08/26/2026
If you've ever walked into one of my Body Mechanics classes, you've probably noticed something right away... there are toys everywhere. Resistance bands, Pilates rings, small stability balls, blocks, straps. If you've practiced Ashtanga with me, this probably feels a little surprising because you'll never see props in my Ashtanga classes. I don't teach with them because the intention of that practice is different.
Body Mechanics has a different goal. Here, these tools become part of the learning process. They're NOT props in the way most people think of props. They're feedback tools. Every band, ring, and ball gives your brain information it wasn't getting before, helping it recognize movement patterns that have often been hidden by years of pain, injury, compensation, or habit.
When we experience pain or injury—or simply repeat the same movement patterns over and over—our brains begin relying on what feels familiar instead of what's most efficient. One side starts doing more work than the other. Certain muscles become overactive while others slowly stop participating. Over time, those compensation patterns become so familiar that they simply feel "normal," even when they're the very thing contributing to discomfort or limiting the way we move.
The goal of Body Mechanics isn't simply to stretch tighter muscles or strengthen weaker ones. It's to improve proprioception, enhance neuroplasticity, and help rebuild the communication between your brain and your body. Sometimes all it takes is a resistance band, a Pilates ring, or a nine-inch stability ball to wake up muscles that have been underused for years and give your nervous system the sensory feedback it needs to create a more balanced, more efficient movement pattern.
That's neuroplasticity in action.
We're not forcing the body to move differently. We're giving the brain better information so it can choose a better movement strategy. When your brain changes the map it has of your body, your body has the opportunity to change too.
That's why I call these my "toys." They're fun, they're simple, and they're incredibly effective teaching tools. Sometimes the smallest tools create the biggest break
