What is Fascia? Why is it important? Fascia’s functions and how it is related to Pilates.
Pilates and Fascia - Fit Together
I was lucky enough to attend Geri Taylor’s Pilates and Fascia Workshop on Saturday 4th May 2019. Coincidently this coincided with National Pilates day - what a way to spend the afternoon, immersed in knowledge surrounded by inspirational Pilates women.
Geri lists the goals of the afternoon workshop as follows:
Learn about fascia.
Practice Pilates with a different focus.
Assess clients using fascial lines.
Have fun and meet new people.
We began the workshop with a roll down. I’m thinking…..”Hmmmmm OK, love a roll down but what has this got to do with fascia?” Geri then gets us all to roll our our feet with a pinky ball. Here i’m thinking “Oh my, this is heaven”, and whilst I’m sure we all could have done that for four hours, Geri asks us to do yet another roll down, but with the thought process of what has changed, what restrictions are now unrestricted, how does your body feel this time? For me, there was definitely less restriction in my lower back and also my right hamstring. LIGHT BULB - It’s all connected, the fascia from under the feet travels the length of the body toward the top of the head. As Oprah would say, and “AH HA Moment!”
Geri then took us through a fascia focused workout on the mat. so far this is the most practical workshop I have been on.
Following this, we discussed what is fascia, why is it important, fascia’s functions and how it is related to Pilates. We looked at the Fascial Lines ( if you are not familiar with these check out Thomas Myers Anatomy Trains) and how to use these fascial lines when assessing a client; what to stretch and what to strengthen.
We then moved onto the equipment, looking a the functions of Fascia; Stretch, Spring, Revive and Feel. Finding new way of stretching on the Wundachair and Cadillac, Feeling on the Reformer, Wundachair and Cadillac, Springing on the Jumpboard and finally Reviving with release work on the roam roller, pinky and squishy balls, before being shown some Bowen Therapy techniques to soothe and relax ourselves.
Concluding our workshop was the Inclusive Circle - eight women and eight therabands around a magic circle. The feeling of connectedness to the group of women standing around me and knowing that at that moment we all had to work together to hold each other brought the workshop home to me.
If you ever get the chance to take a workshop with Geri Taylor I suggest you must. I know that the education committee is looking into getting her onto the 2020 calendar. Want to know more about Fascia, Pilates and Bowen Therapy? Get in contact with Geri via email at vivapilates@bigpond.com.