​

This section is a guide and source of information for movement instructors and clients.

Warning: If you need physical therapy or a professional rehabilitation program, consult with an accredited rehabilitation practitioner before starting this program.

 

What people want

Just like all people who suffer from musculoskeletal disorders differ in their injuries and perception of injuries, also rehabilitation approaches and philosophies differ from each other, sometimes significantly.

In this complex environment where everything is relative, connected and open for discussion, one thing remains pretty constant. Many clients suffering from movement-related pain, whether chronic or acute, are willing to invest significant time, effort and money to solve their life-disrupting problem. The clinical approach is not necessarily important to them, but the outcome is critical. What many clients want are two modest and realistic outcomes, that will significantly change their life:

1. To alter the trend (and mindset) of their condition from negative to positive.

2. To provide them with practical tools to prevent recurrences and further improve their movement quality, indefinitely.

​

StarBarre Harmony's 'Training for Rehabilitation' segment is therefore a structured recovery system in which clients learn and practice consecutive sequences of pain-free holistic standing-based functional movement exercises. Because each successive sequence is more complex than the previous one, and the exercises simulate normal movements of daily life, the progression from sequence to sequence, together with the newly acquired ability to perform more and more normal functions in a harmonious and pain-free manner are the healing powers of the method.

​​

A progression system of exercise sequences

The ultimate desire to harmonize movement foundations of the whole body might be a general end goal of this method.

However, in practice, each person is unique, each disorder experience is different and individual functional goals might differ. Therefore, each StarBarre Harmony journey to recovery is individually tailored and paced.

If suffering from movement based disorders, clients have three progressive journey options to start from, according to the body area/s of the presented movement-based disorders. 

The initial journey color is chosen at onset, however it could be reconsidered and changed at any time.

This structured system enables relevant, balanced and focused progression towards the goals. 

​

The yellow (holistic) journey

• For people who have no special movement injuries or disorders.

• For people who suffer from body-spanning disorders like multiple orthopedic injuries, scoliosis, osteoporosis, Parkinson's disease, general weakness.

• The yellow (holistic) journey starts at Level-1 and progresses to Level-5

The blue (lower body) journey

• For people who suffer from disorders in the lower body: lumbar spine, pelvis, hips, knees, ankles, and feet.

• The blue (lower body) journey starts at Level-1 and progresses to Level-2. It hen converges with the yellow (holistic) journey at Level-2 and progresses to Level-5.

The Green (upper body) Journey

• For people who suffer from disorders in the upper body: thoracic spine, cervical spine, scapulae, shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands.

• The Green (upper body) Journey starts at Level-1 and progresses to Level-2. It then converges with the yellow (holistic) journey at Level-2 and progresses to Level-5.

 

​If you are not sure which is the most appropriate journey color - choose the yellow (holistic) journey.

​

Strategic Exercises: A Game-Changer

A Strategic Exercise is a single, precise movement that can immediately reduce pain, discomfort, or stiffness when performed correctly and pain-free. Once identified, it becomes a reliable tool you can use anytime—like having a personal “secret tool” in your pocket.

The power of Strategic Exercises lies in two things: the right movement and the right target. When these align, clients often experience a sudden easing of symptoms—a “bingo moment” that shifts confidence and control back to them. This sense of empowerment is a key step in long-term recovery.

​

From day one, Strategic Exercises are deliberately identified and tested in both clinical and studio settings. Compared to medication or passive treatments, they often work faster and more effectively, because they teach your body how to move without pain. With regular practice, their effects grow stronger over time, until eventually they are no longer needed—signaling genuine healing.

​

Find and test your correct Strategic Exercise

• Read and understand the detailed information on the Strategic Exercise Page

• Consult which exercise is best for you with Jax, our virtual instructor

• Optionally, book an online or physical studio session with a human instructor

 

After finding and testing your Strategic Exercise

• Learn how to perform your Strategic Exercise effectively, without the video.

• Use this exercise as frequently as required and as early as possible early—at the first sign of discomfort—it can prevent setbacks and keep you moving freely.

