Please view Class Calendar for specific dates.
Dates are subject to change.
Essentrics® Activation Class (30 minutes)
In-person, outside on the beautiful lawn of The Episcopal Church of Saints James & Andrew. Mats are optional. If forecast is for rain, class will be via Zoom.
Thursdays in September 2023, 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Essentrics® Activation Class wakes up your body and mind! In this class we focus on releasing tension and stiffness, restoring posture, and rebalancing your body. Classes include trademark Essentrics ® flows that gently challenge the whole body. Approximately 30 minutes.
$10 drop-in
Ongoing Zoom Class:
Essentrics® Strength & Flexibility Class (60 minutes) via Zoom
Sundays 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Essentrics® Strength & Flexibility Class challenges your whole body with movement through myofascial chains and targeted exercises to improve strength and mobility. This longer class offers the same benefits as the Activation class and goes deeper into flexibility and strength work. Approximately 60 minutes.
$12 drop-in. See pricing page for more options.
New participants: Please complete online registration form.
Prefer paper? Contact – Spiral Up Work Out.
Private Classes are on hold.
For more about Essentrics, click here.
Helpful Videos for Foundational Movements
- Standing on the foot tripod – This video is from my friend, Julie Loder, an Essentrics Instructor in San Francisco. She explains the foot tripod at approximately 3:25 minutes in. The video as a whole covers an exercise we do in class for ankle strength.
Recommended equipment for at home practice: a mat (optional), resistance band, a riser and a chair. Please click the link for more information.
What to wear: Comfortable clothing that moves with you! Classes are done barefoot; however, shoes should be worn if needed.
Why Bare Feet?
- Standing barefoot allows us to connect with our feet and find our foot tripod.
- Standing on our foot tripod helps us stand and strengthen in good alignment and with better balance. If the foot is unstable, the rest of us will be.
- Feet contain mechanoreceptors (touch receptors) that send messages via the nervous system. This is important for balance. Sensitivity to mechanoreceptors decreases as we age and wearing shoes adds a layer of cushion that decreases that sensory stimulation* more, putting us at a risk for falls. Being barefoot allows the feet to experience more stimulation for better balance.
- Deep foot and core muscles are connected. If the feet are stiff and weak, as they can be from wearing shoes, the deep core can be as well. This impacts stability.
- If you wear orthotics, going barefoot may be contraindicated. Please check with your doctor.
*If you are interested in insoles or mats that offer stimulation to the feet, check out Naboso. Full disclosure: I’m an investor and I use the products. For a deeper dive into this topic, this podcast is a fascinating place to start.