Modified & Prenatal Mat Pilates Training with Marta Hernandez

June 21st & 22nd 2013

Vancouver BC

This 12-hour course is not just for pilates teachers – anyone is welcome to participate. Students will learn fundamentals and exercises specifically designed or modified with the pregnant, aging or rehabilitating body in mind. The focus is on deep and subtle work, paying special attention to breath.

The material is particularly relevant to pregnant women and those who work with them, as it teaches exercises for strengthening of the pelvic floor and abdominals before giving birth. However, the knowledge and skills gained in this course can benefit many students of various health and abilities. The training also incorporates elements of Qi Gong and Tai Chi, emphasizing the connection to nature and the earth energy.

Mat Pilates Certification with Marta Hernandez
Summer 2013
Vancouver BC

Please note that the dates have been changed.

Register for all 3 courses at once for $1,525* 

Initiation 101 – Pilates Fundamentals and Matwork
This 24-hour course is the first step to becoming a certified Pilates Instructor. Students will learn, practise and teach 17 of the 28 Matwork Fundamentals and 35 Classic Mat Exercises. They will develop a deeper integration of the repertoire into their own body, resulting in a more effective ability to teach.

Course Dates: July 5th-6th & 12th-13th 2013
Cost: $125 application fee* + $675 tuition + $70 textbook
Location: The Path Yoga Centre

Initiation 201- Standing Pilates®
Standing Pilates® adapts many of the classical Pilates mat exercises to take them into the vertical plane. It provides the link between Pilates floor work and everyday functional movement. Students learn how to maintain neutral spine while standing, sitting, walking, bending or lifting, making this a truly functional approach to fitness.

Course Dates: July 26th-27th & August 9th-10th 2013
Cost: $125 application fee* + $675 tuition + $70 textbook
Location: The Path Yoga Centre

Practical Teaching Workshop
This 10-hour experiential workshop will prepare students with the knowledge and practice they need to confidently teach a Mat Pilates Class. It will give them the necessary tips, feedback and encouragement to make the transition into becoming a teacher.

Course Dates: September 7th-8th 2013
Cost: $125 application fee* + $300 tuition + $30 textbook
Location: The Path Yoga Centre

*Application fee is only payable once, even if student chooses to register for each component separately.

Please contact us for more information and to register:
604-646-0199 | contact@themethodpilates.ca

About the Teacher: Marta Hernandez

Marta Hernandez is the founder of The Space Wellness Studio (since 2000) and PhysicalMind Institute Canada and is considered to be one of the leading teachers in Canada.

Location: The Path Yoga Centre

Address: Suite 240 – 2083 Alma Street

(Jericho Mall @ West 4th Avenue)

The studio has a welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels right at home! During breaks you can enjoy coffee & snacks at one of the nearby coffee shops, or go for a walk on the beach.

How to Get There:

- Take Canada Line to Olympic Village then bus #84

- From Downtown take bus #4 UBC or #7 Dunbar

- There is 2-hr parking at Jericho Mall as well as street parking available

Have you taken Initiation 101 or Initiation 201 before? 

You can audit either or both of these courses for half price!

Both have recently been restructured (extended hours) and new material has been added.

NEW Practical Teaching component is now included in the mat pilates training but students are welcome to take it as a standalone course as well. Particularly recently certified instructors will find this practical workshop useful.

Initiation 201 & Practical Teaching with Marta Hernandez
May 2013
Calgary AB

Enhance your repertoire with Standing Pilates® which are unique to PhysicalMind Institute. This course is great for pilates instructors certified in different styles, yoga teachers, body workers, fitness instructors and other practitioners.

Practical Teaching workshop will give students the necessary tips, feedback and encouragement to make the transition into becoming a teacher.

Initiation 201 - Advanced Standing Pilates
May 1st-3rd 2013

Practical Teaching Workshop
May 4th-5th 2013

Register for both courses at once and receive a $50 discount*.
*Registration fee, materials and applicable taxes not included.

Initiation 201- Standing Pilates®
Standing Pilates® adapts many of the classical Pilates mat exercises to take them into the vertical plane. It provides the link between Pilates floor work and everyday functional movement. Aiding in neuromuscular re-patterning of movement habits, Standing Pilates® moves toward better alignment and efficiency. Students learn how to maintain neutral spine while standing, sitting, walking, bending or lifting, making this a truly functional approach to fitness.

