If you are a group exercise fan, instructor or personal trainer the International Fitness Showcase (IFS) at the Blackpool Winter Gardens was where it was ALL happening last weekend!

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<h3>Friday Was The Boy’s Day</h3>
Friday was the first day of the Spinning® convention inside IFS. Biomechanics Coaches™ and Master Trainers, Tom Waldron and Chris Kitson arrived for the day and also to present on behalf of Biomechanics Education.

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Up first was Chris, who is also an Osteopath, with ‘Why Your Flexibility Routines DON’T Work’.

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Then Tom, who also teaches the Franklin Method &amp; Pilates, was on later in the day with ‘Why You’re Exercising Wrong’.

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Both session were full and not only was the feedback fantastic, the boys energy was infectious as they obviously enjoyed themselves!

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Wendy Arthan, also a Master Trainer and Biomechanics Coach™ who also runs her own facility, did an amazing job manning the stand and offering free screens to the event attendees interested in what we do within the academy.

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We all had such a great day catching up AND discussion global domination ;)

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<h3>Saturday Was ALL About Making Things Simple</h3>
On Saturday my session first thing was fully booked and had such a diverse range of attendees from class participants with absolutely no anatomy training or knowledge, to L2 fitness/gym instructors and L3 PT’s, with one sports therapist.

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Considering my session was called ‘Movement Analysis Made Easy’ I thought … ‘wowzers, how do I pitch this?’.

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Anyway, as I set the tone of the session, I explained that we were going to analyse ‘group actions of muscles’ without using ANY names of muscles.

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Whenever I teach, present or lecture, I always try to remember how I had felt as a learner or attendee in this type of environment. While not an unconfident character (as some of you may have guessed), I would however feel very anxious that I would be picked out to give an answer, that I might not know, and I would then look stupid in front of everyone else. I always thought everyone else knew so much more than me and were much smarter than me.

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My challenge (in my own head) is ALWAYS to include and connect positively with, every single audience member in some way. To remember, and to use, as many of their names as possible. To offer an inclusive learning environment where healthy discussion allows everyone to have a go. To NOT judge if someone gets it wrong or isn't quite right, but to praise the effort to try and share their thoughts. To encourage and facilitate discussion rather than to ‘tell people what I know’. To embrace a learner lead environment where we ALL learn from each other.

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THIS is MY purpose.
THIS is what the Biomechanics Education ethos is about.
WE give YOU the opportunity to learn, expand and grow your confidence and knowledge in the field of human movement, also known in our academy as intrinsic biomechanics.

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<h3>Why Analyse Movement?</h3>
So after my introduction to the purpose of the session I started by asking the group; “Why Analyse Movement?” …to reduce risk and improve performance… the group decided… Great!

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“So What’s The Problem?”, I asked… The problem is identifying what is influencing what, when you can’t see what’s actually happening inside the body. We all agreed!

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<h3>It’s All A Hypothesis!</h3>
No one REALLY knows, I explained, everyone (even the ‘experts’) are guessing from the ‘input/output’ studies, from cadaver studies and logical analysis and this is actually the best we have got.

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Well if it’s THAT complex and challenging how about we simplify it down to that great “SO WHAT?” question?… I suggested to the group.

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As ‘movement specialists’ we don’t really NEED to know that anatomy of the muscles (we SHOULD know it), BUT in the meantime, while we find ways to remember it, why not use this technique to understand movement first...

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<h3>The Session Went Like This</h3>
<strong>Example 1 - Shoulder Abduction.</strong>

We discussed what GROUPS of muscles were the agonists, antagonists, fixators and dynamic stabilisers. i.e. The shoulder abductors, the shoulder adductors, trunk fixators.

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We added the question, “Which part of the trunk is working hardest due to the load?”… Cobwebs were being brushed away for some people here but I could literally SEE them mentally processing the discussion. We got to our conclusion then moved on to the next one.

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<strong>Example 2 - Supine Leg Lift (30 degrees).</strong>

Again we discussed agonists, antagonists, fixators and dynamic stabilisers.

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Initially some people had opposing views until we explored their justifications for their answers. This allowed a few of the attendees to offer their ideas to then find the answer that they then all agreed on.

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<strong>Example 3 - Side Lying Hip Abduction.</strong>

Ah ok starting to get a bit of a flow now…. still a few questions initially but the process was becoming quicker. More and more started to join in, less afraid to have a go due to the inclusive environment they realised they were in.

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<strong>Example 4 - Prone Kneeling Hip Extension.</strong>

A much quicker response BUT they were now correcting and discussing with each other as a group.

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Finally;
<strong>Example 5 - Hip Hitch.</strong>

Confused looks all round as they tried to work out the joints moving and the actions involved…. hip elevation? adduction? femur rotation? So we broke it down again and gradually the group worked out exactly what the actions were.

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So while I’d had initial reservations about the mixed ability group, by the end of the session almost everyone had taken part in some way. Even the non fit pros had been involved!

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For the rest of the day I was networking with all sorts of fascinating people!

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<h3>In fact this is my favourite working weekend of the entire year for several reasons:</h3>
1) We get a weekend in Blackpool!! (c’mon we all secretly love the place)

2) My long time buddy and a partner in collaboration, Sara Morelli of Athleticum &amp; Spinning®, was there and she is ALWAYS so great to be around.

3) Her A.W.E.S.O.M.E team of Master Trainers are like a family I get to see once a year - many are also trained Biomechanics Coaches™ or Trainers™!

4) 3 of my team, Master Trainers, were there to present and man the stand. Tom Waldron, Chris Kitson and Wendy Arthan.

5) My event staff, the SSSPA Crew, were as always lots of fun including Robbo, Funck, LK, H and Kim.

6) We all get to hang out, talk biomechanics and human movement, meet new people and generally enjoy ourselves while working!

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<h3>So WHAT?</h3>
Well if you missed it, you missed out!
If you were there, you KNOW what I am talking about.
If you WISH you were there, it happens every year!

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Move Freely,
Rachel
07976933113
rachel@biomechanicseducation.com

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