Join us for the MDL Geek Out on Pregnancy & Postpartum!
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 fully join team exercise and learn more about how 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:
The MDL Pregnancy & Postpartum Geek Out is composed of two courses. The first course is a 3 hour lecture covering the physiological and biomechanical changes that occur during pregnancy and postpartum with emphasis on how such changes impact movement and physical activity. The second course is a 2 hour movement class which applies what we learned in the lecture. During the movement class, we will cover specific areas to focus on during pregnancy and postpartum as well as many helpful modifications and ways to work with the ever-changing pregnant & postpartum body.
CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT WILL BE COVERED IN THE COURSE?
HERE'S A QUICK ROADMAP:
PREGNANCY & POSTPARTUM LECTURE
Pregnancy Physiology Review
We'll briefly discuss the ins and outs to growing a human(s) including the endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic changes that occur during pregnancy.
Biomechanical Changes During Pregnancy
With the developing fetus(es), a pregnant person's body undergoes quite a bit of anthropometric changes. We'll discuss how such changes impact posture, gait, balance, and overall movement.
Postpartum Physiology Review
Now it's time to do it all in reverse! While the physiological changes seem to happen much quicker, we will again cover the endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic changes that occur in postpartum.
Postpartum Biomechanical Changes
As the body heals from pregnancy, change is again the name of the game. We'll discuss the implications of weight loss, muscle regeneration, pelvic floor rehabilitation, and even the new biomechanical demands presented in postpartum such as breastfeeding!
PREGNANCY & POSTPARTUM MOVEMENT CLASS
Pregnancy Movement Considerations
With all of these changes, we'll discuss what is best to focus on during pregnancy and how to best help our pregnant clients
Postpartum Movement Considerations
As the body heals from pregnancy, we'll focus on the areas that are important to consider in postpartum. We'll also discuss building your network of providers as it really does take a village to raise a child but also to support a mother.
We'll also discuss longterm postpartum movement considerations because, let's be honest, it takes a lot longer than 6 weeks to heal from pregnancy.
Mat & Small Prop Work
In this section, we'll cover some basic ways to help a pregnant or postpartum client with few props. This work is critical especially in postpartum care when time is short and movement oftentimes gets squeezed inbetween babe's naps and ALL THE THINGS.
Equipment Work
Adapting both Pilates and the Gyrotonic method to the ever changing pregnant body is all about creativity. We'll explore some of my favorite ways to adapt this work to your client regardless of if they are in the first or third trimester.
Note: If you don't have access to equipment, I still encourage you to join. A replay will be available, but 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. Also, please note that traditional cable machines also make excellent substitutes for Pilates and GYROTONIC® equipment. 😉
Meet Bre
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 with her husband and son.