The hallmark of the MOTR®, Movement on the Roller, is strength development. The MOTR® is a device that is the shape of a 36-inch cylindrical foam roller with a T-bar on one end with pulleys attached that are able to deliver progressive amounts of small weights up to about 20 pounds cumulatively. Its design includes 2 small rubber stands to give stability to the rounded bottom. The T-bar, weighing approximately 6 pounds, can detach to use the T-portion as a weight itself. It is portable, weighing about 12 pounds, and affordable for not only instructor studio teaching use, but also as an excellent adjunct piece of home exercise equipment. Although not a part of the original apparatus designed by Joseph Pilates, the MOTR® is now an integral tool for portable Pilates Method-based instruction.
Very little if any resources exist for those who have undergone surgery for abdominal or pelvic cancers. This DVD attempts to fill a great need in this area.
Cancer survivors benefit from exercise in general and particularly need strength training. Additional research shows that Pilates exercises increase flexibility, and greatly add to the quality of life for survivors. Cancer survivors of gynecological causes come in many ages. The exercises in this DVD are appropriate for women that have had any gynecological surgeries, not only cancer. Restoration on the MOTR® allows survivors of any age group to have the option of adding Pilates-based strength development for studio instruction or home use. Details on how to assemble and use the MOTR are explained as well.
In the introduction, Dr. Martin explains that survivors of this type of cancer especially need posterior pelvic strengthening along with anterior hip opening. They need not only strengthening exercises, but need lymphatic pumping exercises and scar and fascial re-shaping to fully recover from surgical procedures. This DVD emphasizes lower body and pelvic core conditioning needed for optimal leg use, and so follows the neurodevelopmental sequence, the milestone sequence that infants follow to develop their walking ability in the first year of life.
Demonstrator Emilee Garfield is a Gynecological Cancer Survivor, a certified cancer specialist, Pilates and Yoga instructor. She tells her own personal story and why she is passionate about helping other cancer survivors. She not only beautifully demonstrates the MOTR® exercises but also instructs a bonus stretch session at the end with her favorite daily stretches.
Another bonus feature is a fascial scar tissue release section where Emilee, guided by Dr. Martin demonstrates lymphatic breathing and shows how to use a prop called an Arch-Tubbie® to help soften abdominal adhesions. The Arch-Tubbie® is an invention by Pilates Master Marie-Jose Blom and is available from Amazon.
The adapted Pilates exercises start with a warm-up that begins to mobilize the abdomen and waist areas with breathing and rhythmic movements. Next comes more warm-up holding the T-bar that accentuates oblique abdominal usage and helps to challenge lateral and spiral fascial lines. Dr. Martin calls out Levels of Difficulty throughout the exercises so that instructors and exercisers can quickly identify how to start at a low level or modify the exercises for their level.
The MOTR® pulley system addresses core stability along with strength and flexibility in many positions, just like traditional Pilates apparatus such as the Reformer and Trapeze Table. Sections include seated arm and trunk rotations, then progress to pelvic bridging for pelvic balancing; supine overhead arm reaches for more core stability and anterior torso opening. Supine leg circles challenge the exerciser due to its tentative balancing on the roller. A section is dedicated to demonstrating how to mount the roller for this position.
The exercises progress to kneeling from sitting on the roller in an adaptation of the traditional Chest Expansion Pilates exercise. Exercises progress to half-kneeling, genuflecting and full lunging. Squats complete the lower body workout. Anyone who desires more lower body strength will certainly benefit from the progressions on this DVD. Over 20 exercises are demonstrated in this DVD.
This video inspires Pilates instructors to use the MOTR® for this special population of survivors. There is a subtle difference between the art of teaching and the art of instructing. Teaching imparts theories, concepts, ideas or history. The goal of this video course is to instruct Pilates Method providers, giving them tools and embodying the physical tasks themselves in order to implement a safe program for survivors.
Stravinsky said, ” In order to create, there must be a dynamic force, and what force is more potent than love?” When working with survivors, there must be love.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the end of this course, the participant will better understand:
1. The necessity for restoration of the abdomen and pelvis after abdominal and pelvic cancer treatments
2. The necessity for fascial re-shaping due to adhesions and scar tissue likely occurring post-operatively and after radiation procedures
3. The necessity of ongoing lymphatic pumping exercise to promote normalization of fluid retention due to treatment procedures
4. The necessity for a stepped progression for strength re-acquisition after cancer treatments
5. How to administer self-care for adhesions through lymphatic breathing and using the Arch-Tubbie®
6. How to assemble, de-construct the MOTR® as well as regulate the resistance and modify the use of the MOTR® if a client cannot sit upon it
7. How to instruct a rhythmic warm-up using the T-bar focusing on full-body motions and targeted preparatory actions to safely accept resistance
8. How to instruct twenty-one exercises using the neurodevelopmental sequence of positions progressing from seated positions through supine core-targeted bridging and leg circles, kneeling, half-kneeling, lunging, genuflecting into full stance to allow strength development for Low back health and optimal leg use
9. How to instruct 5 stretches for a warm down to end a Pilates MOTR® workout.
Additional Information
- 5 Contact Hours (5 NPCP CECs)
- Target Audience:
- NPCP Nationally Certified Pilates Teachers
- Physical/Occupational Therapists, Yoga and Fitness Teachers
- Educational Level: Intermediate/Advanced
