Perspectives of a Pilates Instructor Incorporating HSE Into Her Work

“From personal experience, I know for a fact that, Clinical Somatic exercises can be truly life-transforming, giving those who have lived for years with limited mobility the ability to regain their lost freedom of movement and for those suffering with chronic pain an effective method to alleviate their pain through simple learned movement prescriptions.

I was fortunate enough to be introduced to this work through Laura Gates. I had been suffering for several months with hip pain. I had been through treatments of massage, physio, rest, stretching, but the pain would always return. Ms Gates put me through a 10-minute sequence of Somatic releases for the hip and the pain was gone like that! The muscle, once again felt healthy, functional and pliant and it has never bothered me since. At that point I knew that this work had to become part of mine.

As a Pilates Instructor, by incorporating Clinical Somatic principles, I have not only seen improved results dealing with most common musculoskeletal issues, such as muscle imbalance, chronic tightness, but also can help many clients with more challenging conditions—including; neuropathy, nerve damage, and pain and atrophy caused by autoimmune disorders—more effectively than I ever could have dreamed.

Laura Gates regularly holds workshops at my studio addressing everything from scoliosis to ‘computer posture’ issues, athletes' needs, and offering enlightenment and education to students and teachers alike. Don’t miss an opportunity to learn this work!”

— Vivian Stooke, Performance Pilates, Huntsville, AL, USA

Trained in pilates by Alan Herdman, London, UK. Now a clinical student with Essential Somatics training program.