Functional Movement

Class Schedule

No current classes scheduled BUT we have 3 upcoming winter workshops for 2012 -

What is Functional movement?

“Lucy and Ed bring a depth of knowledge about the body and movement to their classes that I haven’t found many other places. They don’t just teach the how of the movements; they teach the why. That means I have actually understood enough about the exercises and yoga postures to do them at home. Their classes, which are so much fun and so supportive, have helped me step into my capacity to feel good, to be physically strong, confident and flexible. I understand my body and how it moves through space in a whole new way. I can’t recommend the classes highly enough.” Marnie Schaetti, Editor, Calgary

All joints move in three different ways:

By twisting left and right in the transverse plane of motion
By bending forwards and backwards in the sagittal plane, also known as flexing and extending
By moving side to side in the frontal plane

Healthy joints move naturally and easily through all three planes.

Because of the way we live, however, we all tend to have one dominant plane. That means we usually have a deficit in the other two. Over time, that dominance-deficit can lead to restricted movement, discomfort and even injury.

Functional exercises incorporate the building blocks of movement through all three planes. Use them to help restore balance, health and ease.

Functional exercise reawakes the communication between your muscles, bones and nervous system.

Ease and strength in all three planes of motion

Think about when you take a step. Your legs move forwards and backwards, that much is obvious. So you probably think your hips are just moving forwards and backwards too. But actually every time you take a step, your hips are also moving from side to side, and they’re rotating.

If you’re only strong in the forwards and backwards movement, you will have a deficit in your joints’ ability to move side to side and in rotation. That deficit will cause you to compensate in other areas. Over time, this causes wear and tear on your joints.

Functional exercise teaches you to move easily and with strength through all three planes of motion. Therefore functional exercise will help you prevent the deficits that lead to injuries.

For example: functional exercises for the hips will take you through all three planes of motion. You’ll move your hips forwards and backwards. You’ll move them from side to side. And you’ll rotate them.

Your full range of motion

The hips are a particularly good example of how functional exercise can help. If you’re like most of us these days, you spend a lot of your working day sitting still. The muscles in the front of your hips adapt by getting shorter.

Then, in the evenings or on weekends, you might be more active. It’s great to be active, don’t get us wrong. The problem is that because the muscles at the front of your hips are now short and tight, it’s hard for them to respond when you ask them to stretch. Another joint has to provide the lost movement.

It’s usually the joints in the lower back that compensate in this way for your tight hips. You then overuse your lower back, and you can end up injured.

Functional exercise helps you stretch and strengthen at the same time. You’re moving all the time, gently or vigorously depending on what works best for you. The movements of each exercise take your joints through their full range of motion and back to a starting position that is neutral.

Doing functional exercise regularly helps you make sure that you can move in any way you need to whenever you need to – no matter what you do for the rest of your day.

Dynamic movements

In your joints, tendons and muscles, there are little receptors called proprioceptors. These proprioceptors let you know about your position in and movement through space. They provide you with information about joint angle, muscle length and muscle tension. They trigger protective reflexes when necessary. Some proprioceptors respond to movement, some to speed, some to stretch, and some to contracting the muscles around the joint

The static stretching that you may be used to – like holding a hamstring stretch for 15 seconds – stimulates one or two of the proprioceptors. The dynamic, ever-flowing movements of functional exercise stimulate all the different types of proprioceptors. You end up with a greater awareness of yourself in space, and a greater ability to move with ease and comfort.

Who Should Attend?

Whether you’re an athlete or just a beginner you should come to this class if you want to:

Build a stronger body
Avoid injury – improve the coordination between your muscles, bones and nervous system
Reduce problems caused by stiffness, scar tissue or age – use dynamic movement to stretch and strengthen
Enjoy moving healthfully through life

What other people have said about the class:

“The course was 10/10 – great job Ed!! I didn’t know what to expect but I didn’t think I’d enjoy it this much let alone get this much out of it. I really feel as if I’ve opened up more through my hips especially. Walking is even easier now – can’t wait to try snowshoeing again. I had a lot of fun – Ed kept it light. I don’t like reps either. Well done Ed. It’s something that has to be experienced rather than explained.” Sheila Hildebrandt, client

“We stepped outside the box of what we normally think of as “balance”. We were also up and moving to see if we had any imbalances in our bodies that may affect our balance or our daily movements and activities in general. The class was interactive and very interesting……looking forward to the upcoming ones too!” Quinn McCrimmon, pilates instructor

The English Osteopaths believe that if you give yourself the right environment in which to thrive, you will. Make an appointment to see us, and we’ll help you find that environment.