Harnessing the Hip – A Pilates approach to movement assessment, mobility and motion

What it is

Harnessing the hip is a practical, assessment-driven workshop designed to improve how Pilates practitioners understand, observe, and train hip motion, load transfer within real studio contexts.

Rather than treating the hip as just a “swinger of the leg” or relying on pre-set exercise choices, this workshop focuses on interpreting how the hip complex actually moves and what to do in reply to what you see.

Participants will explore foundational hip anatomy and kinematics, then learn how to assess motion quality, identify limiting factors on their own bodies and others, make informed decisions around mobility, strength, and exercise selection.

From there, the emphasis shifts to application: how to program and integrate pelvic specific strategies into the Pilates method in a way that builds capacity, resilience, and movement confidence over time. Drawing on clinical experience, contemporary research, the Pilates method, and principles from Functional Range Systems, this workshop bridges the gap between assessment and meaningful action.

The goal is not more hip exercises, but better judgment, clearer reasoning, and stronger outcomes for the people you teach.

Content

• Basic anatomy of the hip
• Understanding and analysis of kinematic motion of the hip and pelvis
• Exercises for promoting hip movement
• Relationship of mobility vs strength techniques and how to incorporate them into our programming.
• Exploration of exercises for hip mobility, recruitment and proprioception
• Access to resources post-workshop
• Q&A

Outcome

Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of hip movement mechanics and the ability to assess, select, and apply mobility and strength strategies that improve hip function, recruitment, load transfer and overall movement quality within Pilates programming.