Spinal Asymmetry and Scoliosis Essentials Level 1
An Evidence-informed Fascia-focused Essentials Course that Offers the Best Practice Solutions Combining Physiotherapy with Pilates
11 – 12 August 2025
12 CE hours, NCPT
Join us in Summer 2025 to deep dive into how to work with clients with spinal symmetry and scoliosis!
Advance as movement educators to a more important role in the health and wellness teams that work with scoliosis and asymmetry.
Course Description
Become equipped to help clients with spinal asymmetry and scoliosis needs. This evidence-informed fascia-focused essentials course offers best practice solutions combining physical therapy with Pilates.
Taught by a doctor of physical therapy who is Schroth certified and a member of SOSORT, the International Conservative Care Scoliosis Society, Dr. Martin is a 40-year Pilates veteran whose entire career is based on analysis and taming of asymmetry as seen from neurological as well as orthopedic points of view.
Hypermobility and other orthopedic issues, such as sternal abnormalities, often accompany scoliosis as well as aftereffects of pregnancy and other typical aging spinal conditions causing asymmetry.
Based on her acclaimed Handspring publication, the content was peer-reviewed by physicians, physical therapists, bodyworkers, and movement masters to ensure thoroughness and relevance. Learn to individualize the 2, 3, 4 curve types to create an authentic practice using body surface, weight-bearing analysis, and neurologic functional tests.
Discover a proven framework peer-reviewed by physicians, physical therapists, bodyworkers, and movement masters to ensure thoroughness and relevance.
Create a solid foundation to look beyond deformity to the window of function. Enrich your teaching practice by coming away with concepts, tools, and exercises immediately applicable to your daily practice.
This course lasts 12 hours over 2-days, using the Mat, Reformer, Pilates Chair, and Trapeze Table in the Pilates Environment.
Who Should Attend This Course
Course Objectives
In this course, the participant will:
- Better understand how to explain the meaning of spinal asymmetry and scoliosis, its causes, development and progression from youth through the stages of adulthood, including psychosocial impact upon youth, fertility, and adult phases of life.
- Better understand the role of the Pilates instructor in a client’s care team, whether medical or non-medical, differentiating the PMME role of influence in the management of a lifelong condition.
- Better understand the altered anatomy, the altered biomechanics and characteristics of the physiology associated with spinal and functional asymmetry.
- Learn to apply postural assessments to identify the individual ‘s scoliosis attributes (Scolio-Cues) to be used throughout the exercises and identify functional preferences and faulty movement patterns adding to the spinal asymmetry.
- Learn to apply the 3 E strategy and Pilates Therapeutic framework involving somatic, corrective and conditioning concepts and exercises within the Pilates environment.
- Learn the difference between passive positional wedge release and the use of the Activ-Wedge® as well as defining individual Scolio-Cues to make symmetrical exercises asymmetrical, and asymmetrical exercises more effective.
- Learn contraindications and precautions in working with this special population in the Pilates environment.
- Learn to apply an evidence-based Pilates environment framework for a safe exercise program used as an adjunct to medical care.
Outline and Lesson Plan
- Review/ biological and directional bias asymmetry assessments, define the Pilates Therapeutic Style of scoliosis management; Body Skills; question and answer
- Identify the Pattern: Review of main scoliosis types and brace types. Demonstration Lab/ Lecture: Posterior and Sagittal Postural Assessments, Scoliosis Specific Postural Assessments, Functional Assessments: (12+ observations, 5 functional tests), SSPOT youth assessments and Mat initial foundation for youth, when to introduce 3-D breathing
- Identify the Pattern/ Initial Foundation: Demonstration Lab/ Lecture: Core Mat Correctives and Initial Adult Foundation from the functional Straight Leg Raise test, Tensor Fasciae Lata test and correctives, establishment of Scolio-Cues
- Breaking up the Pattern Demonstration Lab: Use of Constructive Rest, Manual Therapy wedges, Passive wedging for Transition Point Positional Release, West Coast Baby Arc Fascial Influence, Activ-Wedge use through the neurodevelopmental positions starting from mat to progress to Pilates environment equipment
- Redirecting the Pattern: Review Client Profile for and use of Scolio-Cues, Lab/Demonstration: Equipment use (reformer, trapeze table, Wunda chair) for spine progressing from somatic mat work to Pilates environment equipment including Activ-wedge use
- Lab/ Demonstration: Continuing Pilates environment equipment use for ribcage, pelvis, feet
- Summation and integration of the Scolio-cues, wedge use, asymmetric vs, symmetric movement use, integrating body therapies, contraindications, scope of practice, sample sessions for youth and older adult, how to work with clients on Zoom
About Dr Suzanne Martin
Dr. Suzanne Clements Martin is a doctor of physical therapy, a gold-certified Pilates expert, a certified ACSM exercise physiologist, certified manual therapist as well as an award-winning author and video producer. She has authored 3 fitness books with Dorling Kindersley, and wrote columns for Dance Magazine and Dance Studio Life for a decade. Look for her recent publication, Spinal Asymmetry and Scoliosis, published by Handspring Publishing. She is presently working on a collaborative authorship with Elizabeth Larkam on connective tissue and hypermobility.
Dr. Martin has over 40 years of teaching experience in the health and movement fields, blending art and science into her instruction. As a performing arts specialist, she conducted nutrition seminars for the School of the San Francisco Ballet and has been the lead physical therapist for Smuin Contemporary Ballet in San Francisco for over 25 years. Through Pilates Therapeutics LLC, she provides instructional videos, virtual training, and mentored advanced Master qualification programs in the therapeutic application of the Pilates Method in topics of spinal asymmetry, cancer restoration, foot health and performing arts enhancement. For more information, email Dr. Martin at smdpt@att.net or visit pilatestherapeutics.com.
A lifelong learner, she recently completed certifications in Pelvic Health with the American Physical Therapy Association, Schroth Scoliosis Specific Exercise in the Barcelona tradition and Trigger Point Dry Needling Certification with Myopain Seminars.For further information, go to www.pilatestherapeutics.com.
