Disc bulge terminology, made simple

By Raphael BenderMarch 20, 2019biomechanics, Pilates teaching, Rehabilitation & Pain science

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What is the difference between a disc bulge, disc herniation, disc protrusion, disc extrusion and a disc sequestration?

What about terms like focal, posterolateral, and circumferential?

Learn it all in this quick, simple video.

Read the Research:

Nomenclature and Classification of Lumbar Disc Pathology (Farden & Milette, 2001)

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4.9

Based on 231 reviews

Breathe Education

4.9

Tara Sims

21:27 09 Oct 21

The only Pilates training course you need to look for. I could not be happier with my experience with breathe. The most up to date current research delivered by the most inspiring Pilates teachers. I loved every minute of this course and hope to go on to do the diploma!

kath speirs

02:49 01 Oct 21

Love, Love this course! Would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about movement, building strength and confidence of the body. I feel so empowered with a quality qualification...Create a career that is meaningful and changes peoples lives for the better!

Samantha LeClaire

00:25 01 Oct 21

Absolutely blown away by my experience with Breathe. If you want to be a Pilates instructor THIS is the course for you. The entire team set up their students for success from the get go and the community they have fostered is just unbelievably beautiful and supportive. This is the most comprehensive course I have ever done and well worth the money. You will have access to the best trainers and teachers in the business with the most up to date, evidence based information. Being Online makes this course so accessible and Breathe has got it running like a well oiled (but extremely personable) machine. So grateful for the education I have received and would highly recommend to anyone wanting to become an instructor or take their teaching to the next level. Special shout out to Cloe Bunter who was my Lecturer/Trainer. An absolute shining light at Breathe who cares so much about the Pilates community and her students!

talia newcombe

04:06 30 Sep 21

BEST COURSE EVER!!I have just completed my Cert IV with Breathe Education and I was so happy with the course plus the support from the teachers!Breathe made studying online so easy with an easy to navigate website and there was always someone there to ask if I had any questions and all the teachers came to lectures/tutorials with smiles on their faces. I felt like everyone wanted me to succeed and make me the best instructor possible. I finished the course feeling confident and ready to move onto booking in for the Diploma :)

Kaitlan Parker

09:02 29 Sep 21

I studied my Cert IV in Pilates Matwork and Reformer through Breathe Education and I have never been so supported and so nurtured during my studies. All of the trainers are so inclusive and kind, and there is a strong sense of community among the trainers/students. Would highly recommend anyone to dive in and explore the world of Pilates!

Katrina Spigiel

04:58 29 Sep 21

Such a positive and fun experience!! Amazing lecturers, tutors and instructors they always managed to brighten the cold winter days and I always finished classes full of energy with a giant smile on my face. I felt a million times more confidence in taking the leap to do something new after just the orientation tutorial. I have met so many new friends not only in Australia but all over the world. I have not only used what I have learnt in my teacher training but also in my everyday life. I would recommend to my bother, sister, dog and best friends. Such a great 20weeks and I am so keen to do more training with Breathe Education!

Theresa Credlin

04:14 29 Sep 21

As a group fitness instructor of over 25 years I was super impressed with Breathe education.When I think about all of the workshops & further education I have attended over the years, this has been the best by far. The trainers were knowledgeable mentors, and beautiful, nurturing and friendly humans. The wealth of resources and information which was always being updated even during my 21 weeks was exceptional.10 out of 10 Breathe. Thank you

Nicki Govers

01:38 29 Sep 21

wanting to become a qualified pilates instructor? Feeling overwhelmed with certification providers?Do you ask yourself: will I get support? Can I achieve this around already working or being a parent? Are you nervous? All these are completely normal questions and emotions we will. I over thought the signing up process. Let me take over thinking time away from you so you can get started soon. Breathe Education exceeded all my expectations. The support is and still is post grad amazing. The course work is designed to be family and work friendly and its achievable. The team are personable, comforting, empowering and they become your friends not just your trainers. Please don't hesitate and sign up right away. the 21 weeks to obtain my certification has immensely changed my life. I have a career and a livelihood from this. The pilates Community is one of my greatest joys!Good luck, you will smash it with Breathe Education!