Course Dates: May 1st-3rd 2013
Cost: $125 application fee* + $675 tuition + $70 textbook
Location: Barre Body Studio

Practical Teaching Workshop
This 10-hour experiential workshop will prepare students with the knowledge and practice they need to confidently teach a Mat Pilates Class. For existing teachers it will provide a platform to discuss issues and concerns they might have encountered in their practice.

Course Dates: May 4th-5th 2013
Cost: $125 application fee* + $300 tuition + $30 textbook
Location: Barre Body Studio

*Application fee is only payable once, even if student chooses to register for each component separately.

Please contact us for more information and to register:
604-646-0199 | contact@themethodpilates.ca

Have you taken Initiation 201 before? 

You can audit this course for half price!

It has recently been restructured (24 hours over 3) and new material has been added.

NEW Practical Teaching component is now included in the mat pilates training but students are welcome to take it as a standalone course as well. Particularly recently certified instructors will find this practical workshop useful.

RESTORATIVE YOGA WORKSHOP SERIES

Foundation Training
~ with Wendy Eyton & Swan ~

As bodyworkers and teachers of various disciplines – the more skill sets and tools we have to work with, the more effective we are in supporting our clients process.

Over the last decade, more and more professionals are integrating relaxation techniques into their active bodywork practices. Based on the understanding that when working with re-patterning & re-alignment for example – holistic integration is an essential aspect of the process.

These Restorative Trainings are practical, experiential and interactive courses that are taken by teachers of all disciplines, bodywork professionals and those wanting to deepen their personal practices.

~ Level II starting on April 19th ~ only a few spots left ~ Register Now! ~

Modified & Prenatal Mat Pilates Training with Meghan Aris

April 6th & 7th 2013

Victoria BC

This 12-hour course is not just for pilates teachers – anyone is welcome to participate. Students will learn fundamentals and exercises specifically designed or modified with the pregnant, aging or rehabilitating body in mind. The focus is on deep and subtle work, paying special attention to breath.

The material is particularly relevant to pregnant women and those who work with them, as it teaches exercises for strengthening of the pelvic floor and abdominals before giving birth. However, the knowledge and skills gained in this course can benefit many students of various health and abilities.

Mat Pilates Certification with Marta Hernandez
April & May 2013
Calgary AB

Initiation 101 - Fundamentals of Matwork
April 5th-7th 2013

Initiation 201 - Advanced Standing Pilates
May 1st-3rd 2013

Practical Teaching Workshop
May 4th-5th 2013

Register for all 3 courses at once for $1,525*
*Registration fee $125, materials $155 and applicable taxes not included.

After successful completion of Initiation 101, 201 and Practical Teaching, you will be certified internationally as a Mat Pilates Instructor in TheMethod, the original exercises of Joseph Pilates.

Initiation 101- Pilates Fundamentals and Matwork
This 24-hour course is the first step to becoming a certified Pilates Instructor. Students will learn, practise and teach 14 Matwork Fundamentals and 36 Classic Mat Exercises. They will develop a deeper integration of the repertoire into their own body, resulting in a more effective ability to teach.

Course Dates: April 5th-7th 2013
Cost: $125 application fee* + $675 tuition + $65 textbook

Initiation 201- Standing Pilates®
Standing Pilates® adapts many of the classical Pilates mat exercises to take them into the vertical plane. It provides the link between Pilates floor work and everyday functional movement. Students learn how to maintain neutral spine while standing, sitting, walking, bending or lifting, making this a truly functional approach to fitness.

Course Dates: May 1st-3rd 2013
Cost: $125 application fee* + $675 tuition + $65 textbook

Practical Teaching Workshop
This 10-hour experiential workshop will prepare students with the knowledge and practice they need to confidently teach a Mat Pilates Class. It will give them the necessary tips, feedback and encouragement to make the transition into becoming a teacher.

Course Dates: May 4th-5th 2013
Cost: $125 application fee* + $300 tuition + $25 textbook

*Application fee is only payable once, even if student chooses to register for each component separately.

Please contact us for more information and to register:
604-646-0199 | contact@themethodpilates.ca

Have you taken Initiation 101 or Initiation 201 before? 

