Tom Waldron - Move

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Tom Waldron - Move

Franklin Method Educator. Polestar Pilates Teacher. Biomechanics Coach Master Trainer. Franklin Method Webinars & Trainings. Pilates.
(2)

Biomechanics Coaching Webinars & Trainings.

26/02/2026

The diaphragm is an organ of movement.

Its motion supports diaphragmatic breathing, but it also contributes to the overall stability of the torso.

This is why strictly adhering to abdominal manoeuvres such as hollowing or bracing can become problematic when our goal is to breathe freely and stabilise during movement.

When we consciously engage and hold the abdominals during everyday activities like walking or standing, we can make it harder for the diaphragm to move.

This will influence breathing, but it may also affect how effectively we stabilise.

One simple thing I often ask clients to notice is their breath.

Does breathing feel easier when they consciously engage the pelvic floor or abdominals, or when they allow these areas to respond naturally to the movement of the diaphragm?

Every time, the second option feels better.
Movement and stability are not separate.

True stability requires movement to occur, and the diaphragm is no exception.

Movement is medicine

Tom

25/02/2026

Pilates isn't "just" Pilates.

Yoga isn't "just" Yoga.

Gyrotonics isn't "just" Gyrotonics.

Floor Barre isn't "just" Floor Barre.

The gym isn't "just" the gym.

They're all opportunities to live a better, longer and happier life.

Movement is medicine

Tom

23/02/2026

I always think it is really cool to consider how well adapted the human pelvis is for walking and how walking should really be a part of every single person’s weekly routine alongside Pilates or any other modality they might do.

The pelvis is very good at balancing on our two lower limbs, which are actually quite long relative to our primates relatives.

It is these long legs that allow us to take a bigger step and cover more ground more quickly.

However, the trade off is that the pelvis has to balance on two long "levers" that are moving in opposition to each other most of the time.

So how do we manage that?

We make the pelvis a bit shorter (evolutionarily speaking) and we give it a degree of flexibility so it can tolerate the upward forces from the ground and the legs, and of course the downward forces of the spine and gravity.

It is this constant negotiation between opposing forces, swinging limbs, and moving joints that makes walking so beneficial for the pelvis.

Although we can help mobilise, strengthen, and coordinate the pelvis in class, which is incredibly valuable, it should never overshadow the simple act of going for a walk with a friend or with a coffee and allowing the pelvis to move and coordinate with the rest of the body.

Movement is medicine

Tom

22/02/2026

Exercise programming is important.

Cues are important.

Professional development is important.

But knowing you're in the business of people and relationships is number 1.

Movement is medicine

Tom

Photo credit - .studio

21/02/2026

Without tension we literally couldn't move.

Tension gives our muscles the ability to transfer contractile force, influencing neighbouring bones and joints.

It's not about being loose in large ranges of motion but developing the right level of stiffness in the ranges we need.

Tension and stiffness aren't the enemy to moving freely - it's about refining what you need to access freedom of movement.

Movement is medicine

Tom

20/02/2026

If you're helping people move more freely on a regular basis - you're awesome in my books!

We can focus on many things in Pilates.

But it always wins if we focus on people first.

Movement is medicine

Tom

18/02/2026

Jaw and pelvic floor pattern.

Both regions have fascial anchors called the midline raphe that "connect" the two sections of the jaw and pelvis.

The midline raphe in the pelvic floor fuses with the anococccygeal ligament, anchoring the two sides of the pelvic floor to it's base (the coccyx).

The hyoid bone is the base for the tongue and the suprahyoid muscles, connecting the jaw to the chest, scapula and head.

Focusing on the pelvic jaw connection in spinal mobility exercises can create a centering feeling in Pilates.

Keep you jaw suspended and pelvis supported.

Movement is medicine

Tom

17/02/2026

Although I do not believe that online Pilates is necessarily a replacement for in person Pilates - the in person experience of being with a teacher, building community, receiving hands on instruction and physically sharing the same space creates performance and health benefits that should continue to be valued and championed.

However, in my experience, online Pilates can be a fantastic addition to in person sessions, and it can also be an excellent alternative when in person Pilates is not possible due to financial, geographic, or health reasons.

I have accessed outstanding education online that I would not have been exposed to otherwise. I have also been able to help many people move out of pain and improve their function without ever being in the same room as them.

So online Pilates absolutely has a place, and there is evidence to support its effectiveness. Just to clarify, in case this post is misread, I am not suggesting that online Pilates replaces in person teaching.

Rather, it can be a powerful complement and, in certain circumstances, the best option available.

I genuinely believe that both online and in person Pilates are valuable.

Fundamentally, it is about helping people move with a well structured programme that places their individual needs and goals at the centre of the process.

Movement is medicine

Tom

16/02/2026

Pilates teachers... don't lie, we all have that teaching face that comes out after a long day 😂

Movement is medicine

Tom

15/02/2026

Muscle and fascia are both innervated but they are not innervated in the same way...

Skeletal muscle has direct motor innervation.

Alpha motor neurons form specialised synapses called neuromuscular junctions.

This is where acetylcholine is released and the muscle fibre contracts. This motor endplate is the foundation of voluntary movement and force production.

However, the majority of documented nerve fibres in fascia are sensory and autonomic rather than somatic motor. Studies of the thoracolumbar fascia and other deep fasciae show abundant free nerve endings, many associated with nociception and proprioception. Sympathetic fibres are also present.

That does not mean fascia is passive. It means its neural profile is different.

It is more sensory rich and less directly motor driven compared to skeletal muscle.

Understanding this difference matters when we talk about control, coordination, pain, and movement quality.

Movement is medicine

Tom

14/02/2026

Your joints are more slippery than a car engine 🚗

Healthy synovial joints have a coefficient of friction of around 0.001.

Motor oil? Around 0.05–0.1.

That means your joints can be approximately 50–100 times more effective at reducing friction than motor oil.

Your knees, hips, and shoulders are not “wearing out” with every squat or roll down.

They are equipped with an extraordinary biological lubrication system.

Keep your joints moving 💪

Movement is medicine

Tom

13/02/2026

I exercise in 3 main ways:

• Pilates
• Strength training
• Running

Some days I feel strong and ready to lift.

Some days I want to move fast and run.

Some days I need the control and reset that Pilates gives me.

But not every day matches the plan.

If it’s “running day” and I’m exhausted, I might lift lightly instead.

If I’m not up for heavy weights, I’ll do a short Pilates session.

If motivation is low, I just commit to something.

Because the goal isn’t perfection, it’s consistency.

The best exercise is the exercise that gets done.

Movement is medicine

Tom

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+447977335373

Website

https://www.tomwaldronmovementtherapy.co.uk/

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