Location: Los Angeles, California
Hi I’m Alexis Eleniak-Radford, NCPT, and an Authorized Scolio-Pilates Practitioner. My problems started in October 2000 when I could not lift my head out of bed or turn it in any direction, with no apparent reason. I got a referral to a Chiropractor that severely hurt me by twisting my neck into the opposite direction very quickly, making my neck worse. Since then, there are times, I can not hold my neck up. Strengthening my Core was absolutely necessary. My neck continues to get better as I am always getting stronger.
I became interested in Pilates as I worked with a patient that told me about her Pilates exercise regimen outside of Physical Therapy. I was so interested, I signed up for a Teacher Training Program and my life of Pilates began. I graduated from the Pilates Technique in 2011 of their Teacher-Training Program, and became Nationally Certified by the Pilates Method Alliance in 2012. I’ve been into sports and fitness all my life, as a child taking gymnastics and trying different styles of dance; tap, ballet, jazz and modern dance. I played in a softball league, and loved beach volleyball. I started teaching gymnastics at 14 and kept teaching into my adult life; my 1st gymnastics teacher (when I was 12 years old), later in life gave me a job working at CalState L.A. teaching Aerobics and I created a Walking class. I have an A.A. in Criminal Justice and my B.A. in Psychology. Though, I became a Certified Massage Therapist and did home visits with my table and chair, doing massage didn’t last very long, not knowing how to use my body properly, and having an injured neck.
This is when I started working in Physical Therapy as an Aide to the doctors. I’ve been in this field for the past 15 years, teaching people how to exercise, and explain which muscles to contract. How correct footing will give you better gait and balance. I have seen many people that have a Scoliosis and I wanted to understand how to best work with their curvatures. In 2016, I took a 3 day intro course to Scolio-Pilates with Karena Thek, in Oxnard, CA; worked with her 1 on 1; then was ready for the Scoliosis Mentorship Program in 2018. This was a 4-day intensive that authorizes me as an Authorized Scolio-Pilates Practitioner, helping those with any Scoliosis.
Before training in the Pilates world, (as active as I was), I didn’t know how to use my back muscles properly. I really didn’t use any of my back muscles as I just squeezed my stomach and butt. This is why I created a lesson on Core. Even more, I teach whole body and involve your feet. Everyone needs this lesson. It’s truly amazing how 1 lesson can be the biggest benefit of your life. Let me teach you how to Tripod your Core!
Scolio-Pilates Practitioner since 2018