Emma Foy

09:13 28 Sep 21

An amazingly well-run and beautifully structured course. I highly recommend it to anyone wishing to advance their knowledge and skills in Pilates. I'm looking forward to completing further training with Breathe Education in the future.

N Heathcote

08:53 28 Sep 21

Tomorrow I finish my Certificate IV in Matwork and Reformer Pilates and I cannot recommend Breathe Education highly enough. If you have ever considered becoming a Pilates instructor, please contact Breathe Edu and talk to their support team. The trainers are professional and knowledgeable, and facilitate amazing learning experiences.The online format is a perfect way to study even if working full time. Studying from home allows flexibility, but this is not a ‘cheats way’ to achieve certification - it is a rigorous and professional process. Follow your dreams like I, and so many others, have!

Carla Zanco-bourke

00:23 27 Sep 21

This course has absolutely changed my life. I have found a confidence within me that I never knew I had and feel completely set up for success. The way the course is structured means you can comfortably study around your working hours and the Saturdays Lecture + Tutorial has become my favourite part of my week! Would recommend Breathe to anyone with a passion for Pilates.

emily clarke

22:29 26 Sep 21

Breath education was an amazing place to become a pilates teacher, they taught me how to be confident and develop the skills I needed to succees in this industry.

Tynille Catanzariti

03:54 25 Sep 21

If you're trying to decide what Pilates instructor course to do, STOP, just sign up to Breathe. The Breathe team are a great bunch of individuals who all are authentic in their own way. It's an internationally recognised qualification that is evidence based and after 20 weeks, you'll feel confident and inspired to share this fabulous form of movement with the world. (You'll also make friends for life) 🌏💪

Natalie Hurst

06:53 24 Aug 21

I have just finished my Cert IV with Breathe. What a brilliant experience - All the trainers are so motivating and encouraging and you can tell just how much they really care about your success.I have completed this course feeling industry ready to go and teach pilates to open level classes, people with injuries and pre/post natal along with encouraging fearless movement.If you're worried about studying online, don't be with Breathe. It feels like you're in the room with everyone and the way the course is set out, you have accountability each week. I have finished this course feeling so excited for what's next.

Cassie Norris

08:39 20 Aug 21

I have just completed my Certificate IV with Breathe. I remember my first tutorial I was so anxious and shaking every time I had to take myself off mute in Zoom. We were told that this was a community and everyone supports eachother, all anyone wants to see is each other succeed. They couldn't have been more right!I can't believe how much my confidence has increased in 21 weeks. Teaching people that didn't have injuries, pain, or weren't pre or post-natal used to be daunting in itself. I am now more than confident to teach anyone from the population with any kind of body 'issues' going on. The knowledge and the science behind their teaching is amazing. They're so up to date and even updated their pre-natal guidelines mid course once new research came out. So we would have the most recent ACSM guidelines.It's a community I'm so glad I found, and have knowledge and friendships that will last me a lifetime.

Anissa Trevino

03:22 20 Aug 21

This course has truly been such an amazing learning experience. Upon completing my Certification in Matwork and Reformer Pilates not only are we are trained with the most current science and evidence research, but have the knowledge and capability to empower the fearless movement. The possibilities of movement are limitless, and learning through Breathe has given me the tools, confidence and knowledge to change the lives of others through the freedom of facilitating movement.

Alyssa Williamson

03:31 19 Aug 21

I absolutely love this program, I would do it over a million times! The trainers and students side by side with me made such an impact on life that I will cherish this forever! Cannot wait to further my education with Breathe Edu! At the beginning you're so nervous and towards the end movement is fearless, trust the outcome!

