Exercise Webinar: Find Fitness With Pilates
Wednesday March 31, 2021 at 8:00pm EST
GADA Canada held its first webinar focused on the importance of exercise for everyone!
About the webinar: This webinar is for anyone with a genetic aortic disorder (GAD) who wants to take more control of their physical fitness. Watch the webinar recording if you’re looking for:
Inspiration to become more physically active
Safe ways to build physical strength and stamina when you have a genetic aortic disorder
An introduction to Pilates for fitness
If you’ve never tried Pilates and you’re curious, this webinar will demystify it and show you how it can benefit people with GAD.
You will hear from Dr. Siddharth Prakash, MD, Ph.D, about how moderate exercise is possible and important for those with genetic aortic disorders.
We highlight Pilates as an option for movement for those with GAD. Pilates instructor and owner of Body Mason, Emma Kate Millar, introduces the principles of Pilates.
A student of Emma Kate’s who has a GAD, Liz Martin, shares examples of how she has customized her Pilates practice before and after undergoing aortic surgery.
You’ll come away with an understanding of why physical fitness is important for people with genetic aortic disorders and how you could consider Pilates as a fitness option.
We share some tips for getting started with Pilates or any fitness practice, including things to talk about with your instructor.
Questions are addressed at the end of the session.
ABOUT THE Panelists:
Dr. Siddharth Prakash, MD, Ph.D
UTHealth McGovern Medicine School Department of Internal Medicine
Turner Syndrome Adult Comprehensive Care Center
Dr. Prakash obtained his Ph.D. in Molecular and Human Genetics and subspecialty training in Cardiovascular Disease at Baylor College of Medicine. Since 2011, Dr. Prakash has worked at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), where he specializes in medical therapy, imaging and surveillance of patients with heritable aortic and vascular diseases. He is Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at UTHealth. His research focuses on genetic causes of bicuspid aortic valves and related congenital abnormalities involving the left ventricular outflow tract and aorta. This work is supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health. His clinical specialty is cardiovascular medicine and aortic imaging. He co-directs the Turner Syndrome Adult Comprehensive Care Center and the Multidisciplinary Aortic and Vascular Disease Clinic in the UT Professional Building.
Emma Kate Millar
Owner, Body Mason
Toronto, Ontario
IG: @body_mason
Emma Kate was certified under STOTT Pilates in 2004 and has updated and maintained her education over the years through Balanced Body, CoreWorks Pilates and Physiotherapy, and Body Harmonics as well as graduating from York Universities Dance Program in 2010 with a focus on Dance Science.
Emma Kate launched Body Mason in 2015 as a culmination of many years of knowledge and hands-on experience of helping bring awareness to the body—its movement, its strength and its resilience.
Liz Martin
Kingston, Ontario
IG: @elizabethelsie7
Liz has Marfan syndrome. She discovered Pilates in her late 20s while looking for ways to proactively manage injuries and muscle, joint, and nerve pain. Liz recently underwent aortic root replacement surgery (July 2020) and relied on her regular Pilates practice and the expertise of Emma Kate at Body Mason before and after surgery. Liz is also a Board Member for GADA Canada.