Let’s Geek Out on the femoroacetabular joint!
From running to dancing, climbing to skiing, we all constantly use our hips every single day. Yet many of us take these amazing joints for granted or may not know how to keep them feeling their best. Let’s explore the structure & function of the hip and apply this knowledge to keep our hips feeling strong and healthy - no matter what.
Taught by Bre Dumke Helfrich, MSc, PhD, Certified GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® Trainer, Certified GYROKINESIS® Trainer, & Certified Comprehensive Pilates Teacher
If you're a movement professional wanting to go beyond counting reps, choreography and basic anatomy, this is for you. Similarly, if you're a clinician wanting to merge science with embodied movement, this is for you. And if you're a movement geek wanting to connect with other movement geeks, this is for you.
ABOUT:
When I first started in the movement field, I was incredibly confused. I had just survived a mountaineering accident, graduated with my MS in Health and Exercise Science, and was quite lost. Even though my brain was full of science, and I have always been an athlete, I felt like I knew nothing when it came to actually moving.
At the time I didn't know that is is true for so many. We simply aren't taught movement at the same level we are taught English or math. Honestly, I think we should. Over the past 15 years of teaching therapeutic movement for clients of all backgrounds, I've found that teaching the why and the how alongside the what makes for a truly remarkable movement experience.
In this course, we’re going to dive into the hips. From general anatomy and kinematics to the applied side; we’ll cover it all! I promise you’ll feel much more confident working with all clients regardless of their hip anatomy or pathologies.
CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT WILL BE COVERED IN THE COURSE? HERE'S A QUICK ROADMAP:
Hip Lecture (3 Hours):
Anatomy & Kinesiology
Anatomy review of the bones (and their shapes!)
Skeletal muscle review
A quick look at the nearby nerves, lymphatic tissue & blood vessels
Anatomical variance
Arthrokinematics
Myokinematics
Applying our Knowledge
Common hip pathologies & ailments
Understanding the interplay of the hip with the torso
Understanding the interplay of the hip with the legs
Case studies
Hip Movement Class (2 Hours):
Mat & Small Prop Work
Hip movement 101. We start class with a review of the motions of the hip. Emphasis is placed on understanding the differences in motion of the different areas as well as our own personal anatomy.
Key hip exercises. Many of us struggle with understanding what’s our hip and what’s our low back. We cover some of my favorite exercises to strengthen the hips (and as a result strengthen our backs!) and improve our mobility.
For the mat portion of class you will need:
Floor space to move
A raised table/bench/stool that you can sit and put body weight on
Franklin Method/Melt Method/Lacrosse Release Balls
1-10 lb ankle weights
A slo-mo ball
Pilates Ring or 2 pillows
Equipment Work
We primarily utilize the Pilates Trapeze Table which can easily be substituted with the GYROTONIC® Pulley Tower to take the mat work further. Oftentimes, load is critical for building strength as well as connecting our brain to lesser understood areas. How can we facilitate engagement of that which is weaker or harder to recruit?
Note: If you don't have access to equipment, don’t worry! My goal is to inspire you to take this work and creatively make it your own. We will also discuss ways you can replace the equipment with resistance bands and other more accessible props. Traditional cable machines also make excellent substitutes for Pilates and GYROTONIC® equipment. 😉
Bre Dumke Helfrich, MSc, PhD, is the founder of Movement Design Lab in Steamboat Springs, CO. After surviving a mountaineering accident in Southern Colorado that left her with numerous injuries, she left the world of academia on a mission to heal. It is from her own experience rehabbing with both the Pilates and the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® that both systems blended perfectly with her geeky science mind. She is passionate about adapting both systems to fit the needs of her clients. Clients first - choreography second. Bre earned her MSc in Health and Exercise Science from Colorado State University, is a Certified Comprehensive Pilates Teacher, a Certified GYROTONIC® Teacher, and a Certified GYROKINESIS® Teacher. She also earned her PhD from the University of Utah in Kinesiology specializing in Cognitive & Motor Neuroscience. To say she is a movement geek is a bit of an understatement.
Outside of the teaching, Bre loves all things mountains. From trail running to backcountry skiing, from climbing to simply going on a hike, Bre feels most at home in the high alpine. She feels lucky to call Colorado home where she lives with her husband and two young boys.