
ABOUT LINDSEY
Certified Yoga Teacher
Authorized Scolio-Pilates® Practitioner
I grew up as a dancer. My St. Louis based dance studio became a second home. And while I was diagnosed with scoliosis in middle school, I was told it wasn’t severe enough to treat so kept moving my body in the ways I always had. By the time I left undergrad with a degree in journalism, I entered my early twenties already experiencing back pain.
It wasn't long after that I developed a love for vinyasa yoga, and obtained my teaching certification. At the time, I had never heard of hypermobility or understood how it could affect an already vulnerable spine. By the time I was 26, I developed SI joint dysfunction. Through physical therapy, I discovered the stabilizing benefits of Pilates, and decided to add that to my certifications, while continuing to teach yoga. At 33, after having my first child, I was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis and stenosis of my lumbar spine.
The first surgeon I consulted recommended a fusion, then described how hard of a surgery that is to undergo and recover from, and I left with instructions not to bend forward, backward, or to the side, not to twist or lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk. I had a 1 year old at the time. So I sought a second opinion from a doctor who encouraged me to continue to build core strength, prolong the surgery as long as possible, and let pain guide me in what movements to avoid. I decided to switch the focus of my practice to Pilates, which has enabled me to avoid surgery and have a second child with no progression in my injury.
I’ve learned firsthand how imbalances caused by scoliosis can lead to compensation and further injuries, and I believe that mindful movement is the best medicine. I’ve worked hard to find ways to keep my body strong without increasing my pain level or compromising my spine. Through scoliosis-safe Pilates, and applying Pilates principles to other low impact forms of exercise, I get an effective workout while keeping my body in alignment. This is how the idea for The Reformed Method was born.
I've spent over 15 years teaching Pilates and yoga, and recently broadened my expertise through a focused Scolio-Pilates® certification. My goal is to share with my clients the knowledge I wish I had when I was diagnosed.