Movement is a universal language we originally taught ourselves

Remember how to move as freely as you could before you were taught to do sit ups & sit still

Schedule your movement session online

Individual and Group Movement Instruction available in person and online

Pilates Reformer, Tower, and Chair Private and Semi Private (2 people) Sessions available with Emily by appointment

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at The Center Within, Black Mountain, NC 

Saturdays at Dragon Phoenix Arts, Asheville, NC (Pilates Chair no Reformer/Tower available at this location) 

 

Personalized Restorative Movement sessions online and in person 

  • Includes goal specific personalized self myofascial release movement and strengthening guidance, health history, observations, goal setting, photos and/or videos,
  • Practice includes: individualized self-myofascial release for pain resolution and restoration of joint mobility and function, Qigong, Pilates, Yin Yoga, functional stretching and strengthening strategies using furniture, props to apply the sustained and gentle pressures of Myofascial Release for restoring balance of joint mobility/stability and alignment to the whole body.
  • Create a practice of choosing to consciously and subconsciously change your movement habits.
  • Rediscover natural movement without 'designer' exercise instruction.  
  • In lieu of doing proscribed 'exercises' in a gym, mindfully move in the ways our bodies are designed to move in the patterns of everyday living.
  • Blend our universal developmental and functional movement patterns and Self Myofascial Release Therapy to autonomously restructure your strength while restoring your softness. 
  • Unwind patterns and reorganize your understanding of how the body is organized. 
  • Avoid chronic and acute injury, pain and discomfort releasing and elongating myofascial restrictions. 
  • Rest while awake
  • Strengthen without imposing injury. 
  • Develop a habitual daily self care practice to maintain balance in the tensegrity adaptability and hydration of your fascia. 
  • Refresh and harmonize your body, mind and spirit connection. 
  • Create healing seeking pleasure and finding joy in breathing, free range movement and conscious touch. 
  • Change the look and feel of your internal and external landscape learning how to translate the languages of your body. 
  • Improve adaptability, vertical alignment, longevity, health, mobility, stability, balance, athletic performance and life.

 

Movement Practices

 

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Myofascial Pilates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private and Semi- Private Sessions available by appointment at The Center Within, Black Mountain, NC

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

Schedule online

Group Classes at 5th Generation Pilates, Asheville, NC

 Wednesdays 4:30-5:30pm & Fridays 1:30-2:30pm

Schedule online

Myofascial Pilates is a therapeutic practice based on the principles of John F. Barnes’ Myofascial Release Approach® that uses the Pilates equipment as Myofascial Release tools for self treating fascial restrictions to restore balance throughout the body for freedom in movement and healing with ease. Join Myofascial Release therapist Emily Smith and learn a self-myofascial release and reflexive strengthening practice you can repeat on your own in a whole body movement session that also feels like receiving hands on therapy. Receive personal guidance on how to identify, relieve, and release your own postural imbalances/fascial restrictions. Melt, unwind and stretch releasing myofascial restrictions to restore your mobility, reflexive strength and balance. Enhance strengthening efforts, improve your alignment, posture, range of motion and live pain free.
Move through a sequence of yin (passive) and yang (active) shapes on the Pilates mat and/or Reformer with props that soften and stretch fascial restrictions, train adaptability, core strength and balance body and mind. 
In each session, we will explore how to use various props to create the gentle and sustained pressure of myofascial release, a form of Osteopathic manual therapy known for achieving long term pain relief and holistic health. Build awareness, connection, fluidity, and strength listening to the wisdom of your body as the guide for your daily care. 

Master the art of listening to your body and learn simple daily self-care practices designed to release tensions in the fascia, the seamless soft tissue web that protects, supports, and connects all structures within the body. 

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Myofascial Movement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private and Semi- Private Sessions available by appointment at The Center Within, Black Mountain, NC

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays & at Dragon Phoenix Arts, Asheville

Schedule online
 

Learn a self-myofascial release and functional strengthening practice designed for you to repeat on your own for daily self care.

Receive personalized care identifying, releasing, and preventing postural imbalances, fascial restrictions and the root causes of dysfunction and pain.  Cultivate health, awareness, connection, fluidity, strength, and body-mind literacy listening to the wisdom of your body as the guide for your own health care.
This simple practice uses props and furniture to release, unwind and stretch fascial restrictions, resting and strengthening in shapes on the ground that restore posture, balance and joint function. Releasing fascial restrictions and restoring reflexive strength practicing the developmental human movement patterns we originally taught ourselves, creates balance and allows our body to remember how to move freely and heal with greater ease. 

Each session, is divided into two parts; Yin and Yang.

 Yin: We will explore moving through a sequence of shapes using various props to create support and the gentle and sustained pressure of myofascial release, a form of Osteopathic manual therapy known for achieving long term pain relief and holistic health. 
Yang: Restore reflexive strength remembering the moves that you originally taught yourself to e
nhance strengthening through the movements of daily life. 

Props needed: a chair, 2 yoga blocks, rolled up yoga mat or towel and a foam roller if available.

 

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Fascia focused Medical Qigong Flow

 

 

 

 

 

Private and Semi- Private Sessions available by appointment at The Center Within, Black Mountain, NC

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

Schedule online

Group Classes at  Dragon Phoenix Arts, Asheville, NC

Tuesdays 9:00-10:00am

Drop-ins welcome!

Fascia Focused Medical Qigong class includes the Eight Silk Brocades, Radiant Lotus Qigong, Kuan Yin Qigong Myofascial Release and core strengthening practice. Qigong and Myofascial Release are movement and touch practices that cultivate healing, balance, and empowerment. Myofascial Release (MFR) and Qigong release blockages in fascia, the seamless web of tissue connecting and protecting all structures, meridians, organs, and joints within the body, activating Qi to flow with ease throughout and ripple light into all aspects of life. Both help people from all walks of life to heal, nourish, and harmonize their body, mind, and emotions and discover a deeper level of health and wellbeing. The healing powers of synergizing Myofascial Release and Qigong are exponential. Awaken your body's innate ability to release tension, dissolve stress, heal illness, prevent disease and nourish your whole being. This class is great for all ages and ability levels. 

Qigong is an ancient Chinese healing art for all people to regain health and reduce stress by caring for themselves with the energy work of simple and mindful movement. Myofascial Release is a form of Osteopathic Manual Therapy that uses gentle touch to activate the body's innate ability to heal. MFR holistically treats pain, dysfunction and imbalance with gentle touch and sustained pressure to eliminate fascial restrictions for restoring joint function, whole body balance, and healing with ease .

Emily will guide us through a series of gentle and mindful Qigong movements and meditation in Yin shapes lying on the ground with props for releasing tension and fascial restrictions. You will leave feeling relaxed and rejuvenated learning a practice you can repeat on your own daily at home.