Being a Movement Teacher with Back Pain
- Jude Hirschheimer
- Dec 9, 2020
- 2 min read
The movement in this pic is called a spine curl or pelvic curl. The aim of the exercise is to roll the spine off the floor in sequence - it’s all about control, stability, alignment and flexion/mobilisation of the spine.
Despite its simplicity, I find this movement incredibly difficult. It doesn’t feel great on my spine and I really have to warm into it (I have a lumbar spine issue which can be painful and often limits my movements). The reality is that this is it, I can’t lift up very high and my hips don’t really open up much more than that, unless I lift my heels and really push.
Pushing through a movement isn’t what it’s about for me anymore, I certainly wouldn’t teach that way and I wouldn’t expect a client to push through to find the perfect ‘shape’.
I think in the past I’ve seen my back issue as a weakness, I should be able to do everything as a movement teacher right? Maybe not, if anything the last year or so has taught me that showing up as you are; flaws, weaknesses and limitations are far more helpful than the perfect body with the perfect movement.
So if you’re reading this and thinking about starting a movement/Pilates programme for back pain, I’m hoping it’s reassuring to know that movement teachers can’t do it all either! I’ve taught so many people that have shown up in my studio in serious pain and I explain that I have a fracture in my spine and the vertebrae are slipped out of place and I have bad days but I move as best I can and this gives them hope. They say well if you can do that, then there’s hope for me.
Damn straight!
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