Gemma

01:39 16 Aug 21

What an incredible learning experience! I am finishing up my study of the Certificate in Matwork and Reformer and it’s been such an empowering and genuinely wonderful experience. The way the course is delivered sets you up for so many successes and all the trainers are a wealth of knowledge. Honestly, can’t recommend Breathe highly enough, if you want the most current training, you’ll get it here and you will absolutely love every second of it!

Phebbe Phillips

04:58 23 Jul 21

I just spoke with Amanda from Breathe Education. I am so excited after having my free personal consultation to move forward with the next step in my journey and becoming a pilates instructor. Amanda provided me with extremely informative and comprehensive information. I feel confident that I am making the right decision in choosing Breathe Education for my pilates instructor course and beginning this new and exciting chapter in my life. I would encourage other, even if you are only slightly curious about undergoing a course like this, to book yourself a free personal consultation.

nellie jones

02:30 15 Jul 21

Stephanie Mehrtens

09:04 13 Jul 21

I loved taking this course! Each and every person was supportive I had 2 wonderful tutors Cloe and Sharrman :) I made some amazing friends and learnt so much I can't wait to do my dream job and help other fall in love with Pilates!

Rebecca Simpson

08:38 13 Jul 21

Breathe has been an extremely inclusive, supportive environment where I have felt nurtured and supported for the entire 20 weeks. From the sales stage through to course completion, I cannot fault the crew. I aim to become an instructor of the same caliber in the future.

Zoe Finger

08:35 13 Jul 21

I am greatful to be part of the breathe edu community and to have the support of amazing teachers. Apart from the nerves that come with starting something, I feel equipt and ready to go out to the real world and start teaching

Tony and Tina Hammond

22:28 12 Jul 21

I was really excited when I decided to take the step to become a Pilates Instructor. When the time came to start the course I started questioning myself and whether I had what it takes. Now in my last week and the self doubt has gone and I am so proud of what I’ve achieved. This course was thorough, easy to understand and although it challenged me I had a lot of fun doing it. I’ve made some amazing friends and the instructors were so encouraging and welcoming. Thank you to the team at Breathe Education you are all fabulous x

Andrea Sampson

07:39 12 Jul 21

I have just completed my Cert IV Pilates Matwork & Reformer training with Breathe Education. This was a 6 month online course. Initially I was worried about the online format, as I am a very visual/hands on learner. Zoom was fabulous and the explanations by all trainers, was very thorough. Having practice teaching sessions available on zoom was invaluable. I live in WA and worked out with others doing their breathe training in WA, SA, VIC & NZ. It actually made it a lot easier to get the hours in that were needed for this part of the course (and I am super excited about all the new pilates friends I have made around the country) I didn't realise until I started this course, how many of my favourite instructors were also Breathe trained. Seeing them comment in the Breathe Instructor FB groups was a real 'aha' moment for me, as I now see why they are the ones I want to go and work out with/learn from in my personal practice. I would highly recommend this course to anyone interested in joining the Pilates Industry. I am super excited about graduating and cannot wait to see where my new skills take me.

Megan Dunbar

01:02 12 Jul 21

I have just completed my Cert IV with Breathe and was so impressed!Breathe made studying online so easy with an easy to navigate website and there was always someone there to ask if I had any questions. All of the trainers I met were very motivating and wanted all of us to succeed. I finished the course feeling industry ready and excited to start teaching!

Marietta Courtney

00:16 01 Jul 21

Amazing humans! This course was fun, on-point, smart and super well organised. Breathe Education awesome organisation.

Gina Price

10:02 28 Jun 21

I studied with Breathe this year and I couldn't recommend them highly enough.The trainers are encouraging and passionate, they encourage a collaborative learning environment which is always backed up by the most up to date guidelines.I had reservations about learning online but I felt really supported with lots of contact time and the online platform meant I could dip in and out when it suited my schedule. Breathe provide platforms for you to form relationships with other students and I'm leaving with some great friends.

