Pilobolus Education Director Emily Kent with Matt Scheib of Atlanta Judo Midtown
Pilobolus’s educational programming uses the foundational elements of the Pilobolus method to help students connect, grow, and develop through classes tailored to the unique needs of different bodies. Last year, Pilobolus expanded its offerings for older adults to include Bounce Back, a special class series focused on how to fall safely. The development of this class grew out of years of observation and practice of Pilobolus’s Connecting with Balance series, which centers balance as a key element of well-being, in collaboration with mobility expert Judith Sachs of Anyone Can Move.
Pilobolus Education Director Emily Kent recently attended The Falling Class at Atlanta Judo Midtown, led by Matt Scheib, to explore new methods of fall prevention:
“It was so fun to be in a room with another person who is passionate about this work. While the principles of safe falling are universal, Matt's judo-martial arts approach, language, and techniques were at times different from mine. I loved learning that he does something he calls "Farmer's Market Walk," which is similar to our Streets of New York exercise we incorporate into most every class (this involves everyone walking around the space, weaving in and out of each other like at a busy farmers market, without bumping.
Because he is in a padded dojo, all the floors and walls are covered with mats, and he makes use of them all. He also has multiple heights of crash mats, so the types of fall practice he can do are different.
After class, I got to sit and discuss the joys and trials of doing this work, shared some of my exercises, asked questions, and came away with ideas to improve Bounce Back.
I can't wait to go back!”