Nora St. John • Karen Clippinger • Tom McCook
October 21 & 22, 2023
Registration now open for Single Workshops!
$195 — 3 Hour Workshop
$360 — 6 Hour Workshop
25% off Single Workshops - limited time offer!
Use code: WWM25
Weekend with Masters returns to Center of Balance after 4 years!
Don’t miss this exciting continuing educational event for Pilates teachers! A live and in-person weekend of workshops with 3 inspiring internationally-recognized educators — Karen Clippinger, Nora St. John and Tom McCook will be offering 8 different workshops to choose from! Join us for the whole weekend, you have many options! This will be a special opportunity to deepen your teaching skills, expand your learning, reconnect with others in our community, and have fun! NPCP CECs Available!
Weekend Schedule
This conference is live and in-person only! Register early, space is limited!
Location of Event
Center of Balance
1110 La Avenida, Suite B
Mountain View, CA 94043
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Arrival & Sign-In (8:45am – 9:30am)
Please arrive early to sign in and get settled in. If you’re attending an individual workshop, please arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the workshop to sign in. There is plenty of free parking in our lot and street.
Morning Workshops (9:30am - 12:30pm)
• Understanding Rotation (NOTE: 6hrs) - Nora St. John
• Pilates Core Benefits for the Aging Spine - Karen Clippinger
• Youthful Spine: The Franklin Method and Pilates - Tom McCook
Lunch (12:30pm - 1:30pm)
Catered Boxed Lunch option (stay tuned for more info) or bring your own. Note: there are no nearby restaurant options.
Afternoon Workshops (1:30pm - 4:30pm)
• Understanding Rotation (NOTE: 6hrs) - Nora St. John See above
• Low Back Pain and Pilates: Extension Based Programs- Karen Clippinger FULL
Saturday Meet & Greet! 4:30pm – 6pm
Join us for a get-together to reconnect with friends and colleagues! Following the afternoon workshops on Saturday, we’ll host a reception for participants and presenters to mingle – please join us!
Sunday, October 22, 2023
Arrival & Sign-In (8:45am – 9:30am)
Please arrive early to sign in and get settled in. If you’re attending an individual workshop, please arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the workshop to sign in. There is plenty of free parking in our lot and street.
Morning Workshops (9:30am - 12:30pm)
• The Scapulohumeral Rhythm, Rotator Cuff, Shoulder Impingement and Pilates (NOTE: 6hrs) - Karen Clippinger FULL
• Proprioception: If You Can Feel It, You Can Change It - Nora St. John
• Dynamic Fascial Stretching for Flexibility and Health - Tom McCook
Lunch (12:30pm - 1:30pm)
Catered Boxed Lunch option (stay tuned for more info) or bring your own. Note: there are no nearby restaurant options.
Afternoon Workshops (1:30pm - 4:30pm)
• The Scapulohumeral Rhythm, Rotator Cuff, Shoulder Impingement and Pilates (NOTE: 6hrs) - Karen Clippinger See above
• Where Is Your Head? - Nora St. John
Nora St. John
Teaching Pilates since 1988, Nora creates teacher training courses in Pilates, Anatomy in Three Dimensions and other modalities for Balanced Body Education. She holds degrees in Biology, Dance and Traditional Chinese Medicine and is the author of 16 teacher training manuals and several magazine articles. Nora has studied Dance, Chinese Medicine, manual therapy, The Franklin Method, Anatomy in Clay and personal training to enhance her understanding of the body in motion. She is currently focused on creating educational experiences that are innovative, enlightening and effective.
Karen Clippinger
Karen has a masters degree in exercise science and is a professor emerita at California State University, Long Beach, where her course topics included anatomy, body placement and Pilates for dancers. Prior to her University employment, she worked clinically for 20 years with a wide range of clients in sports medicine clinics and at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Ms. Clippinger was BASI faculty from 1996-2019 and has given over 400 presentations in 12 countries and numerous U.S. cities at studios, universities, and conferences. She is currently working on the third edition of her textbook Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology, co-authored Pilates Anatomy with Rael Isacowitz, and received a lifetime achievement award from IADMS (International Association of Dance Medicine and Science) in 2021.
