I'm Ilene Bergelson

I opened my training practice because I want you to feel empowered in your own body.

My Story

After a brief stint as a competitive gymnast, I went on to dance in a ballet company, go to drama school at NYU (as well as the acclaimed Actors' Center), perform on film, TV, Broadway and in theaters all over the USA (as well as a few in Europe). Throughout it all, I’ve always loved teaching, and started teaching movement as a teenager.

This combination of athletic and artistic experience, coupled with continuing education in movement sciences and a deep respect for the knowledge of the many physical therapists, biomechanists and bodyworkers from whom I've learned along the way, has led me to help others learn how to work with their body. But that’s not the whole story.

Read My Whole Story

As a pre-teen and teenager, I spent nearly 4 years in back braces or other treatments for scoliosis (a curvature of the spine.) My first brace was “part time.” I would put it on when I got home from school and take it off only for dance classes and rehearsals. After my first brace was an experimental treatment. When that didn’t work, I wore a “full time” brace; removing it only to dance and bathe.

Just before I turned 16, I underwent spinal fusion. A foot of my spine was fused (still is) and attached to a metal rod with wires, pins and bone taken from my pelvis.

At the time, there was no precedent my family, doctors or I could find of other dancers going onto professional careers at the same level of theatrical dance as I was, after having this surgery. Our health insurance refused to cover any rehabilitation, so at 16, I began to rehabilitate myself. It has been a very educational journey and I continue to learn, thanks to amazing therapists I’ve worked with since I became a professional.

A year after my return to dance, I appeared on TV’s “Fame” and went on to enjoy a prosperous career, both as an actor and dancer, before becoming a movement coach and international presenter/educator (which is a double bonus because I love to travel :).

Along the way I’ve learned a great deal about self-care, managing pain, healing and the importance of working with the body to exceed our expectations. With deepest gratitude for the wisdom of pioneers like Anne Porter-Hoke, Mark Bookhout, Mark Comerford, Boyd Bender, Joan Pagano, Michol Dalcourt and many, many others, I pass on everything I learn to you.

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What all this showed me...

Intelligent Choices

Passion is key, but so is making intelligent choices with our bodies. Most times, we either give up or get hurt when we don’t know how to push ourselves in a way that’s right for us.

unique individuals

Each of us is different and our bodies have their own way of compensating if something isn’t optimal. When we work with greater awareness of our body and our selves, our workouts are more effective and we have a stronger sense of what is right for us.

Keeping Things Whole

In a field
I am the absence
of field.

This is
always the case.
Wherever I am
I am what is missing.

When I walk
I part the air
and always
the air moves in
to fill the spaces
where my body's been.

We all have reasons
for moving.
I move
to keep things whole.

– Mark Strand

*Reprinted by permission of Mark Strand, Poet Laureate & Author of “Man and Camel”

My Experience

Combining my experiences in dance, yoga, alternative medicine, physical therapy, as well as other movement modalities with education in exercise physiology, biomechanics, and muscle relief techniques, I have developed training techniques that strike the optimal blend of mindfulness and movement.

In addition to training my clients and teaching group classes for Equinox in NYC, I now teach these methods to fitness and rehabilitation professionals around the world through specialized hands-on workshops and presentations. Click here for more info.

+ ORGANIZATIONS FOR WHOM I'VE PRESENTED / PROVIDED EDUCATION

+ Certifications and Special Certificates

American College of Sports Medicine, Certified Exercise Physiologist
American Council on Exercise, Personal Training
American Heart Association, Healthcare Provider: CPR and Basic Life Support
American Institute of Fitness Educators, Older Adult Training
CHEK Institute, Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiology Practitioner, Level 2
CHEK Institute, Holistic Lifestyle Coach
Reebok University, Reactive Neuromuscular Training

+ SOME OF THE MANY PEOPLE I'VE STUDIED WITH

Rehabilitation pioneer and Guy Voyer, D.O.
Kinetic Control Founding Director, and renowned educator, Mark Comerford, B.PHYTY, MCSP, MAPA
Anatomist Gil Hedley, PhD
Founder of Rapid Relief and Instructor of Schulman Method (Soft Tissue Alignment and Restructuring Technique), ABMP Bodyworker, Gabe Luban
Paul Chek, Bob Esquerre, Annette Lang, Suzi Nevell, Joan Pagano and many other brilliant professionals

+ ADDITIONAL SPECIALIZED TRAINING

Training Post-Operative Breast Cancer Clients
Post Rehabilitation & Medical Exercise; including implant and replacement procedures
Prenatal & Postpartum Fitness
Older Adult Fitness
Spinal Stabilization Techniques
Repetitive Stress Injury
TRX Suspension Training
Yoga Tune Up’s RX Series
Reactive Neuromuscular Training
Myofascial Stretching / Soft Tissue Release