Dance Science and Pilates Education - Karen’s Bio

Karen Clippinger has a masters degree in exercise science (MSPE) and has integrated Pilates into her work since 1993. Karen is a Professor Emerita at California State University, Long Beach where her course topics included anatomy, injury prevention, body placement and Pilates for dancers.

Prior to her academic appointment, Ms. Clippinger worked as a clinical kinesiologist for 20 years, including at Loma Linda University Medical Center and several sports medicine clinics in Seattle. She has also consulted for the U.S. Weightlifting Federation, U.S. Race Walking Team, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Danish Wounded Warrior Project.

Ms. Clippinger has given over 400 presentations internationally and at various sites in the United States including at conferences for BASI, Balanced Body, Body Control (UK), Pilates in Asia, and numerous universities.

Ms. Clippinger served as one of the founding co-editor-in-chiefs of the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science, authored the textbook Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology, and co-authored Pilates Anatomy with Rael Isacowitz. In 2021 she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from IADMS for her contributions to dance medicine and science.

Pilates Workshops 2024

2024 workshops are listed below while select past workshops and topic descriptions are available for reference.

May 17-19, 2024  Pilates in Asia (PIA) International Convention and Conference-Seoul, Republic of Korea Topics: Shoulder Biomechanics and Pilates: The Basic Five; Low Back Pain and Pilates: Extension Based Programs; Unwinding Scoliosis and other Spinal Asymmetries with Pilates; Pilates Core Benefits for the Aging Spine; Sacroiliac Function and Pilates Exercise Design; Hip and Knee Biomechanics on the Pilates Reformer. Contact: http://www.pilates-asia.com/eng/main/main.php

June 22-23, 2024  BASI®Pilates Instructor Workshop at Pilates House – Munich, Germany Topics: Hip and Knee Biomechanics on the Pilates Reformer (6 NPCP CECs); Pilates, Alignment and Posture (6 NPCP CECs). Contact: office@basipilates.net or fill out registration form at https://form.basipilates-natax.net/index.php/en/workshops-form-en

August 23-28, 2024  BASI® Pilates Instructor Workshop at BASI Korea – Seoul, Republic of Korea Topics:Low Back Pain and Pilates: Flexion Based Programs (3 NPCP CECs); Low Back Pain and Pilates: Extension Based Programs (3 NPCP CECs); Sacroiliac Function and Pilates Program Design (6 NPCP CECs); The Scapulohumeral Rhythm, Rotator Cuff, Shoulder Impingement and Pilates (6 NPCP CECs); Pilates for Runners (6 NPCP CECs). Contact: mkt@basipilateskor.com  or call +82 02-424-7278

August 31-September 4, 2024  Zenplace Pilates Instructor Workshop – Tokyo, Japan Topics: Pilates Core Benefits for the Aging Spine (3 NPCP CECs); Kyphosis and Osteoporosis (3 NPCP CE); The Dancer’s Hip: Improving Turnout, Extensions and the Arabesque (6 NPCP CECs); Sacroiliac Function and Pilates Program Design (6 NPCP CECs); Knee Biomechanics, Common Injuries, and Pilates Program Design (6 NPCP CECs). The first four topics are live in English with Japanese translation while the last is live and online in English with Chinese translation. Contact:  japan@basipilates.jp

October 1-5, 2024  Pilates for Dancers (24 NPCP CECs) at BASI Pilates Academy – Newport Beach, CA, USA. This four-and-a-half-day course presents repertoire on the mat and Pilates apparatus designed to improve upper back extension and core stability, turnout, extensions of the legs, arabesques, floor work, knee hyperextension, point of the foot (plantar flexion), ankle-foot stability, jumps, carriage of the arms, and body support by the arms. In addition to learning individual exercises, participants will participate in a sample mat class with elastic bands, as well as a sample reformer class. A course manual (over 100 pages in length) is included that contains covered repertoire and lists of the exercises in the sample classes. Although open to any instructors or advanced dancers using Pilates, graduates from any BASI Pilates Comprehensive Treacher Training Program in the world can obtain a BASI Teaching Certificate with Dance Specialization upon completion of this Pilates for Dancers course. Contact BASI HQ at +1 (866)992-2742 or register at https://www.basipilates.com/courses/newport-beach-ca-pilates-for-dancers-3308169027-4160888719-1833650755-1521915294/

October 26-27, 2024  Pilates Instructor Workshop at Center of Balance-Mountain View, CA, USA. Topics: TBA. Contact: karen@centerofbalance.com or call 650-967-6414

Videos

Publications

Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology
3rd Edition just released October 2023

This visually rich text is a valuable resource for learning key bones, joints, muscles and movement analysis. Common alignment and technique errors are also discussed in addition to strength exercises, flexibility exercises, and cues that can be used for their improvement. This new edition is in full color and the applied nature, nearly 300 illustrations, and online interactive activities such as drag and drop muscle diagrams of this text make it an essential reference for Pilates instructors, as well as dance educators and dancers. Course instructors have access to specialized online materials including over 600 slides with 286 pieces of art and 131 photos.
Available through Human Kinetics and at Amazon.com

Pilates Anatomy 2nd Edition (2020)

The first edition of Pilates Anatomy, written by Rael Isacowitz and Karen Clippinger, has been translated into more than 11 languages. The first three chapters of this book cover key principles of Pilates, body alignment essentials, and movement analysis fundamentals. The following chapters cover steps, technique cues and exercise notes for 46 mat exercises with stunning anatomical illustrations. The final chapter provides sample programs. The second edition of this book was released in 2020. It provides additional modifications, progressions and variations for these exercises that are designed to foster greater individualization, so that readers can maximize benefits while reducing risk for their clients or themselves.

Available through Human Kinetics and at Amazon.com