With an increasing number of clients coming into his London Pilates studio looking for rehab treatment, registered osteopath and STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor Carlo Yanez decided it was time to bridge the gap between his health care education and his fitness training.
“I see people of all ages with a variety of musculoskeletal issues. Many clients come to me with back problems, shoulder or knee issues and I treat them and give them general STOTT PILATES exercises,” says Carlo, the owner of boutique Pilates studio, Core Kensington.
Despite all of his training, Carlo felt limited in how he could treat these clients. He wanted to find a way of combining his skillsets to become a one-stop shop for clients, and in turn, diversify and grow his business.
“Osteopaths are typically not exercise professionals and they don’t really undergo exercise training. And as a STOTT PILATES Certified Instructor, while we did touch on some modifications for rehab, the general program was geared more towards fitness professionals working in studio settings.”
So he enrolled in the STOTT PILATES Rehab Program, starting first with the STOTT PILATES Rehab Spinal, Pelvic and Scapular Stabilization: Reformer 1 course and the STOTT PILATES Rehab Peripheral Joint Stabilization: Reformer 2 course.
The program is designed for and taught by licensed health care professionals to teach them how modified STOTT PILATES exercises and Merrithew® equipment can be integrated into injury prevention and rehabilitation in a clinical setting.
“The program is all about recognizing the contributing factors to your client’s pain or dysfunction and then making an informed choice on how to apply the STOTT PILATES methodology to treat whatever ailment they’re presenting with,” Carlo explains. “It goes into detail on modifications and variations so you have the skills and confidence to tailor your programming to the specific needs and conditions of each client.”
So, for example, if a client comes in complaining of tennis elbow, he’d look at the function, alignment and relationship between the shoulder, neck, thoracic spine and arm before recommending exercise treatment.
“What they present with may not be the problem or issue, it may come from somewhere else, and in order to treat that, you will need to apply corrective exercises. You look at the form closure, force closure, awareness and motor control. You look at the person as a whole because everything is interconnected,” he says.
Why use the Reformer for rehab?
The Rehab Reformer is the ideal piece of equipment for multipurpose studios and clinics— as Carlo can attest.
As a STOTT PILATES Certified Instructor, he’s seen how much his clients enjoy and benefit from using it for their Pilates group and one-on-one sessions, and he’s also observed a few London physiotherapy clinics incorporating it into their practices.
This one piece of equipment can help studio owners and clinics provide multiple services to clients, setting them apart from the competition and allowing them to retain clients for longer as they progress through rehab and return to regular activity.
“By using a Reformer in a rehab setting, clients receive an enhanced experience from the limitless exercises available on this amazing piece of equipment. The Reformer not only provides support to the client and therapist, but also allows for more precise movements, progressions and regressions. Additionally, the Reformer is fun, and clients love it once they try it,” Carlo says.
However, just because someone is a qualified physiotherapist, osteopath or sports therapist doesn’t mean they are trained in how to use the Reformer properly, Carlo says.
“Pilates training is usually separate from other rehabilitation specializations. Moreover, not many own Pilates equipment in their practices. The STOTT PILATES Rehab courses for the Reformer will give me more insight into how to use the Reformer specifically for clinical application rather than just in a fitness setting, which is presently the norm,” Carlo says.
“Clients can see the difference in knowledge from someone who uses the Reformer for general use versus someone who is trained to use it for rehab.”
New knowledge and business goals
Carlo has big ambitions for Core Kensington and rehab will be a significant part of his business offering going forward.
Right now, he’s looking at opening a new studio, which will include a small physiotherapy and rehab clinic. It will emulate his existing studio business model, which emphasizes small, personalized group Pilates classes and integrated health solutions for busy professionals.
“I plan on integrating the new knowledge I’ve obtained from the rehab course with my existing knowledge to better help my patients and to provide preventative injury group classes to my timetable at the studio, such as back care classes and rehab on the Reformer, aimed at people with joint injuries,” he says.
Beyond expanding his studio’s footprint and class schedule, he’s also planning to share his new knowledge with the eight instructors he oversees.
“The STOTT PILATES Rehab Certification will give me the knowledge and confidence to retain and help more clients in-house, becoming a one-stop shop for their fitness and physiotherapy needs. I will be more than just an instructor and an osteopath. It is a good business move because I can market myself as a Pilates rehab specialist, which will separate me from the competition. It’s another tool in the toolbox.”
Find out more about the STOTT PILATES Rehab Program and the courses we offer.