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What is CoreAlign?

The CoreAlign was created to enable natural, flowing full-body exercises with independent limb training. It integrates posture, strength, flexibility, balance and control in mostly standing positions. Working on the CoreAlign at Paragon in Edina, MN, you unlearn old habits and reestablish healthy movement patterns deep in your body.

At Paragon, we offer custom CoreAlign Teacher Training for fitness professionals, movement educators and rehab clinicians.

Check out how the Coralign works in this video.
Video courtesy of Balanced Body, Inc.
corealign

How has CoreAlign helped you?

The CoreAlign makes me focus on using my muscles in a controlled way and also focusing on keeping my balance. It can literally knock you on your back. You have to treat it like you were squatting or benching 300 lbs. You have to focus and make sure you are using your muscles efficiently."

Erik JohnstonNHL Defenseman, Colorado Avalance

"I am a veteran of everything from kettlebells to Pilates and have never had my body respond so quickly and positively to a series of movements that the CoreAlign provides. My torso is strong and I've wakened muscle groups that I didn't even know I had."

D. Rybak

CoreAlign 1: Foundations

Dates:  TBD

Instructor:  Matthew Hodge-Rice

Learn the CoreAlign and its versatility in strengthening, stretching, conditioning and functional movement in clients of all abilities

These courses teach movement professionals including Pilates instructorsphysical therapists, and athletic trainers the CoreAlign method for musculoskeletal rehabilitation, performance enhancement and functional performance in everyday life.

Upcoming group test-out dates:
Test-out date TBD

Test out is recommended approximately 12 months after course date.
Alternate test-out dates available upon request for an additional fee.
Call the studio to schedule (952) 405-9765

Matthew Hodge-Rice

Matthew Hodge-Rice is a Master Pilates Instructor and Personal Trainer, specializing in Corrective Exercise and Performance Enhancement. He holds certifications through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the National Pilates Certification Program. He studied at the Kane School in NYC, the Y, Balanced Body at Paragon and in Sacramento. He also holds certifications in Kettlebells and working with older adults.

Matthew graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and also studied at Otterbein College, majoring in Musical Theater and Dance. He has completed his prerequisites for Physical Therapy school and enjoys the ongoing study of movement science.

Since 2005 he’s worked with a variety of ages and skill sets in clients ranging from athletes to clients with special conditions. He is well equipped with modifications for all levels.

Cari Riis Stemmler

Cari Riis Stemmler

Cari has been teaching Pilates since 1997 and educating Pilates teachers since 2001. She has an extensive background in Pilates, dance, movement science, anatomy and yoga.

Her professional dance career began in 1991. She performed both company and commercial work in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, and South America.  She performed with Ballet of the Dolls, Winifred Harris’ Between Lines, and Cirque Productions among others.  She has been a practitioner of Ashtanga and Anusara yoga since 1996 and started teaching Pilates in 1997 while dancing professionally in Los Angeles. In 2002, she earned her ACE & NASM certifications.

In 2004, Cari trained in Dance Medicine with the prestigious Harkness Center for Dance and has lectured at national dance summits at the Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles and in Minnesota for the Minnesota Dance Medicine Foundation.  She also served as Education Chair for the Minnesota Dance Medicine Foundation from 2011-2018, and started their “Ask the Experts” outreach program.

Cari was part of the original movement that pioneered the idea of combining Pilates and physical therapy at Core Conditioning in Los Angeles, CA.  In 2009, she moved back to her home state of MN and opened Paragon, which was the first fully integrated Pilates and physical therapy studio in the region.

She is a PMA Gold certified Master Teacher and teaches comprehensive Pilates teacher training courses and continuing education as a Senior Master Instructor for Balanced Body Education.

In March 2007, she became a BB Master Instructor for Pilates Teacher Training as part of the inaugural group at Balanced Body.  In 2009 she added BBMI for Anatomy in Three Dimensions, 2015 Bodhi Suspension System, and 2017 CoreAlign.

Cari also teaches continuing education courses on integrating Pilates with physical therapy and special conditions, and has presented at national Pilates conferences since 2005 including Pilates on Tour and Pilates Method Alliance. She was invited by Balanced Body to contribute to their video podcast library. Check out her Balanced Body video podcasts for Athletes.

Cari holds a B.A. degree in Cross-cultural Communication from the University of Minnesota, has attended countless hours of continuing education coursework, and is a casual student of neuroscience.  She enjoys helping those individuals with involved and complex movement issues, taking a whole-body myofascial approach to healing.