 

Strategic Exercises are not just therapy tools; they’re life tools, helping you stay resilient, confident, and in control of your health.

​

The Level Progression System

All clients commence the program from the Level-1 of their selected journey. This is to ensure that the most relevant fundamental movement foundations are learned and mastered before proceeding to more advanced levels and broader body coverage.

• Even though all clients start a Level-1, progression rates differ according to the disorder severity, the pre-existing movement foundations and the clients willingnes to learn their sequence exercises and practice them daily.

• The acquired ability to preform more advanced relevant functional exercises in a pain-free and harmonious manner also serves as an objective and clinically significant sign of improvement.

• Progression to the next level sequence is indicated when two conditions are met:

1. The current sequence exercises have beccome easy and are practiced daily in a pain-free and harmonious manner.​

2. The clients feel improvements with respect to their original movement-based symptoms like their levels of pain and range of movement and their current ability to perform daily functions.

 

​Level Numbers

The sequence level functional complexity of the exercise sequences is represented by the level number.

Level-1 Sequences: Basic level functional movements

• The Level-1 sequence is the standard starting level for all new StarBarre Harmony clients, regardless of their journey color or current movement ability.

• This is to ensure that the most fundamental movement are mastered by all clients before proceeding to the more advanced levels.

• Even top-tier athletes or dancers embarking on this program start at Level-1, because they might have neglected the most fundamental movement foundations over the years. Perhaps this is part of their current movement-based issues, especially if not healing naturally by itself.

Level-2 Sequences: Intermediate level functional movements

• Clients progress to the Level-2 sequence of their journey when all the 1Level-1 sequence exercises can be performed in a harmonious and pain-free manner.

• This depends upon the client's starting condition and the instructor's acquired clinical toolset and skills to effectively reduce movement pain and normalize segmental movements.

• In every new sequence level, some of the exercises remain the same, others are modified to a complexity higher level and a few new and challenging exercises are introduced.

Levels 3-5 Sequences: Normal level functional movements

• The Level-3 sequences of all journey colors contain functional movements that are expected from people who are generally healthy.

• For this reason, mastering these sequence exercises in a harmonious and pain-free manner signifies the end of the rehabilitation process.

 

Learn in the studio and practice at home

• The exercises can be learned via online tutorials or with a human instructor, either online or in a physical studio.

• In the StarBarre Harmony studio, up to six clients can learn and practice their respective sequence exercises together with one instructor.

• During the studio sessions, clients practice their sequence exercises while viewing a video clip and listening to the instructor's corrections who is viewing from the side.

• Upon day 1, the client and instructor test and select a relevent Startegic Exercise for the client to use anytime and anywhare if and when as soon as the symptoms return.

• A short 10-minute video of the same exercise sequence is practiced daily at home.

• This hybrid studio/home learning and practicing system is key for speedy progression, optimal recovery and a sustainable outcome.

• During the studio visit, the instructor monitors the progress from last visit and if required identifies problems in performing the sequence exercises. These might be addressed with additional clinical tools like manual therapy or electro therapy.

• Once a higher training level is reached, the previous sequence becomes outdated and no longer required.

• The Level-3 sequence includes functional movements which are required for people who are generally healthy. For this reason, mastering the Level-3 exercises indicates the end of the rehabilitation process.

 

Post rehabilitation

After discharge from rehabilitation, there are two good options to pursue:

• To continue practicing the final sequence exercises daily at home for about 10 minutes. The purpose is to 'clear out' any remanent of the disorder and prevent it from reoccurring.

• To continue progressing the sequence levels in the yellow (holistic) journey as part of the 'Training for Lifestyle' program.

• As a holistic method that aims to balance full-body harmonious movements, advanced training in levels 3-5 are offered only in the yellow (holistic) journey.

 

"Practicing this system might not prevent the next fall, but as long as you practice your exercises for a few minutes a day, the same fall again would require a greater push than before. And even then, you already have a way out".