About Sarah Woolgar Movement
At our studio, located in Carmel, Indiana, we teach Pilates for Fitness, performance and therapeutic needs. We also train and certify individuals to become Pilates teachers and therapeutic movement educators.
Our style lends itself to a more contemporary Pilates and Pilates-ish session. We using a block format making sure you get a full body workout focused on your individual needs. Whether you need a tune-up or quick-fix, we are in this for the long game. Many of our musculoskeletal issues are ones that could be prevented by better patterning and body awareness. Many of these issues can be turned around even after decades of imperfect movement habits. This combination of Pilates, Movement Intelligence (Feldenkrais based), bio-mechanic no-how, release techniques, pelvic floor and breath work etc.. can help to turn back the clock and unravel decades of tension and pressure on the muscles and joints. It doesn’t happen over night. But it does happen. And if you are a younger person, it will help to prevent these problems from developing in the first place.
Joseph Pilates said, “Movement is medicine and movement heals”. Sometimes just getting people moving is the key but I’ve always believed that how the brain perceives movement and pain plays a big role in how we move and feel. With our approach to Pilates, this work will not only help you become a better mover, it will also help you to sense movement differently and can quiet down negative mental messaging. Feldenkrais philosophy believes that change starts with awareness. With the use of the equipment and props, we can help anyone experience movement, no matter what their capacity is. The equipment, although scary to look at, supports the limbs in such a way that your joints and muscles can experience full range of motion, sending signals throughout the body and the brain, moving fluids and breath and lighting up all kinds of circuitry. I always say it is like the best, most supportive dance partner you will ever have.
About Sarah Woolgar
I teach movement from a brain-based somatic approach. Meaning, I want your Pilates experience to be both a workout and a learning experience. I believe Pilates is a necessary component of everyone’s fitness and wellness plan but sometimes there are gaps in what the brain and body understand. Other strategies are needed to break up old patterns and lay down new ones. Somatics education (Feldenkrais, Movement Intelligence/Bones for Life), functional movement, biomechanics and dance techniques can bridge the gap.
I spent my earlier years in gymnastics and classically training in both ballet and modern dance but my injuries were getting the better of me so I diverted my efforts and began teaching, where I have spent most of my professional career. I’ve been lucky enough to be on faculty at Butler University, Jordan Academy of Dance, Ballet Internationale, Russian Ballet Academy of Indiana, Performer's Edge Dance and currently teach for Ballet Theatre of Carmel Academy. I received my first college dance education from Indiana University, then University of Michigan and later earned my dance degree from Butler University with a concentration in both ballet and modern dance pedagogy. I met and danced with a lot of great people along the way and maybe didn’t know it at the time, but it all truly prepared me for what I do every day in the ballet and Pilates studio.
Along with analyzing and understanding movement patterns, I love curriculum development, pedagogy and learning new ways to effect change in the body, the brain and performance for babies through the oldest of seniors, non-movers and performers. There is always better movement to be had at any age. The list of my education and certifications is long but all is say that I lean towards brain-based movement modalities and the belief that the body is equipped to heal itself if given the right input.
When I’m not puzzling about movement patterns and how I can help you or myself to move and feel better, I can be found in my garden trying to figure out how to can get my plants to grow better. For me, the two go hand in hand.
For those of you who care, here is the list of rabbit holes I have gone down or am currently studying. This gives you and idea of what camp I come from and the lens I use to teach.
American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum Pre-primary-Level 5
Pilates (BASI, Advanced Neruo Techniques Anatomy in Action and others Neuroplastic movement education (z-health, brain gym)
Movement Intelligence and Bones for Life, (a Feldenkrais practice), Integrated Listening Therapy, MovementRev LTAP and Level 1(neural and visceral methods)
In process:
Ortho-bionomy Positional-Release Manual Therapy
The Feldenkrais Method
Functional and Human Movement
Movement Rev (neural)
MovementIQ (neural)
Other areas of study and fans of:
The Neuro Studio (movement for neurological conditions)
Katy Bowman Biomechanist
Anna Hartmen (MovementRev-neural and visceral)
Irene Dowd (movement and dance educator)
Leslie Powell (Movementsafoot, pilates, biomechanics, kinesiology)
Wendy LeBlanc-Arubuckle (Embodied Movement)
Karen Clippinger (functional anatomy and Pilates for Dancers)
Brent Brookbush (Biomechanics, Human Movement, Athletic Training techniques