Sarah Baldwin

04:41 16 Jun 21

Breathe Education has changed what Pilates means to me.I’ve been practicing Mat and Studio Pilates for over 20 years, so when 2020 disrupted my career, pursuing a Pilates Instructor qualification seemed like an interesting and meaningful use of my time.At first I was a little skeptical about some of the course content - it was different from what I’d known before as “Pilates” and in my other life I’ve been trained to rail against “Group Think”. All the staff at Breathe are 100% on message, 100% of the time - the “Is this a cult?!” alarm in my head was on standby! Before long I came to appreciate that literally everything covered in the course is backed up by high quality evidence. The Pilates exercises reference Joseph Pilates’ work as he published it. Appropriate exercise for stage of life was based on the American College of Sports Medicine’s Guidelines. Pain Science, Instructional Technique and Industry Knowledge were all backed up by extensive, referenced research. For such a charismatic group of instructors, there is not a single instance I can recall of an opinion being offered that wasn’t backed up by evidence.Beyond the ‘evidence’ I found a new level of joy in exploring and celebrating movement. Valuing effort over subjective perfection has led to a new kindness and acceptance of both myself and those around me.

Ellen Driscoll

04:17 16 Jun 21

Breathe Education has changed my whole world view of Pilates. I'm not someone to write a review normally, but from the start to the end of my Cert 4, I've had drastic changes in how I view movement, teaching and body positivity. Moving away from fear based teaching and instead empowering my clients by giving them the most enjoyable, rewarding movement experience has been fantastic. Go in with an open, critical mind and be prepared to come out knowing YOU REALLY KNOW YOUR STUFF.

Jess Sheahan

04:16 16 Jun 21

Such a positive warm environment. The course has changed my skills as a pilates teacher but also i had a huge amount of self discovery. No matter who you are, your body shape, your confidence ect you are capable. Each of the teachers have blessed me with that recognition now. Forever grateful. No matter how dumb the questions seemed they had time and dedication to educate to above standard.

Emilia Rankin

04:06 16 Jun 21

i had an amazing 20 weeks for cert 4. the idea of fearless movement and empowerment has been an amazing key takeaway.

Carly Ullrich

14:35 14 Jun 21

I was a little sceptical at first about studying while working full time and the course being 100% online rather than a face to face setting, but I have just completed my Cert IV in Matwork and Reformer and it was the best thing I’ve ever done!This course is so well structured, I learnt more than I ever imagined I would. I am so grateful I chose to go through Breathe Education and have been taught evidence based Pilates with the most up to date research and am apart of this empowering community of people.

Janie Schwartz

10:07 14 Jun 21

Breathe supports you every step of the way. There is a really good balance of theory and practical and lots of opportunities for practice. They help you build community within the course. The quality of the instructors and the feedback they give is fantastic. Breathe is also government accredited as an RTO which means high standards are guaranteed.

Rachel Fletcher

09:21 14 Jun 21

Such a great course filled with passionate trainers

Lauren Grief

08:46 14 Jun 21

I loved every bit of my experience with Breath Education. I have just completed my cert IV in pilates matwork and reformer and can’t recommend my lecturer, Cloe, and my tutor, Venus, more!!!I was inspired to gain certification through Breathe as my favourite teacher at the studio I attend is a graduate and to me there is no higher praise than personal recommendation ☺️I loved the option to have a foldable reformer to complete my course on. The pace of learning was manageable alongside my full time job and I felt incredibly supported by my classmates. The sense of community is next level and I graduated with two job offers and feeling extremely confident and ready to start my next chapter!! Thanks so much ♥️♥️

Ana Marega Patarra

01:45 14 Jun 21

Choosing Breathe education was the best thing I did. I was completely surprised by the online course, where I had all the support I needed, much more than I expected.I finished the course feeling that I am prepared for the Pilates industry and ready to do everything Pilates has to offer to people.At Breathe Education we don't just come out as capable professional Pilates instructors, we come out as part of a beautiful community that helps and inspires each other. Definitely Pilates changed my life for the better. Breathe Education made this transition to be made in the best possible way. Thank you Breathe Education for everything. Hope you can inspire many more people around the world. I am so proud to be part of Breathe Education community!!!

