Current M.P.I. Projects

Judith Aston’s unique approach to movement and posture has benefited people of all ages over the past 50+ years. Through Movement Projects Inc., her innovative work will continue teaching people how to “be in their best body” for many years to come.

Movement Projects Inc. is currently seeking grants to fund the production and distribution of the Recover Your Body Series. Designed as ten thirty-minute classes, this series takes the elegant paradigm of Aston Kinetics and applies it to the specific needs of breast cancer rehabilitation. The intention is to take what we know works, deliver it in a format that is easy to use, and offer it as a valuable addition to the intricate, complicated, and very personal task of recovering fully from breast cancer surgeries. We plan to make these videos available to thousands of women around the world through: 

• Academic settings for training purposes & continuing education.
• PTs as an addition to their current rehabilitation program, 
• Medical and non-medical breast cancer resource centers,
• Internet based subscriptions to individuals for download anywhere in the world, to reach underserved and unserved populations.

Aston Senior Fitness for Living Program
In 2006, in recognition of the Aston Senior Fitness for Living Program, Judith Aston received the National Office of Aging, Best Practices in Health Promotion Award and has worked with seniors extensively. Since 1985, the Aston Senior Fitness for Living program has been available to individuals through Aston-Patterning practitioners. A group format was developed and offered to seniors at Marin General Hospital in Northern California from 1985 – 1990. The class is a series of unique movements/exercise, combined with education on activities of daily living and ergonomics, designed to assist the elderly and frail overcome physical limitations and reclaim greater freedom of movement. One the major goals of the class is to educate the elderly to be “body smart” - to recognize both their limitations and those areas which can improve.

In the fall of 2002, a pilot project introduced this program to Hawaiian seniors at Tutu's House in Waimea. Fifty five seniors (ages 60-92) participated in these classes (phase one). With encouragement from the medical community, Tutu's House and the seniors themselves, and financial support from the Gerstacker Foundation and M.P.I, a series of beginning and intermediate classes were held at Tutu’s House in April 2003. In November/December 2003 and March 2004, we also added classes at the Kohala Senior Center in Hawi. Phase Three in Fall 2005 and Spring 2006 included both beginning and intermediate classes (each four weeks in duration) at senior centers in Waimea and Hawi, thanks to generous support from the Young Brothers, West Hawaii Fund, Robert C. and Helen Nichols Fund and M.P.I. Phase Four in the Fall of 2005 continued both beginning and intermediate classes at the Kohala Senior Center in Hawi. A beginning class was introduced at the Senior Center in Kamuela and continued intermediate classes at Tutu’s House in Waimea.

Subjective and objective evaluations are conducted before and after the 4-week classes. Objective outcome measurements include the seated chair reach to assess lower body flexibility, back scratch test to assess upper body flexibility, and the 8 Foot Up and Go Test to assess functional mobility. All of these tests, as described and normed by the Senior Fitness Test Kit, accurately demonstrate improvement in movement and function, and have established age matched normative values for comparison. 

Subjective and objective evaluations of Phase 1 and 2 classes in Hawi and Waimea in 2002 and 2003 demonstrated positive results. Following the 4-class beginning series, seniors were asked to complete a subjective self-assessment, using a 5 point scale indicating "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree" with regard to changes noted as a results of the class.

Forty five participants completed the subjective survey with results as follows:

Improved Strength 86%
Improved flexibility 93%
Improved balance/stability 80%
Improved function in daily activities 80%
Less pain 55%
Less stiffness 75%
Less fatigue with activity 68%

All participants strongly agreed that they benefited from learning Aston movement concepts, and can continue to apply what they learned to activities of daily living. 

Seniors also completed objective pre- and post-testing, using two standardized tests from the Senior Fitness Test Kit. The “Chair Sit and
Reach” test consists of sitting in a chair with one leg extended while reaching forward, measuring the number of inches between the middle fingers and the toes of the extended leg. The purpose of this test is to assess lower body flexibility needed for a normal gait pattern, good posture, dressing, and mobility tasks such as getting in/out of a tub or car. Of the 52 seniors who completed pre- and post-testing, 38 seniors (73%) demonstrated improvements in their ability to reach forward while sitting. 
The second test was the “8 Foot Up and Go,” which consists of the time required to stand from a seated position, walk 8 feet, turn and walk back to the chair and sit down. The purpose of this test is to assess the agility and dynamic balance important in tasks that require quick maneuvering such as getting off a bus in time, getting up to attend to something in the kitchen, going to the bathroom, answering the phone, etc. Increased ability to perform this exercise may reduce the chances/risk of falling. Of the 51 seniors who completed pre and post testing on this item, 35 seniors (67%) demonstrated improved scores. 

Aston Sampler

The Aston Sampler educates participants on "better bodies for the everyday." This class ranges from 1-3 hours and teaches participants:

• How physical effort can be recycled into work/rest cycles
• How to optimize daily actions with easy-to-use ideas that one can apply to sitting, bending, reaching, lifting and walking
• How to experience new and effective ways of toning the abdomen and pelvic floor
• How to rejuvenate the body by creating massage through movement, which can be experienced continuously
• Includes a practical demonstration applying an Aston concept to an exercise design