In this course, midwives and other care providers will learn techniques that research has shown to be effective in preventing and correcting back pain. Students will learn how to:

1. Practice inhibitory thinking in order to prevent automatic patterns of neuro-muscular dysfunction. ("Pause")

2. Practice self-talk that results in increased dynamic postural tone. (“Lighten Up”)

3. Recognize common patterns of misalignment to compensate for changes in mass with pregnancy.

4. Employ a competent “Position of Mechanical Advantage”(Monkey) and teach it to their pregnant and new parent clients.

5. Suggest movement, postural and cognitive strategies to their clients to mitigate common, automatic patterns of compression and misalignment.


This course has been approved by MEAC for 4 hours of continuing education through 8/31/2021. Approval ID M1819-87-0812DE.


A fundraiser for the Oregon Midwifery Council. 

  • Instructor(s)

    Instructor Bio:

    Eve Bernfeld is a Certified Alexander Technique (AT) Teacher and owner of In Balance Alexander Technique. She also teaches AT as an adjunct professor at Lewis & Clark College, at Mittleman Jewish Community Center, and through numerous workshops and talks at a variety of institutions and businesses. She trained at the Oregon Center for the Alexander Technique in Portland, completing her 3 years and over 1600 hours of hands-on training in 2011. Eve went on to study Alexander Technique for Pregnancy and Birth in London with Ilana Machover, a senior AT teacher, and founding member of Doula UK and the National Childbirth Trust. Her work is also informed by her Master’s Degree in Theatre Education, her decade as a drama teacher and 20-year performance career. Eve is passionate about teaching methods of empowerment around preventing or improving pain and stress. She introduces a form of embodied mindfulness that helps people unravel their unseen habits of compression and excess tension, which are generally the root cause of many of our issues. Eve is also a mom of toddler triplets who keep her practicing what she preaches, moment by moment.

    Eve Bernfeld, MA

    Certfiied Alexander Technique Instructor

Course curriculum

  • 01
    Part 1: Welcome
    Show details
    • How To Get The Most Out Of This Class
    • Resources
    • Back Pain Handout for Clients - English
    • Back Pain Handout for Clients - Spanish
    • Learning Objectives
    • Video 1.1: Intro and First Exercise
  • 02
    Part 2: The Foundations of Body Mechanics
    Show details
    • Video 2.1: The Triplets, and a Proposal
    • Video 2.2: Patterns of Balance
    • Video 2.3: Pull Up vs Relax vs Lighten Up
    • Part 2 Quiz
  • 03
    Part 3: How To Bend
    Show details
    • Video 3.1: The Waist Is Not A Joint
    • Video 3.2: Monkey ~ A Squat Interrupted
    • Video 3.3: Fine Tuning the Monkey ~ What About Lordosis?
    • Video 3.4: What About Engaging The Core?
    • Video 3.5: This Hurts My Knees!
    • Video 3.6: A Deeper Monkey For Labor (and The Full Squat)
    • Part 3 Quiz
  • 04
    Part 4: Putting It All Together
    Show details
    • Video 4.1: How To Balance Extra Mass In The Front
    • Video 4.2: Live Audience Q & A
    • Part 4 Quiz
  • 05
    CE Certificate
    Show details
    • How To Access Your CE Certificate

Reviews

  • By Kristin Green

    “I have studied a few different posture methods over time and was really impressed with how quickly I could tell a difference. I can't wait to teach this to my clients. The class was very organized, very clear and will be easy to replicate and use...”

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    “I have studied a few different posture methods over time and was really impressed with how quickly I could tell a difference. I can't wait to teach this to my clients. The class was very organized, very clear and will be easy to replicate and use in my practice. ”

    →Read Less

  • By Lorri Carr

    “Well done. The very simplicity of the concepts make this more useful, and more likely to be implemented in real life by our clients. The presentation was clear and concise.”

    “Well done. The very simplicity of the concepts make this more useful, and more likely to be implemented in real life by our clients. The presentation was clear and concise.”

    →Read Less

  • By April bland

    “Great class! I loved the information presented! I look forward to using it on not only my clients, but also myself! Thank you so much! ”

    “Great class! I loved the information presented! I look forward to using it on not only my clients, but also myself! Thank you so much! ”

    →Read Less

  • By Julia MacMillan

    “Excellent, easy to follow and great advice for life and how to advise clients. This course is something I'm going to use definitely for myself and in my midwifery practice. Also makes me want to do more study in the Alexander Technique!”

    “Excellent, easy to follow and great advice for life and how to advise clients. This course is something I'm going to use definitely for myself and in my midwifery practice. Also makes me want to do more study in the Alexander Technique!”

    →Read Less

  • By Ginger Kynion Godwin

    “I'm so happy I sat this course in the comfort of my home office. What wonderful information for my clients and myself! Great teaching by a very calm and effective instructor. Will be looking forward to taking many more courses through this venue.”

    “I'm so happy I sat this course in the comfort of my home office. What wonderful information for my clients and myself! Great teaching by a very calm and effective instructor. Will be looking forward to taking many more courses through this venue.”

    →Read Less

Instant Unlimited Access

Take the course, print your CE certificate, retain access for later reference.

Looking for the Parent Education version?

  • Parent Education: Preventing Back Pain In Pregnancy (And In Life!)

    Originally created for midwives, now available in this version modified for parents to view directly!

    View Course