to trauma or disease, and you want to help.
You want education, guidance and support, but are not sure what kind or where to find it. You’d like to find other Pilates teachers who have more experience than you do, to talk to, to learn from, to share ideas with.
Welcome to Heroes in Motion
®
The goal of Heroes in Motion is to serve as a network where:
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Pilates teachers can connect with and learn from other Pilates teachers who have experience working with clients facing movement challenges due to disease and trauma.
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Pilates teachers can find relevant continuing education opportunities
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Pilates teachers can contribute Case Reports documenting their work with such clients
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Resources can be compiled, developed and shared with interested parties
Heroes in Motion is an initiative in development. This new website (est. October 2017) represents a digital space where Pilates teachers can interact and learn more. If you’re interested in finding other Pilates teachers who are experienced in this area, we recommend that you read and/or contribute to the Forum. On the Forum, some experienced teachers will identify themselves, and you can also ask for specific feedback related to your own interests. We encourage all interested Pilates teachers to participate in the Forum in order to develop this conversation between professional colleagues.
To find PMA-approved Continuing Education coursework on topics that may support your interests, click on the tab marked Get Involved/Continuing Education.
If you’re interested in contributing a Case Report, to publicly share your results with a given client, see the PMA’s Research webpage and follow the instructions listed there.
"The Pilates method teaches you to be in control of your body and not at its mercy." - Joseph Pilates
How to Engage
Who are the the Pilates teachers with relevant experience?
Pilates teachers with relevant experience are those whose teaching practice includes a specific focus on working with people who face significant movement challenges. Their interest may stem from a variety of experiences such as having a family member in need, dealing with disease and trauma themselves, being inspired by encountering such clients in their studios, being invited to help establish Pilates protocols in a military hospital or other therapeutic environment, and more. These teachers have an interest in discovering how Pilates can be made relevant to these clients. They devote creative energy to exploring what might work and how they can help.
Why do they do it?
The goal of Pilates teachers who work with clients facing unusual and unique challenges is to encourage healthy, pain free movement that allows clients to feel empowered in their daily activities. Pilates teachers strive to create movement opportunities where there may be limitations, allowing and including what is, rather than dictating what should be.
Many Pilates teachers are called to work with clients who come with serious movement challenges. Many work every day in their studios without support or advice. Some are drawn to this work and want to find ways to help. Does this describe you?
"Every moment of our life can be the beginning of great things." - Joseph Pilates
Who are the clients?
Clients may present with any, or a combination of, the following:
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Neurologic Diseases/Disorders
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ALS
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Brain Tumors
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Cerebral Palsy
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Epilepsy
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Migraine
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Multiple Sclerosis
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Muscular Dystrophy
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Motor Dyspraxia
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Parkinson's Disease
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Peripheral Neuropathy
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Stroke
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Spinal Cord Injuries
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Traumatic injury
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Spinal cord tumors
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Dysfunction caused by disease
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Amputations
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Traumatic injury
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Amputation due to disease
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As well as
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TBI (excluding PTSD-related issues)
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Congenital limb deficiencies
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Blindness
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The above list gives examples of some of the conditions people contend with that cause movement challenges and impairments. We believe that, in many instances, the quality of life of these clients has been significantly enhanced by participating in Pilates exercise. However, the PMA makes no claim that Pilates will improve any individual's quality of life, or effectively treat, ameliorate, cure, or prevent any of these conditions.
How to Engage
How Pilates helps:
Improves strength, balance, and flexibility
Increases the mind-body connection
Improves posture and core strength
Increases lung capacity and circulation
Improves bone health
Improves movement patterns
"It’s the mind itself which shapes the body." - Joseph Pilates
Learn more about Heroes in Motion
Heroes in Motion Interviews
This film is a preview of longer individual interviews with Elizabeth Larkam, PMA®-CPT, Michael Podlenski, PTA, ATC, Hadar Schwartz, PT, PMA®-CPT, Jojo Bowman, PMA®-CPT, Jesse Lee PMA®-CPT, and Lance Corporal Christian Richardson.
For more interviews CLICK HERE.
What is Heroes in Motion?
Heroes in Motion is an initiative that was created to support Pilates teachers who are interested in movement education for clients with significant movement challenges. The resources of Heroes in Motion are designed as an aid to Pilates teachers working with clients whose conditions include but are not limited to those mentioned above. Are you a Pilates teacher who is already exploring this work, or are you interested in doing so? If so, we hope you will use this website to explore and connect with others interested in this important work.
Work Being Done
This film shows some examples of work being done around the world to assist clients who are facing profound physical challenges. The practitioners and clients featured here are associated with Elizabeth Larkam, PMA®-CPT, and their work is identified as representative of the PMA’s Heroes in Motion initiative.