Tom McCook
Tom is an internationally recognized Pilates Educator and movement specialist. Beginning his full-time career in personal training in 1984, Tom designs programs for health and life performance for a range of clients, from Silicon Valley executives and Olympic athletes, to active seniors and people looking for solutions to their imbalances and injuries. Tom’s unique approach synthesizes nearly 40 years of fitness training, Pilates, body therapy, Somatics, the Franklin Method of experiential anatomy and imagery, anatomy in motion, meditation and Life Coaching. His fascination with movement began at an early age playing sports and growing up in a large athletic family with 11 siblings. Tom’s teaching focus is to inspire and empower people to access their mind/body intelligence with a practical understanding of their own anatomy through mindful movement and consistent practice. These skills go beyond exercise to cultivate presence, dignity and being responsive and resilient in life.
Workshop Descriptions
Saturday, October 21 (9:30am - 12:30pm)
Understanding Rotation - Nora St. John (NOTE: 6hrs)
Rotation is a key part of how we move as humans. From walking to running to throwing, how we move in rotation has a profound effect on how we feel and how we perform. Let’s take a deep dive into observing, understanding and balancing rotational patterns through the integration of the shoulders, torso, spine, pelvis, hips and legs. We’ll begin with mat exercises to train our eyes to identify movement strategies in rotation, where they are initiated from and where limitations may be showing up. Then we’ll take these concepts into exercises on the Pilates equipment to focus on cuing and exercise design for balancing mobility and strength throughout the body. 6 NPCP CEC's
Pilates Core Benefits for the Aging Spine - Karen Clippinger
The aging spine is prone to physiological changes that can readily negatively impact posture and functional movement, including decreased intervertebral disc shock absorbency and height; bone density and form; muscle size, strength and quality; proprioception; and range of motion. While many of these changes used to be considered permanent, mounting research evidence suggests that many can be slowed down or even reversed with appropriate exercise. Hence, modifications of classical Pilates exercises and novel exercises will be provided and practiced that are designed to address these changes and promote optimal spinal function. Variations and progressions of these exercises will also be provided to help you work with different common limitations associated with spinal pathology and dysfunction in individual clients. 3 NPCP CEC's
Youthful Spine: The Franklin Method and Pilates - Tom McCook
Learn what’s important to support a youthful spine and effortless posture for life! In this empowering workshop, you will learn a practical understanding of the design and function of the spine and fabulous tools to care for it daily and blend into your teaching. You'll learn self-massage techniques with relevant imagery to release tension, align and organize the spine with improved muscle activation to support more demanding conditioning exercises. We'll combine the Franklin Method with effective corrective exercises and Pilates mat-based exercises and ARC Barrel for spinal wellness and strength. We’ll use the lesson on the spine and our new-found understanding to enhance your verbal & hands-on cuing. 3 NPCP CEC's
Saturday, October 21 (1:30pm - 4:30pm)
Understanding Rotation - Nora St. John (NOTE: 6hrs)
Rotation is a key part of how we move as humans. From walking to running to throwing, how we move in rotation has a profound effect on how we feel and how we perform. Let’s take a deep dive into observing, understanding and balancing rotational patterns through the integration of the shoulders, torso, spine, pelvis, hips and legs. We’ll begin with mat exercises to train our eyes to identify movement strategies in rotation, where they are initiated from and where limitations may be showing up. Then we’ll take these concepts into exercises on the Pilates equipment to focus on cuing and exercise design for balancing mobility and strength throughout the body. 6 NPCP CEC's
Low Back Pain and Pilates: Extension Based Programs- Karen Clippinger FULL
This workshop will focus on understanding the common low back conditions of disc injury, flat back, and osteoporosis, as well as why spinal flexion can exacerbate these conditions. Participants will learn novel Pilates-based exercises and modifications for classical Pilates exercises designed to build necessary core strength to promote a healthy back that emphasize the use of extension and neutral positions, while avoiding excessive flexion. 3 NPCP CEC's