Leah Ashton

10:24 19 May 21

Taking the plunge to start the Cert IV Pilates was both daunting and exciting! I remember my first live tutorial, I was so nervous...... but those nerves didn't stay for long. The Breathe Team were nothing but amazing, they made me feel so comfortable. The course content is so up to date and relevant not only in working life but in general. After finishing the Cert IV I found myself wanting to know more so I enrolled straight away in the Diploma of Clinical and have not been dissapointed.When I started this journey I didnt know where it would take me but as time went on my vision became clearer and Iam now living my dream and loving every minute of it! I can honestly say I could never have done it without the kindness, support and knowledge of the Breathe Team and all my class peers. The experience on a whole has been life changing.

E S Boller

10:53 06 May 21

I cannot believe this! I have just completed my course! Breathe Education found its way into my Facebook feed and now, today, I have successfully completed the course. I have learnt so much, I am a qualified Pilates Instructor because of you 👈 !! I will honour this achievement, I am proud of myself and I thank you, all of you, for your confidence in me. Special shout out to Sharrman, my fearless Trainer, Heath for his endless time, Venus for her beautiful smile and all of the support team (esp Lizzie) 🥰. Lizzie B !!!

ElizaMadeline

06:47 06 May 21

Before enrolling in the Diploma course I thought I had a deep understanding of how the body worked and was super interested in learning how to apply pilates in a clinical setting. Now I am just one third of they way through the course and I'm amazed at how much of what I thought I 'Knew already" is now outdated research!Before enrolling I was concerned with studying full time whilst working full time, though I shouldn't have worried as Breathe have made this super achievable with the course being mostly work at your own pace. If i fall a week or so behind with my E-learning or miss a masterclass here or there due to outside commitments, everything is recorded so I can just catch up when I have the time and I am loving the flexibility that brings.I'm really looking forward to the next two modules as we are deep diving into the nitty gritty of the human anatomy and building on our skills practically applying this knowledge in a clinical setting.

Kristina White

05:18 06 May 21

Pre Module Kristina - loved teaching pilates but felt she needed more knowledge and understanding of the body and how movement could assist in recovery, general maintenance and strength building. I actually had no idea what to expect and have been blown away by the journey I have embarked on with Breathe.The course has been challenging for me (I am not super confident) and the course material has been more detailed and thorough than I imagined. Module 1 has challenged my previous beliefs and conceptions and taught me so much about the human mind and body (from Pain/Brain, biopsychosocial factors impact on injury, recovery, pain tolerance and threshold). Post Module 1 Kristina now appreciates there is a much larger landscape to consider when dealing with clients and how important it is to provide client based care. Also the importance of getting the client moving and building a trust relationship with the client so you can help them achieve their goals. Heath you are an amazing teacher and mentor. You have the perfect amount of challenge and guidance when we are doing masterclasses or tutorials. Your knowledge blows me away and you manage to simplify the complex so I can comprehend it (albeit it may take a bit to sink in) . It is very evident how passionate you are about your teaching and your students learning journey and I thank you very much for that. My understanding of movement teaching has changed dramatically. I now understand that pain comes from the brain, that our bodies are resilient and that once cleared of red flags and outside tissue healing time we need to gradually load and work towards strength programmes for clients. I now challenge my clients more and feel more confident with the sessions i am teaching.

