ELDOA™ for the Spine:
Level 1+2 Certification
Theory (online):
Sunday, October 4, 2026
Practical (in person):
October 16-18, 2026
“ELDOA is a magnificent adjunct to my practice. It is a very specific way to help patients with chronically restricted spinal segments create movement and space.”
-Dr Katarina Bulat B.Sc., D.C
“ELDOA has been an excellent adjunct to my Osteopathic practice. In addition to treatment, the postures have allowed for great integration of my work. I highly recommend any practitioner who wishes to be more progressive in their patient care to consider learning ELDOA. Sheri is a fantastic teacher who understands the philosophy and application of the ELDOA postures and offers an excellent learning environment – highly recommended.”
-Cathy Nielsen D.O.M.P., D.Sc.O.
“Sheri is an amazing teacher who knows how to bring out the best in her students, whether she is teaching her clients or future ELDOA teachers. As a Pilates & movement practitioner, I have completed levels 1+2 with Sheri and the ELDOA exercises are a great addition to my toolbox. They help me create a well-rounded approach to teaching that allows me to effectively address whatever concerns my clients bring to the table.”
-C.W., Owner, Matters of Movement
Instructor: Sheri Kimura
Online Theory: 4.5 hours online
In-Person Practical: 3 days (~8 hours each day) Friday-Sunday (expect 10am to 6pm each day)
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Prerequisite: some knowledge of descriptive anatomy and spine biomechanics
Fees: $1500 +HST ($100 registration to hold your spot)
Description
Learn the ELDOA™ postures to help yourself and your clients:
– relieve back pain,
– improve posture and awareness,
– normalize spinal alignment
This course is designed for physiotherapists, manual therapists, movement teachers, and those who have some knowledge of anatomy, physiology of the spine, and movement.
What to expect:
The theory portion of the course will cover of the foundations of the ELDOA Method: Guy VOYER’s educational paradigm, history of the ELDOA, highlights of complexity theory, fascial anatomy, and basic structures of the spine. Students will also touch on Kapandji’s biomechanics of the spine and descriptive anatomy related to the spine levels from C2 to L5.
The following practical section will cover the postures for these levels of the spine. Students will learn how to progress themselves and clients into the full exercise, respecting the unique fascial structure of different bodies. With guidance, everyone learns to correctly perform and coach the ELDOA.
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the anatomical and mechanical principals of the ELDOA and biomechanics of the spine to apply to their own clientele or for themselves.
After your ELDOA training, you will notice your posture and awareness has improved, and you will know how to maintain this new feeling of wellness using ELDOA.
LECTURE TOPICS INCLUDE:
– The Spine and the Intervertebral Disc
– Biomechanics of the Spine according to Kapandji
– Factors of Progression (teaching awarness, MFS, lemniscate)
– The Philosophy of the ELDOA “You Are Your Own Best Therapist.”
– Techno-methodology and practice of ELDOA for C2 thru L5
– The History of the ELDOA
– Tensegrity Biomechanics & Fascia
– Learn by Doing, finding success with all clients and bodies
– Mobility vs. Stability
– Warm-ups, modifications, and indications for the ELDOA
EXAM: There is no exam for this course
CERTIFICATION: Upon completion of this course the participant is able to call themselves an ELDOA Student Practitioner and move on to Level 3 (ELDOA for hips, shoulders, ribcage).
To Register, email: toronto.eldoa@gmail.com
Soma Training:
Segmental Strengthening of the Lower Limbs
8 hrs per day
To Register:
Email info@somaeducation.ca to let Paul know you are interested in the course.
Instructor: PAUL SHERMAN
Location: VANCOUVER, British Columbia
Prerequisite: some knowledge of descriptive anatomy of the lower limbs
Fees: $1200 +GST ($1260 total)
Details at: https://somaeducation.ca/analytical-segmental-muscular-strengthening-of-lower-limb/
Description
Within the Soma Training paradigm, we look beyond traditional anatomy.
Rather than viewing a muscle as a single structure, we study how different
fibre orientations contribute to different movements, how body position
changes muscle recruitment, and how subtle changes in exercise technique
can dramatically influence which part of a muscle is actually working.
A Different Way to Look at the Quadriceps for example:
A patient presents with patellofemoral pain. You decide they need to strengthen part of the quadriceps to improve patella tracking.
You prescribe the exercise you’ve used for years. The patient performs it well. They feel the muscle working. But here’s the question:
Are they actually recruiting the structure you’re trying to influence? Or has the body simply found another, easier strategy?
Most of us were taught that the quadriceps consists of four muscles.
During this course, we study the quadriceps in much greater detail.
Within the vastus medialis alone, we examine the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and the vastus medialis longitudinal (VML). Although they are part of the same muscle anatomically, their fibre orientation gives them different biomechanical roles.
