Ute St. Jean has made a name for herself working with people with back pain. Considering this is an ailment that hits a large percentage of the population, she’s found herself in high demand at 56 years old.
Not that she’s new to the game. She was a gymnast at 17 and became a yoga teacher very young. She immigrated to Canada 25 years ago and
has taught yoga, Pilates, spinning, aerobics and boxing. She has run marathons. What she did, she taught.
12 years ago, Ute thought, “I don’t want to work for a company. I want to open my own place.” She distilled her passion into Pilates, Reformer, Rehabilitation and Therapy.
We get it.
Why did you start by focusing on back pain?
As a 17-year old gymnast, I ended up with a herniated disk. They wanted to operate on me, but I met a lady who asked me to try her yoga. She said she could fix it. She corrected my posture. I studied everything I could find
about back pain. After six months, X-rays showed no signs of herniated disks. I still have sensitivity, but I know how to deal with it. I can do anything!
Many people who suffer with back pain are taught to believe that there’s no way out.
I’m not saying that surgery is not a necessity. There are lots of cases where you need surgery. I work with people who need hip replacements. I did preparation with a man for his hip operation. Three months later, he is fully mobile. His physio said: “I have never seen that before in my career.”
What are some exercises that can help with back pain?
It depends on where the pain comes from. Back pain is not one big thing. If it’s in the lower back, often it has to do with posture. We can
correct posture. We can stretch certain muscles. We can strengthen others. We can create awareness. It usually takes me 10 private sessions to
get them out of pain.
How does the yoga wall tie into your work?
About 8 years ago I met a lady who had a yoga studio in her basement. She had one or two yoga walls. I tried it out and found that it
loosened the muscles of my back so much. I thought, “If I feel it, my students who are tighter will love it!” I started investigating the yoga wall and I put in a professional one.
How would one use the wall as a prop?
When we do downward dog, the harness will be four to six inches above the knee. The heels are against the wall. The harness goes into the groin. Now there’s no pressure on the hands or wrists. People with shoulder issues and hand issues and wrist issues can do a
downward dog because it is a hanging one. It opens up the spaces in between the vertebrae and allows the muscle tension to be breathed out. They are not limited by strength and endurance. The students have their support system.
It seems like they have their support system in you, too.
Teaching is not just about doing the same thing over and over. You want to progress people. I build a new progression every 12 weeks. It’s a lot of work, but it’s so rewarding. I have had my own studio for 12 years and no injuries! That is quite something.
You are quite something, Ute.
For more deets, check out her website here.
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