Spine Anatomy & Core Basics

Join Karen Clippinger in this workshop that presents key spine anatomy with an emphasis on the names, locations, and actions of key spinal muscles. This anatomy will then be applied to provide recommendations and sample exercises to improve common spinal posture problems and to develop core stability with the use of both “scooping” and “bracing.” A schema to help you analyze Pilates spinal exercises will be provided, as well as principles to help you modify, progress and cue select Pilates spinal exercises so that you can achieve greater benefits while keeping injury risk low.

Objectives
Upon successful completion of this workshop participants will be able to:

- Describe the structure of a vertebra and the joints that connect consecutive vertebrae

- Name, locate, and provide the actions of key muscles of the spine

- Apply a schema to analyze the primary muscles used in select Pilates exercises, that can be used to develop anatomically-based cues and enhance movement performance

- Identify and provide exercises to help improve common spinal alignment problems and enhance core stability

- Provide sample progressions and modifications for select Pilates exercises that enhance effectiveness and promote exercise safety