IN PERSON - The Art of Touch: handling skills for the upper body

About This Class

Join Leila Coppock for an in-person workshop on Saturday, November 16th at 2.15 - 6.15pm. The focus of the workshop is "The Art of Touch: handling skills for the upper body".

LOCATION:

Christ Church Highbury – Taylor Bassett Room. 

159 Highbury Grove, N5 1SA,

London

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:

Handling the upper body (head, neck, shoulders & chest) to:

- elicit a parasympathetic nervous system response; 

- to reduce muscular tension, stress & anxiety;

- to improve movement efficiency/ease; &

- to improve alignment

This workshop is for any teacher who wants to further develop their hands-on skills and the sensitivity of their touch. I will teach you some specific manual techniques to use either in a 1-1 context or on individuals within a group class. We will look at vertical positions (sitting & standing), 4PK (quadruped, prone & supine positions. We will examine thoracic spine to head alignment (i.e. from the diaphragm upwards) & how 'fight or flight' posture can be gradually readjusted & improved. 

This is a practical workshop with time for discussion & exploration, furnishing you with handling skills that you can use right away with your clients. I think many teachers feel hesitant or uncertain about handling the head, neck & chest. This can be especially difficult for those who trained during (or just before) Covid. However, being able to touch these areas of the body effectively can be highly reassuring for our clients and can really help them to relax, to breathe, to feel good, & to be present 'in the moment'. This is as important for their mental health (reducing stress & anxiety, aiding mental focus, eliciting a sense of calm) as it is for their physical health (reducing muscular tension, improving alignment, preventing or alleviating headaches etc).

Nowadays, more than ever before, we all need to stay grounded, calm & connected to our bodies. Our remit as Pilates teachers goes well beyond teaching exercises. If we have the right manual skills, & feel confident enough to use them regularly, we can facilitate this state of calm & make a much greater difference to our clients. 

PREVIOUS WORKSHOP FEEDBACK:

"She created a wonderfully supportive environment to get stuck in and try different handling for the upper body. I really appreciated watching Leila do what she does best and then having the opportunity to 'have a try' with her guidance and expertise on hand. It was also very useful to receive feedback from other teachers in the group about what worked well or not."

PRESENTER BIO

Leila trained as a contemporary dancer in the 1990s at London Contemporary Dance School & has experienced a huge array of different movement techniques/approaches over the years.  She worked for several years as a massage therapist, leading to a very hands-on approach to teaching movement & an emphasis on the client/student's sensory experience. Leila has been a Pilates Foundation Teacher-Trainer since 2014 & she is passionate about passing on her knowledge & inspiring other teachers. Leila is drawn more & more to fascial touch & structural integration work, & how that can cross over into Pilates / movement teaching.

www.bodywisepilates.co.uk