FLEX APPEAL!
The Five Spine Shapes Demystified!
Sunday, September 20th, 9:00-10:30am (Los Angeles)
Is the piriformis your client’s secret stabilizing superherhero; or the sneaky problem behind that stubborn glute pain? Come find out and get your questions answered with Matt McCullogh’s triumphant RETURN to Level Up MVMT. You LOVED him with Active Arthritis, and he’s BACK to dazzle us again.
In this dynamic, anatomy-rich (but totally digestible!) Classtermind, we’ll explore the piriformis muscle through the lens of Pilates movement. Designed specifically for Pilates and movement instructors, this session will clarify the piriformis’ dual personality: powerful hip stabilizer and potential troublemaker.
Let’s unpack how the piriformis behaves in different hip positions, how it influences sacral mechanics, and why it often gets blamed for pain that may not even be its fault. Through practical movement exercises, cueing strategies, and programming ideas, you’ll leave confident in identifying when to strengthen, when to release, and when to look elsewhere.
Expect “aha!” moments, myth-busting, and movement experiences you can immediately apply in private sessions or group classes. Because sometimes the piriformis isn’t the villain of the story, it’s just doing the job no one else showed up to do.
What You’ll Learn / The Objectives:
Describe the anatomy and function of the piriformis
o Identify origin, insertion, and relationship to the sacrum and femur
o Explain its role in hip external rotation, abduction (in flexion), and stabilization
Understand positional function
o Differentiate piriformis action in neutral, flexion, and weight-bearing
o Recognize how pelvic orientation alters its line of pull
Differentiate “tight” vs. “overworking” vs. “protective” piriformis patterns
o Assess movement strategies contributing to overuse
o Identify compensatory dominance in common Pilates exercises
Apply targeted Pilates programming strategies
o Choose appropriate strengthening vs. mobility interventions
o Modify exercises to reduce over-recruitment
o Cue deep hip stability without gripping
Address common client presentations
o Understand the mechanics behind piriformis-related discomfort
o Distinguish between local muscular tension and broader lumbopelvic instability
Equipment Recommended: Reformer & a Mat
What You Get:
- Supplementary materials and session handout for tracking along with video.
- Full recording to the LIVE session (once complete) and 90 minutes of content with Matt.
- This live session comes with 1.5 NPCP CECs
- Indefinite access inside this course ticket! Come back anytime to review.
This session ALSO comes with 1.5 NPCP CECs, so don’t miss this one-of-a-kind opportunity to train with an expert on this topic.
Flex Appeal! Curriculum
About Lesley Logan
Lesley, a NCPT certified Pilates teacher, habits, breathwork, and mindset coach, is the founder of OnlinePilatesClasses.com & ProfitablePilates.com. Teaching Pilates since 2008, she has run multiple studios, has trained hundreds of people to become teachers themselves, and has taught thousands of students. When not teaching from her studio in Las Vegas, Lesley she’s hosting her podcast Be It Till You See it or traveling the world leading Pilates retreats.
Flex Appeal: The 5 Spine Shapes Every Instructor Needs
Your clients' spines want more than just a flex and a curl. Spend 90 minutes with Lesley Logan and learn to teach all five of them: the history behind each shape, the sequencing that makes a session feel complete, and zero dogma.
★★★★★
A Level Up MVMT Classtermind with Lesley Logan, founder of OnlinePilatesClasses.com
✓ 90 minutes LIVE on Zoom with Lesley Logan, not a pre-recorded course
✓ A recording you can rewatch forever ✓ 1.5 NPCP CECs toward your renewal
Lesley has a few words about your spine, and about all that flexion you've been warned about. Press play.