CVDA’s owner and artistic director, Kristen Stoller, recently earned the distinguished Functional Range Conditioning Certification. This means she is officially a Functional Range Certified Movement Specialist and was also just named one of the first in the world to be a Kinstretch Level 1 Instructor.
Kristen has been a member at Impact Performance Training in Newberg for the past four years. Personal workouts at Impact focus on strength, power, mobility, and most of all, healthy joints. These workouts are based on an initial joint assessment that members complete.
The owner of Impact, Dewey Nielsen, works with Dr. Andreo Spina, a well-known musculoskeletal expert who developed the Functional Range Conditioning system. Dewey invited Kristen to attend a functional range seminar held at Nike in December (this was the first outside certification program Nike had ever hosted).
Physical therapists, chiropractors, athletic trainers, doctors, and personal trainers attended. Kristen was the only dance teacher out of the world’s top 60 movement specialists.
Not only was it a privilege to participate in such a prestigious event, Kristen was thrilled to learn more about Functional Range Conditioning in depth. Then in February, she attended the Kinstretch training, again held at Nike and developed by Dr. Andreo Spina.
Based on scientific research and proven principles, the Functional Range Conditioning and Kinstretch programs focus on individual assessment and customized stretching exercises. They help you determine ways to identify your weaknesses in articular joint health and strengthen your end ranges to gain more movement.
The dance world hasn’t fully grasped these new concepts. In fact, age old traditions in dance can actually lead to improper technique and unnecessary injuries. As a result of her training, she can help CVDA dancers and others by making strength recommendations to increase mobility and functional range.
Flexibility is a major foundation of being a good dancer. So what is the difference between functional range and flexibility?
Flexibility is the passive range; using a gravity or a prop to get into a position, such as the splits. Functional range is the ability to actively get into a position, such as a split leap.
For example, lots of dancers can do their splits no problem, but struggle to master the split leap. Functional range helps dancers engage and activate their muscles. It gives them tools to strengthen progressive and regressive ranges for the end range.
So how will this amazing training benefit CVDA? Kristen will teach CVDA instructors how to implement the terminology and principles in their classes. Instructors will learn how to identify dancers’ restrictions and joint mobility.
Adapting these functional range principles will assist instructors to help dancers develop strength, prevent injury, and recover from injury more quickly.
The Functional Range Conditioning will enhance CVDA’s high level of instruction. The system is designed to make you better at what you already do well. It complements any existing training and any and all bodies.
CVDA plans to address a broader spectrum of students: all ages, abilities, and athletic endeavors. Truly, anyone and everyone can benefit from Functional Range Conditioning and Kinstretch.
In the short time Kristen has been implementing this program in her classes, dancers are learning the ability to isolate joints. They can isometrically hold the positions and focus to get a richer understanding of the natural range of motion.
Many dancers report their low back pain has decreased or disappeared as a result of applying the scientific practices of FRC and Kinstretch. The practice of finding your passive end range helps you push that 10-15% further, beyond the stretch reflex, to achieve greater passive flexibility, giving you the chance to actively work for a more functional range.
Stay tuned for the new Kinstretch classes to be offered at CVDA in the near future. We will host a trial class and then add Kinstretch to our regular schedule most likely in the 2016-2017 school year.
UPDATE:
7 Week Session July 6th – August 17th
Kinstretch Level 1 Wednesdays 6 – 6:45pm
Kinstretch Level 2 Wednesdays 3:45 – 4:45pm (need approval)
$20/drop in for non CVDA families (additional $20/month for CVDA families)
Schedule a healthy joint assessment w/ Kristen
- Private – 30-45 minutes $65
- Semi-private 45 minutes $45/person
For more information and to schedule private sessions or group/team master classes,email kristen@iheartcvda.com.