The Clinical Pilates program at Envision Physiotherapy started in 2011 when we moved from a personal training gym on the corner of Broadway and Fir in Vancouver to our own space on 14th and Granville. I had made a point of connecting with various different healthcare professionals over the previous five years and found that Pilates was a nice balance to the strength and conditioning facility that I found myself in. Some people needed to get stronger, but other people really needed a different environment to learn how to move well. Karen Weggler, the owner of The Movement Studio in Kitsilano helped provide that environment for my clients and when the opportunity came to officially work together, we jumped on it.
We set up a system where physiotherapists can assess and treat clients then transition them directly to an experienced Pilates Instructor in the clinic studio to work on movement patterning, core activation and posture exercises. The Pilates instructors act as rehab assistants and have direct access to review the physiotherapy notes and maintain an open line of communication with the therapists in the clinic. Clients see both the physio and the rehab assistant over a typical six week program with restrictions and goals being clearly documented and communicated.
We find that after spending one-on-one time with the Pilates-Physio team, clients have profoundly better body awareness and are better prepared to enter group fitness based classes in the community. Our physiotherapists can help clients with movement and exercise, but some people just need that extra attention to detail and a transition away from physical treatment; Clinical Pilates is a great fit.
Our Clinical Pilates instructors are considered rehabilitation assistants as part of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and our program is consistent with the model laid out by the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia and may qualify for extended health coverage under physiotherapy in many extended health insurance plans.
If you are interested in Clinical Pilates at Envision Physiotherapy please call the Granville office at 604-737-7309 and request an initial physiotherapy consultation.