Special Topics: Muscles in Motion 

with Jeremy Laverdure, DPT & Amy Hershey, MS

Special Topics Course Description

Most Pilates teachers learn muscle anatomy as part of their training and have a basic knowledge of how muscles move joints. But knowing the where (anatomy) and the what (muscle action) only gets you so far without the how (muscle physiology)! 

In this 3-hour course, we’ll learn:

• How muscles generate contractions
• How we develop muscle strength and size
• The differences between strength, power and endurance
• What happens when we stretch

We’ll answer some common questions that come up in the Pilates studio: 

• What is “the burn” and does it matter? 
• What is happening when my client starts to shake in the hundred? 
• Why do cramps happen?
  

And we’ll use all of this information to get better results for our clients!

Jeremy Laverdure is a physical therapist and Pilates instructor based in New York City. He has been teaching Pilates since 2002 and for 13 years was an owner of Sixth Street Pilates, a boutique studio in Manhattan’s East Village. His teaching is informed by his training at The Pilates Center of Boulder, his many years as a yogi and dancer, and his study of Klein Technique with Barbara Mahler. Jeremy is certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist and is currently on staff at Tula Wellness. In 2014, he and Cara Reeser founded Movement Science Made Simple, a continuing education program for Pilates teachers.​

Amy Hershey holds a Masters degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology from the University of Florida. After completing her classical Pilates certification in 2010, Amy went on to complete the Kathy Grant Heritage Training program and holds a certificate as a Specialist in Pilates-Based Exercises for Neurological Conditions. In addition to her Pilates trainings, Amy is a certified personal trainer through the NASM-CES. Amy uses her diverse background to help clients find effective movement strategies to achieve their goals and live a healthier lifestyle. Amy is the owner of Loudoun Pilates in Leesburg, VA.