Website: www.pilatesrehab.org
Email: ejb@pilatesrehab.org
Phone: (509) 499-1435
Master Teacher, Elizabeth Jones, M.Ed. began her career as a dancer. Following a severe injury, she underwent two back surgeries (laminectomy
Doctors told her she would neither dance again nor be able to endure pregnancy and childbirth.
They were wrong.
She embraced the exercise system based on the teachings of Joseph H. Pilates as a means to recovery, which gave rise to her own rehabilitative techniques. By combining Pilates’ work with her many years of exercise and dance training, as well as studies in Alexander, Bartinieff, and Feldenkrais, she now has a system of exercise that will work on any body.
In 1984 Elizabeth founded the Physical Conditioning Centre (Houston, TX), which accommodated over 350 appointments weekly by 2001. In that year, she sold her facility and moved to Spokane where she sees private clients and conducts teacher-training workshops and lectures. She also teaches at Grassroots Wellness Spa and Fitness Studio. She was granted the distinction of master teacher in 2000. Her continued studies have been with master teachers Carola Trier, Ron Fletcher, Alan Herdman, Eve Gentry and her protege Michele Larsson.
She created and appears on the mat work section of the video “Jaclyn Smith’s Workout for Beauty and Balance.” Elizabeth created a companion set (book and DVD) entitled “Exercise for Pregnancy and Beyond: A Pilates-based Approach for Women”. She also has developed three movement videos for her clients and is planning another for public release in the near future.
Visit her website at www.pilatesrehab.org.
“Dear Elizabeth: Wonderful book! I discovered the Pilates mat work when I was pregnant with my first daughter (who is now 25!). I did the exercises with joy and had a normal birth. I’m so happy to see that you’ve made this powerful mind-body system available for all pregnant women. Pilates is still the mainstay of my exercise program.”
- Christiane Northrup, MD, #1 New York Times‘ best-selling author.
“As a physician, I am impressed by the methodical approach and in-depth knowledge base reflected in Exercise for Pregnancy and Beyond. As a husband, I can attest to its efficacy during each of my wife’s pregnancies and postpartum periods.”
- A. W. Emch, MD
“Elizabeth’s book not only prepared my physically for labor and delivery, but gave me confidence to have a natural childbirth. I even used some of her exercises to help alleviate the pain of back labor. After having my baby, I especially found the exercise log sheets helpful in tracking my postpartum exercises that she suggests. I feel so fortunate to have tapped Elizabeth’s incredible wealth of knowledge on what my pre- and post- pregnancy body is able to achieve.”
- A. Cumming, client
“Elizabeth Jones is an amazing testament to the physical and spiritual power of Pilates throughout one’s life. Her book both celebrates and addresses the facts and function of the body’s changes during pregnancy and provides gentle guidance with precise exercises to support a healthy pregnancy and alleviate common physical complaints during pregnancy. As a practicing obstetrician, I have found Exercise for Pregnancy and Beyond to be a thoughtful, unique approach utilizing time tested techniques. This book is an invaluable resource for health practitioners and all women who are pregnant, postpartum, or considering pregnancy.”
- Robin Messinger, MD
“Elizabeth’s work incorporates important concepts of core stability and pelvic stabilization that are much needed in the exercise community. Physical therapists working with low back pain, pelvic pain, and urinary incontinence are emphasizing the integration of the transversus abdominus musculature with the pelvic floor muscles, spinal extensors and correct breathing; these are featured in Elizabeth’s Pilates-based approach. Her attention to detail and safety is commendable.”
- Valerie Bastian Wang, PT, Women’s Health Physical Therapist and Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Specialist.
Incorporate exercise into your daily activities and also make time to exercise. It is important to exercise both the cardiovascular system and the muscular system (strength and flexibility), which must include pelvic and abdominal toning. Carefully choose a class/teacher specializing in pregnancy.
Why exercise?
“It is the mind which builds the body.” – Fredrick Von Schiller (German poet and philosopher)
Pilates defined fitness as, “the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind fully capable of naturally, easily, and satisfactorily performing our many and varied daily tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure.” He also said, “It is constant and diligent work to achieve a strong, fit, and healthy body and mind.”
According to authors Florence Peterson Kendall, PT, Elizabeth Kendall McCreary, BA and Patricia Geise Provance, PT in their book “Muscles Testing and Function”, an ideal posture generally has the following traits:
My analysis also includes quality and symmetry of movement. Is the client able to do their acts of daily living (ADL) in a pain-free way? My Pilates work parallels my birthing philosophy by encompassing body, mind, spirit, and breath:
Body:
Mind:
Relaxation
Spirit:
Breath:
Mothering Magazine Sept-Oct 2009 proclaimed “On Exercise for Pregnancy and Beyond: A Pilates-Based Approach for Women, Pilates master teacher Elizabeth Jones-Boswell provides extremely thorough and precise step-by-step instruction for women in various stages of pregnancy…if you want a safe way to build strength during pregnancy, taught by an authority, this top-notch DVD is the ticket. (Pilates Conditioning and Rehabilitation, 2008)”
