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LOS ANGELES — July 23, 2009 —

Award-winning SmartSpine Works will host workshops in California, North Carolina, New York and Florida.  The workshop series will give teachers, trainers, and physical therapists tools to enhance personal back care programs through biofeedback for postural alignment and deep muscle awareness.  Marie-José Blom, Master trainer and recipient of the 2006 Spotlight Award, will be leading a workshop in Long Beach, California this August.

Blom’s more than twenty years experience teaching anatomy, kinesiology, physiology, dance movement and Pilates inspired her to develop tactile communication aids that would enhance her clients’ movement potential .  Katherine Thackston, a specialist in entertainment marketing and art direction, met Blom while recovering from a shoulder injury.  “I had two shoulder surgeries prior to meeting and knowing MJ; if I had met her before then and used these products, I am almost certain I would not have had either surgery,” Thackston said.  Thackston and Blom soon partnered to form SmartSpine Works, LLC.  Upon their product line launch in 2006, SmartSpine Works won “Best New Product” at the Pilates Method Alliance Show.  Since then, they have incorporated all organic materials, including hemp, cotton, grains, and lavender, into their product design.

Physical Therapy doctoral candidate, Andrea Cordova-Caddes attended Blom’s Pilates Professional Teacher Training Program in May and later applied the concept of “locked long and short muscles” to a discussion of Janda’s pelvic crossed syndrome.  She often finds familiarity with the new concepts introduced in her physical therapy program.  “This principle guides my daily practice with clients and created the lens by which I see movement and compensatory patterns,” she said.  Blom designed the upcoming workshops with clients like Cordova-Caddes in mind to include an introduction to SmartSpine principles, integration of core biomechanics, and Pilates integrated teaching techniques.

Where & When:

• Long Beach, CA - August 28-30  Marie-José Blom
• Asheville, NC - August 29-30  Jennifer Gianni
• Grover Beach, CA - September 12-13  Paula Anderson
• New York. NY - October 31- November 1  Joy Karley
• Jacksonville, FL - February 19-21 Marie-José Blom
• San Francisco, CA - March 5-7  Marie-José Blom