Sunday, October 22 (9:30am - 12:30pm)
The Scapulohumeral Rhythm, Rotator Cuff, Shoulder Impingement and Pilates - Karen Clippinger (NOTE: 6hrs) FULL
The shoulder is a muscle-dependent joint that relies on balanced strength, flexibility and activation of its association muscles for optimal function. Many Pilates programs focus on the large muscles of the shoulder with inadequate emphasis on the small muscles of the scapula and the rotator cuff that are key for detailed technique and injury prevention. This workshop will focus on these small but very important muscles. It is designed to increase your understanding of and ability to recognize coordinated and disrupted movement between the scapula and upper arm (scapulohumeral rhythm). These concepts will then be applied to classical and novel Pilates exercises that are vital for promoting a healthy scapulohumeral rhythm, as well as working with clients with shoulder impingement and rotator cuff problems. 6 NPCP CEC's
Proprioception: If You Can Feel It, You Can Change It - Nora St. John
Without becoming aware of what the body is doing, transforming movement or postural patterns is challenging. To make significant change, both the practitioner and the client must increase their ability to identify and experience optimum movement patterns and then choose to make those patterns part of their daily practice. Proprioception, or feeling what the body is doing, is essential for creating lasting change. The Pilates method and environment provides fantastic tools for helping clients feel what they are doing. In this workshop we will explore touch, tactile feedback, unstable surfaces, imagery, cuing and movement experiences to create moments of insight that can lead to transformation. Let’s explore together! 3 NPCP CEC's
Dynamic Fascial Stretching for Flexibility and Health - Tom McCook
Learn how to stretch effectively to move better for life! Expand your understanding and ability to improve functional flexibility and structural balance. You’ll learn the importance of alignment, joint mobility, dynamic eccentric activation, proper breathing, verbal and hands-on cuing. This interactive workshop will begin with a Franklin Method Myofascial release sequence for the shoulder girdle and neck. We'll follow with active fascial stretching techniques. This workshop will give you an elevated understanding of how to improve flexibility and teaching skills to bring into your private sessions, classes and personal practice. 3 NPCP CEC's
Sunday, October 22 (1:30pm - 4:30pm)
The Scapulohumeral Rhythm, Rotator Cuff, Shoulder Impingement and Pilates - Karen Clippinger (NOTE: 6hrs)
The shoulder is a muscle-dependent joint that relies on balanced strength, flexibility and activation of its association muscles for optimal function. Many Pilates programs focus on the large muscles of the shoulder with inadequate emphasis on the small muscles of the scapula and the rotator cuff that are key for detailed technique and injury prevention. This workshop will focus on these small but very important muscles. It is designed to increase your understanding of and ability to recognize coordinated and disrupted movement between the scapula and upper arm (scapulohumeral rhythm). These concepts will then be applied to classical and novel Pilates exercises that are vital for promoting a healthy scapulohumeral rhythm, as well as working with clients with shoulder impingement and rotator cuff problems. 6 NPCP CEC's
Where Is Your Head? - Nora St. John
The head and neck are part of everything we do from observing the world around us to texting to performing Pilates mat exercises. In this workshop we will take a deep look at the muscles and bones of the neck and head and how they work together with the eyes and ears to provide mobility, stability and balance. Then you’ll learn a series of mat exercises for improving the strength, coordination, balance and comfort of the neck and head. 3 NPCP CEC's
Cost & Registration
New! 25% off Individual Workshops! Use code: WWM25
$195 — 3 Hour Workshop
$360 — 6 Hour Workshop
Need Help? Email Center of Balance at info@centerofbalance.com
Cancellation Notice
We are taking great care to ensure that your experience will be positive and rewarding. We have covered all costs well in advance of this weekend. Please note our cancellation schedule:
• $25 cancellation fee per day
• Before September 1 - full refund after cancellation fee applied
• September 1 - October 1: 50% refund after cancellation fee applied
• October 1 - 15: 25% refund after cancellation fee applied
• After October 15: No refund
