In an effort to alleviate the guesswork of where to begin exercise with a person who has Parkinson’s disease (PD), this course is designed to prepare Pilates instructors and movement professionals with a clearly defined structure.  Although PD presents itself differently in each individual, P4P proposes stage appropriate, standardized guidelines for movement pre-habilitation, post rehabilitation support, and overall movement preservation, based on neuroscience and the Pilates Method of exercises. 

 

Program participants will learn the following:

 

• Gain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of Parkinson's disease, physiology and stages 

• What is the P4P Method of programming and the aspects that comprise it

• How and why to structure programming for people with PD based on the P4P model

• How to apply Pilates exercises as a primary training mode while also adapting exercises from other training modalities when necessary

 

Goals of the course:

 

1. To educate fitness professionals about Parkinson’s disease and how to work with individuals with PD using the Pilates Method as a primary training modality

2. To review secondary training modalities to prepare and fully equip Pilates professionals with auxiliary training modalities that can best help to optimize functional movement and physical fitness in people with PD

3. Help people with PD attenuate disease progression by creating new neural pathways, maintaining existing ones, and changing inputs to the nervous system to elicit the most optimal movement possible

4. Apply the P4P Method for people with PD, to promote a sense of self-efficacy in performing activities of daily living (ADL), to support independent lifestyle longevity, and to preserve a pillar of autonomy in disease control which is exercise.

  

Until there is a cure, our goal is to help people with PD stay independent for as long as possible by incorporating Pilates exercises into their daily lives. The basic principles of the Pilates Method of exercise can help one to achieve optimal balance, coordination, flexibility and posture among many other physical benefits. Exercising daily with Pilates can have a tremendous impact on movement freedom, and that translates to better quality of life. We can help with that!

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AGENDA - P4P Instructor Certification Course - Level 1

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There are 8 sections in this 20 hour course.  Each section has multiple and in depth segments to cover. The course is content dense covering topics in neuro-musculo-skeletal anatomy, physiology, fascia and neuroscience, and requires movement and knowledge of the Pilates mat repertoire. This is a continuing education course and not a Pilates Mat Repertoire certification program. This program is designed to augment already existing knowledge and skills about the Pilates Mat Repertoire, and offer a specialization of application of the Method to support people with Parkinson's disease.  This program is open to Pilates Teachers or fitness/movement professionals who have completed a comprehensive Pilates Mat work certification as a minimum pre-requisite to take this course.  Please contact us for further details. 

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Begin with an orientation, and overview of course objectives and goals

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1. Understanding Parkinson’s - physiology, etiology, basic neuropathology, manifestations, and stages, treatment protocols including DBS, standard medications, prodromal symptoms and more…

2. Learn the Pilates 4 Parkinson’s Method, SPACE, P4P stages, the use of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) when working with people with PD

3. Review of the Pilates Method, principles, select mat repertoire, and exercises on apparatus and how to apply the repertoire to people with PD, 11 “ABSOLUTE MUST DO”... on Pilates Apparatuses

4. Learn Auxiliary training modes & when/why to use them (7pm, PoMP, PaKua, ELDOA, TRX)

5. Learn about Scoliosis, spinal asymmetry, Fascia, Ambulation & Gait

6. Learn how to use P4P formats, Assessments, Client Consult Forms 

7. Learn the basic Neuroscience of PD, Neural Continuums, Neuro-cognitive approaches, the Cerebellum

8. Learn to write programming & session formats, what are red flags, and how to cue for PD

Final projects, practical application, what’s next…

 

Note: Assessments in the form of a short quiz will be given at the end of each section to reflect back on the material covered.

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Please contact us for more information and an application.  Payment plans also available.  20 NPCP  CECs awarded upon completion.