This 2 day workshop, created and presented by Rika Brixie, will introduce the three-dimensional curves of a scoliosis, methods of assessing them and the physical and emotional effects that these curves have on the body, and the person, as a whole. Pilates for Scoliosis will provide detailed insight into the symptoms, onset, causes and treatment protocol for scoliosis. Participants will learn how to modify and adapt exercises for differing curve patterns as well as exploring repertoire on the mat and Pilates apparatus, specifically designed to optimise movement and conditioning for each unique scoliotic spine.

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Biography 

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Rika’s first and enduring passion in life is movement. Rika discovered Pilates as a young dancer in the UK, following diagnosis with scoliosis. She later moved to New York City to study classical ballet, where she began to implement regular Pilates classes into her training, recognising it’s potential for injury prevention and body conditioning. Rika danced professionally over the following years with Atlanta Ballet and Oklahoma City Ballet.

 

Upon retirement from her ballet career, Rika returned to the UK and began her first certification as a Pilates Instructor. She was subsequently driven to attend the BASI CTTC, which she regards as one of her best life choices.

 

The experience of living with scoliosis has given Rika a unique insight into the deep workings of the body and movement. Pilates has been a tool of empowerment for Rika, enabling her to gain control of her condition and improve symmetrical balance around a spine that is inherently asymmetrical. Rika found true inspiration when she began teaching others with scoliosis. She was further able to observe the immense value of Pilates and the potentially transformative effects that it can hold for those with scoliosis. This lead her to research the topic extensively, and ultimately to create her own Advanced Education course, Pilates for Scoliosis.

 

Rika is honoured to be BASI Faculty, teaching alongside the phenomenal BASI UK team at The Pilates Clinic (Wimbledon). She is continually grateful to be part of the amazing BASI community worldwide.

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To register and ask for more info: lugano@basipilatesacademy.com

To register please send all your personal details (name, surname, complete address, your Pilates experience). Fee CHF 494.- 

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This 3-day Certificate Course will give you the skills to apply Pilates as a body conditioning method for the dancer in all levels (professional, pre-professional, amateur). You will learn about the training routine of dancers, discuss common compensations and muscle imbalances that occur due to dance training (e.g extreme range of motion, handedness and over-training, over-stretching), and understand the different ways Pilates can complement the dancer’s performance. A specialized teaching methodology for dancers will be taught to help you with individualized planning, and key teaching considerations for dancers will be addressed to ensure successful teaching. We will look at movement analysis and special considerations for the major joints in the body and learn an extensive repertoire on the mat, the apparatus and using small props. Completing the course, you will have an in-depth understanding to individualize a dancer’s Pilates program and to address specific needs for performance enhancement. The material of this course can be applied for all dance genres (ballet, contemporary-modern, hip hop-break dance, ballroom-tango), as well as the artistic athlete (gymnasts, figure skaters). 

Participants will receive the course manual and a certificate of completion. 

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Biography

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Markella is a BASI Pilates instructor and faculty, a dance specialist and an Onassis Foundation Scholar. 

Markella holds a BA degree in Dance Education specialising in ballet, Limon and Release techniques. She moved to New York City to study alongside the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and she was awarded a Certificate of Accomplishment in Cunningham Technique. She danced professionally for independent contemporary choreographers in New York City before retiring to pursue a career in education. 

Having a passion to support dancers, Markella moved to London to study dance science at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She specialised in flexibility training and she was awarded an MSc in Dance Science by City University. At the same time she completed her BASI Pilates Comprehensive training and later became BASI faculty.

Markella works at the Royal Ballet School in London and she is a member of the multidisciplinary Healthcare Team. She also works at The Pilates Clinic and she is proud to be part of the BASI Pilates UK team and the BASI Pilates community worldwide.

She teaches the BASI Pilates Global Comprehensive and Mat Program nationally and internationally. Her passion is to help dancers maximise their performance potential and enjoy an injury-free career. This led her to create the Advanced Education Certification Course ‘Dance Conditioning with Pilates’ for Pilates instructors who are interested to specialise in teaching dancers. 

She also teaches her original workshops ‘Foot - our base of support’ and ‘When and How to stretch - the benefits of different stretching techniques’, both appropriate for dancers and the general population.

 

Day 1 

Duration: 7hrs 

 

Objectives: 

●Introduction about the dance population, common training routines, and muscle imbalances 

●Discussion about utilizing Pilates as a conditioning method for the dancer 

●Training methodology for the Dancer 

●Teaching considerations for the Dancer 

●Movement analysis of the Spine in dance, special considerations and exercise repertoire 

●Movement analysis of the Shoulder in dance, special considerations and exercise repertoire  

●Q&A 

 

Day 2 

Duration: 7hrs 

●Movement analysis of the Elbow in dance, special considerations and exercise repertoire 

●Movement analysis of the Wrist and Hand in dance, special considerations and exercise repertoire  

●Movement analysis of the Hip in dance, special considerations and exercise repertoire 

●Practice time  

●Q&A 

 

Day 3 

Duration: 7hrs 

●Movement analysis of the Knee in dance, special considerations and exercise repertoire 

Movement analysis of the Ankle in dance, special considerations and exercise repertoire 

●Movement analysis for the Foot in dance, special considerations and exercise repertoire 

●Practice time 

●Assignment  

●Q&A 

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To register and ask for more info: lugano@basipilatesacademy.com

To register please send all your personal details (name, surname, complete address, your Pilates experience). Fee CHF 728.-

The workshop will be in-studio and online.