Christine Sadlier

01:03 06 May 21

Such an empowering course! Definitely recommend. I'd only ever been on a reformer once in my life, but now I feel I can do the reformer moves plus learnt a few more mat moves. Trainer was empathic and easy to learn from, reassured me and others as and when we needed it. I am so grateful to have been brave enough to sign up to the course plus finish it. Thank you Breathe. Fabulously run course with excellent resources!

Zoe Sonnenberg

05:24 05 May 21

Before beginning the diploma I wasn't certain how much I'd get out of it. Being a PT and having taught group classes for years, I knew there was so much more to learn but I wasn't sure what exactly that was and where to find it.I knew I could trust the educators at Breathe to deliver a good course and I'm so glad I did.It's completely transformed the way I think about the body, pain and movement, the way I teach and the way I communicate with clients.I can confidently tackle 'tricky' clients I would usually shy away from. I now know I have the tools to help clients get the best possible results in terms of their health and fitness.Heath is a bloody amazing tutor. His classes are engaging and thought-provoking. He encourages us to question the status quo and let go of rigid, out-dated ideas that are often ingrained in the Pilates world.I'm learning to teach in a way that finally feels authentic to me. Learning to apply critical thinking to everything from my personal held beliefs to things in the media, has made me appreciate my role as a teacher so much more.I look forward to expanding my knowledge with the Breathe team over the course of the diploma.

Teneesha Close

02:17 05 May 21

one word: COMMUNITY.Breathe Education has been extremely warm, kind and supportive in this journey and have welcomed me to an amazing community of like minded people- so grateful!

Beccy Day

02:17 05 May 21

I would highly recommend them! They are a company full of fantastic teachers who are full of knowledge, support and energy. Breathe Educations flexibility allowed me to take on a new career and passion which I would have otherwise found impossible to achieve. So thank you!

Jenny Kemplen

02:17 05 May 21

✨❤️🤸🥰🤩🥳

Adam McAtee

02:16 05 May 21

Breathe Education is hands down the best Pilates education available. In their Cert IV course, I love how I continued to learned current evidence-based practices from a such a supportive team. I cannot recommend Breathe Education enough.

Sarah James

12:55 04 May 21

The support, content and culture that Breathe offer is truly amazing! I have loved the course and the team are incredible. They are extremely supportive through the community they have created and the tools they have given us to make us industry ready. I couldn’t recommend Breathe more highly.

Batia Slater

04:41 04 May 21

Mind Blown! I have a masters of physiotherapy and Certifications III and IV in fitness, and I was absolutely blown away by how much I learned and grew over the past 20 weeks doing the Certificate IV in Pilates Instruction through Breathe Education. Learning online was a perfect option for me as I was never available to attend live lectures, so I watched them all later in the week when I was available. The team at Breathe provide each student with a comprehensive and clear outline of everything they need to do and when they need to do it and how they can go about doing it. Every week, for 20 weeks, we were required to watch a 1.5 lecture, attend and participate in a 1.5 hour live online tutorial, attend 2 masterclasses offered online and teach two 10 minute blocks in practice teaching sessions online set up through the student portal using an app called Slack. Everyone from all the team members at Breathe to all of the previous and current students of Breathe Education were encouraging and helpful. I was apprehensive about learning online, as I did my Cert III in Fitness online. This was nothing like that. This was a very inclusive course. Everyone worked together. I never felt like I was having to teach this course to myself. I've made some fantastic friends along the way even though I've haven't met any of my classmates in person. I put a lot of work into this course and I believe it has truly made me into an infinitely better movement instructor.

Danielle Mowbray

10:21 03 May 21

I have been studying with Breathe Education and they have been amazing, the support you receive throughout the course is 5 star, when you are unsure or have a question, the trainers and the support staff are always happy to help.I also found the course very flexible, it fit into my busy schedule, I could study in my own time and complete my modules with ease.I found the trainers so fun always ready to have a laugh and to put your mind at ease.I am so happy I did my course through breathe. I would highly recommend.

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