You can audit either or both of these courses for half price!

Both have recently been restructured (24 hours over 4 days each) and new material has been added.

NEW Practical Teaching component is now included in the mat pilates training but students are welcome to take it as a standalone course as well. Particularly recently certified instructors will find this practical workshop useful.

Mat Pilates Certification with Marta Hernandez
Starting Next Week – February 14th 2013
Vancouver BC

Initiation 101 - Fundamentals of Matwork
Feb 14th – 17th 2013

Initiation 201 - Advanced Standing Pilates
Feb 28th – Mar 3rd 2013  

Practical Teaching Workshop
Mar 16th – 17th 2013

Register for all 3 courses at once for $1,525*
*Registration fee $125, materials $155 and applicable taxes not included.

After successful completion of Initiation 101, 201 and Practical Teaching, you will be certified internationally as a Mat Pilates Instructor in TheMethod, the original exercises of Joseph Pilates.

Initiation 101- Pilates Fundamentals and Matwork
This 24-hour course is the first step to becoming a certified Pilates Instructor. Students will learn, practise and teach 17 of the 28 Matwork Fundamentals and 35 Classic Mat Exercises. They will develop a deeper integration of the repertoire into their own body, resulting in a more effective ability to teach.

Course Dates: February 14th-17th 2013
Cost: $125 application fee* + $675 tuition + $65 textbook

Initiation 201- Standing Pilates®Standing Pilates® adapts many of the classical Pilates mat exercises to take them into the vertical plane. It provides the link between Pilates floor work and everyday functional movement. Students learn how to maintain neutral spine while standing, sitting, walking, bending or lifting, making this a truly functional approach to fitness.

Course Dates: February 28th-March 3rd 2013
Cost: $125 application fee* + $675 tuition + $65 textbook

Practical Teaching WorkshopThis 10-hour experiential workshop will prepare students with the knowledge and practice they need to confidently teach a Mat Pilates Class. It will give them the necessary tips, feedback and encouragement to make the transition into becoming a teacher.

Course Dates: March 16th-17th 2013
Cost: $125 application fee* + $300 tuition + $25 textbook

*Application fee is only payable once, even if student chooses to register for each component separately.

Please contact us for more information and to register: 
 604-646-0199 | contact@themethodpilates.ca

About the Teacher: Marta Hernandez

Marta Hernandez is the founder of The Space Wellness Studio (since 2000) and PhysicalMind Institute Canada and is considered to be one of the leading teachers in Canada. Her involvement in dance from a young age has given her a natural ability to work with the body through movement. She received her BFA in Dance from York University in Toronto in 1994 and completed her Pilates certification through The Physicalmind Institute in New York in 1999. In 2004, Marta was selected by the Physicalmind Institute to be a Certified Pilates Teacher Training Studio and in 2008 she became head of the Physicalmind Institute for Canada, where she certifies senior teachers to become certifying studios. Marta is also a certified GYROTONIC, GYROKINESIS and Qi Gong teacher. She brings a lifetime of body knowledge, experience and a compassionate heart to every moment of the training.

Have you taken Initiation 101 or Initiation 201 before? 

You can audit either or both of these courses for half price!

Both have recently been restructured (24 hours over 4 days each) and new material has been added.

NEW Practical Teaching component is now included in the mat pilates training but students are welcome to take it as a standalone course as well. Particularly recently certified instructors will find this practical workshop useful.

RESTORATIVE YOGA WORKSHOP SERIES

Foundation Training
~ with Wendy Eyton & Swan ~

As bodyworkers and teachers of various disciplines – the more skill sets and tools we have to work with, the more effective we are in supporting our clients process.

Over the last decade, more and more professionals are integrating relaxation techniques into their active bodywork practices. Based on the understanding that when working with re-patterning & re-alignment for example – holistic integration is an essential aspect of the process.

These Restorative Trainings are practical, experiential and interactive courses that are taken by teachers of all disciplines, bodywork professionals and those wanting to deepen their personal practices.

Feb Restorative Yoga Training

Gyrotonic at The Space Vancouver

By Catherine Roscoe Barr | Sunday February 6, 2011

IMAGE : Catherine Roscoe Barr

This pulley tower equipment is central to the Gyrotonic Expansion System

Celebrities and professional athletes are onto something with the rotational stretching and strengthening of Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis

I’ll admit what got me interested in Gyrotonic was the fabulous figures of its celebrity followers – Naomi Campbell, Madonna and Julianne Moore, just to name a few.