This distinction has significant clinical implications.
Many rehabilitation programmes prescribe “VMO exercises” to improve patella tracking. However, if positioning is not correct, it is often the longitudinal fibers (VML) that are preferentially recruited rather than the oblique fibres (VMO). Understanding how positioning influences muscle recruitment allows us to prescribe exercise with far greater precision and improve our clinical reasoning.
In this Segmental Strengthening course, the same level of precision is applied throughout the lower limb.
Soma Training: Specific Proprioception & Awareness
(Friday thru Sunday)
To Register:
Email info@somaeducation.ca to let Paul know you are interested in the course.
Instructor: PAUL SHERMAN
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Prerequisite: some knowledge of descriptive anatomy of the lower limbs
Fees: $1200 +GST ($1260 total)
Details at: https://somaeducation.ca/specific-proprioception-and-awareness-2/
Description
Beyond Balance Training
When most people hear the word proprioception, they think of balance boards, unstable surfaces, or standing on one leg.
This course takes a very different approach.
Rather than treating proprioception as balance training, you’ll learn how individual ligaments contribute to the body’s sensory system and how they communicate with the nervous system to organize movement.
Instead of simply asking how to improve balance, you’ll learn how to assess and train the proprioceptive function of specific ligamentous structures throughout the body.
Each ligament has a unique mechanical role, provides different sensory information, and influences how the brain organizes muscular activity around each joint.
You cannot organize quality movement from poor information. Before muscles can perform well, the nervous system must first receive accurate information from the body.
Throughout the course, participants learn practical methods to assess and retrain the proprioceptive function of specific joints and ligaments, helping restore the quality of information reaching the nervous system.
Whether you work in rehabilitation, manual therapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, physiotherapy, athletic development, strength and conditioning, Pilates, or movement education, this course provides a practical framework that can be applied immediately in both clinical and performance settings.
It isn’t about replacing rehabilitation or strength training.
It is about improving the quality of information that allows every other intervention to become more effective.
ELDOA 1+2 Masterclass for practitioners
To Register:
Email toronto.eldoa@gmail.com to let me know you are interested.
Instructor: Sheri Kimura
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Prerequisite: participants must be certified in ELDOA Level 2
Fees: $75 +hst ($84.75 total)
Description
We had a masterclass with Paul last year, and got some valuable nuggets!
I would like to offer this masterclass to share what I have learned over the last few years working with Paul and teaching the Level 1 + 2 courses.
We will start the day with a class together, going over ALL the ELDOA for the Spine! The class will likely take 75 minutes. After a short break, we will dive into the trickier postures, anatomy and theory where needed, and answer questions about how, when, and why to implement these exercises in groups or with individual clients.
* This is a good workshop to attend if you are considering Level 3 in December.
ELDOA Level 3:
Peripheral Joints
To Register:
Email toronto.eldoa@gmail.com to let me know you are interested.
Instructor: PAUL SHERMAN
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Prerequisite: participants must be certified in ELDOA Level 2
Fees: TBA
Description
ELDOA Level 3 focuses the ELDOA exercise in the Peripheral Joints of the body – the coxo-femoral joint, 5 joints of the shoulder complex, costotransverse & sternalcostal joints of the ribs.
LECTURE TOPICS INCLUDE: Review of ELDOA Levels 1-2 Exercises and Education Topics, Descriptive Anatomy & Classic Biomechanics of the Hip, Shoulder, & Ribcage Techno-methodology & practice of ELDOA exercises for the Hip joints, Shoulder joints, & Ribcage and Sternum Factors of Progression The goal of ELDOA Level 3 is to have an in-depth comprehension of the anatomy and tensegrity biomechanic principals for the Peripheral Joints.
ELDOA Level 4:
The Pelvis
To Register:
Email toronto.eldoa@gmail.com to let me know you are interested.
Instructor: PAUL SHERMAN
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Prerequisite: participants must be certified in ELDOA Level 3
Fees: TBA
Description
ELDOA Level 4 is a comprehensive approach to the pelvis, understanding its anatomy and tensegrity biomechanics. Students will be introduced to the osteopathic view of the pelvis and its global and analytical relationship with the body. This educational foundation will set the learning, practicing, testing, & application for the ELDOA exercises.
LECTURE TOPICS INCLUDE:
Review of the ELDOA Level 1, 2 & 3 technical & practical application
Descriptive Anatomy & Biomechanics of the Pelvis: 22 axes
Techno-methodology & practice of ELDOA exercises for the Sacroiliac Joints & Pubic Symphysis
PREREQUISITE: ELDOA Level 3 or have completed and Graduated the Soma Training Program.