Scoliosis

Journey with Myself and Clients

Laura M. Gates 4-23-2011

During my 15 year career as a professional dancer and dance teacher, I was plagued with constant chronic pain in my thoracic spine, and more than occasional crisis to one part of my spine or another, due to scoliosis. Scoliosis can be a complicated and stubborn puzzle to solve. Even after muscle groups are re-patterned and bones change position, one must be quite diligent at reminding the brain of the changes on a regular basis. The nervous system tends to revert to an old familiar pattern of imbalance in response to trauma, or lack of use of the body.

In this workshop I offer you these effective self-care methods I have collected, adapted, and developed for improving scoliosis. I use them on a constant basis for maintaining my own postural improvements and physical comfort, and with my clients and students. The sources of inspiration are the work of neuromuscular pioneer, Thomas Hanna, PhD, the movement research of master arthro-kinematics teacher, Irene Dowd, and my background in dance and movement education. You will find these ideas useful not only for scoliosis, but for chronic pain relief and mobilization for any part of the torso.

Laura M. Gates was trained and certified by Somatic Systems Institute (MA) in Clinical Somatic Education, and certified in Hanna Somatic Education by Novato Institute (CA.) She brings over 30 years experience as a professional dancer and movement educator to her work, has studied deep tissue body work with Tyr Throne, and anatomy and arthro-kinematics with master teacher, Irene Dowd. She is a somatic movement teacher and practitioner in NYC, as well as nationally and internationally. www.fullmovementpotential.com