But what got me hooked was the fascinating philosophy and unique movements I learned from Marta Hernandez, the owner of a wellness studio in Yaletown called The Space Vancouver.

The studio at The Space

Gyrotonic Expansion System

The Gyrotonic Expansion System was developed by Juliu Horvath (see video), a professional dancer and student of yoga, and consists of Gyrotonic (equipment-based) and Gyrokinesis (mat-based) exercises that draw from ballet, swimming, yoga and Qi Gong (an ancient Chinese practice of cultivating energy through the mind, pronounced chee gung).

Horvath’s brother, a physiotherapist, also influenced the incorporation of “stabilization through contrast” – using equal and opposite forces to help open the joints – into the exercises.

The gentle, flowing movements can be made more strenuous through added repetition, resistance and intention so everyone from professional athletes (Shaquille O’Neil and Tiger Woods are fans) to rehab patients can benefit from the full-body exercises.

Spine Flexibility is the Fountain of Youth

Gyrotonic (“gyro” meaning circle or spiral and “tonic” meaning invigorate or strengthen) and Gyrokinesis (“kinesis” meaning movement) focus on spine flexibility and incorporate circular, rotational and three dimensional movements unlike traditional strengthening exercises (think bicep curls vs. pirouette). Hernandez’s Qi Gong Master, Minke de Vos, says “you’re as young as your spine is flexible.” If that’s true, the Gyrotonic Expansion System might just be the fountain of youth.

Even though the development of Gyrokinesis preceded Gyrotonic (Horvath came up with the theory and basic movements before he developed the equipment), I started with a private Gyrotonic session before participating in a Gyrokinesis class. Hernandez recommends trying Gyrotonic first not only because you get individual instruction but because it’s actually easier to learn the movements using the equipment.

Gyrotonic Basics: Arching and Curling the Spine

The Gyrotonic equipment we used is called the Pulley Tower Combination Unit, and is made up of a pulley tower with wrist and ankle straps and a moveable bench with two discs that are turned with handles, called the handle unit.

First we worked on the basic movements, arching and curling, that are present in nearly every exercise (see video). Once I got the hang of it we incorporated more advanced moves such as circling the arms using the hand unit and circling the legs using the ankle straps.

The movements are so fluid and graceful (at least I felt graceful) you don’t realize what an incredible, full-body stretch you’re getting. At the end of the session I felt taller, calm and energized. I also felt happy; Gyrotonic is fun.

Hernandez points out that it’s as much a mental exercise as a physical exercise, like a “moving meditation” – there’s no time for worrying or list-making during this workout (only the odd giggle as you try to master gyrating your head and torso in different directions).

Take it to the Mat

The Gyrokinesis class used many of the same movements learned during the Gyrotonic session, but instead of the pulley tower we used a mat and stool. For a glimpse into a Gyrokinesis class, check out Regis and Kelly giving Gyrokenesis a go.

Yawn and Stretch

“Movement changes the body,” says Hernandez, and indeed it does.

Somewhere along the way Western civilization seems to have lost track of its natural rhythms, forgetting that the human body was meant to move, not spend the majority of its waking hours parked at a desk or in front of a TV.

Gyrotonic doesn’t necessarily teach anything new, it reminds us of what we already know – what came naturally before we started spending most of our days sitting.

Much of the philosopy, says Hernandez, is based on yawning, letting the body open naturally. Try reaching one arm overhead – probably a pretty good stretch but not all-encompassing and amazing. Now try reaching one arm overhead, the other arm in the opposite direction, and arching your spine from top to bottom (feel free to yawn).

That delicious feeling follows you throughout a Gyrotonic session or Gyrokinesis class and leaves you feeling more open, invigorated, and body-aware throughout the rest of your day. Yum.

Catherine Roscoe Barr, BSc Neuroscience, is a Vancouver-based writer, editor, and fitness professional. Before settling on the west coast she lived in Sydney, Toronto, Oregon, Montana, and practically everywhere in Alberta. She can be found jogging with her adorable dog, dining with her fabulous husband or voraciously reading anywhere comfy.