BAPAM deliver expert health and wellbeing services in the performing arts. Our events give artists, creators, technicians, teachers, and organisers the knowledge they need to improve health and enjoy sustainable careers.
As the largest provider of career-specific healthcare to performers in the UK, we are uniquely positioned to bring together expert clinicians, educators, researchers, artists and creators to deliver innovative training to empower the arts community to improve and maintain health throughout our creative work and learning spaces.
- This session is designed for performing arts professionals and students and outlines risk factors and key strategies to maintain good physical health throughout a sustainable career.
- The session focuses on evidence-based practical skills and draws from research findings, performance experience, and proven clinical pathways.
Warm Ups and Cool Downs
This session will explore how to design effective, engaging warm-ups and cool downs that are evidence-based and tailored to physical performers.
- How to structure warm-ups for different goals (mobility, power, skill prep)
- The difference between general vs. specific warm-ups and cool downs
- When (and when not) to stretch
- Practical examples of warm-up and cool down structures for group and individual settings
- Warm ups and cool downs for the different stages in a lifelong career
Trainer: Bethany Shum
Beth is a chartered physiotherapist (HCPC, MCSP) and Performing Arts Specialist Physiotherapist and founder of Flexibility Matters Ltd in London. She has worked as a Circus Health Practitioner at the National Centre for Circus Arts, is a Pain Specialist Physiotherapist in the NHS and presented her research in ‘Pain in Acrobatic Performers’ at the PAMA Conference.
You can contact her here:
Website: https://www.fmphysio.com/Instagram: @flexibility_matters
Research looking at health issues within the performing arts workforce consistently finds that 70-75% of our population report both mental and physical health problems, which is much higher than the national average. We are lucky to be working with a number of health and wellbeing experts who can offer training to performers across the UK, with the aim of reducing the levels of poor health and supporting performers to have a sustainable career. Working with our partners in Equity, Musicians’ Union, Help Musicians UK and Performing Arts Education Providers – who are very kindly giving us free use of training venues – we are expanding our national training programme supporting healthy performance in the UK.