A Weekend of Workshops
with Emmet Louis
12th – 14th February, 2027
£275

Build stronger, smarter flexibility with Splits Wizard, Emmet Louis

 

Whether you’re working towards your first handstand, backbend, front or side splits, these workshops are designed to help you train with greater understanding, precision and long-term success.

 

Rather than relying on passive stretching or chasing end positions, Emmet’s “Modern Methods of Mobility” approach combines flexibility, strength and intelligent programming to help you build ranges of motion that are both accessible and usable.

 

Throughout each workshop you’ll explore the mechanics behind the handstand, backbend, front split, side split and pancake, learning how to identify your individual limitations and choose the most effective methods to overcome them. Suitable for movement and yoga practitioners of all backgrounds, the workshop offers practical tools that can be applied immediately to your own training.

General Hip & Shoulder Mobility

Friday 12th February: 6.00-8.30pm
£60 or £275 for full weekend

The hips and shoulders are where most mobility problems eventually show themselves. They are also rarely solved by simply stretching harder.

 

In this masterclass, Emmet will introduce the core ideas behind the Modern Methods of Mobility system through a practical exploration of these two key areas. You’ll look at the different qualities that make up mobility, how to work out what is actually limiting a movement, and how to choose the right method for the problem in front of you.

 

The session will combine loaded stretching, active flexibility, dynamic mobility and strength through range. The aim is not just to create more movement temporarily, but to build ranges that are strong, usable and capable of supporting the things you want to do.

 

Suitable for beginners, experienced practitioners and coaches.

Handstand Fundamentals

Saturday 13th February: 12.30-3.00pm
£60 or £275 for full weekend

A handstand is not simply a balance trick. It is a coordination problem involving alignment, shoulder strength, overhead mobility, body awareness and the ability to make very small corrections while upside down.

 

In this practical masterclass, Emmet will break the handstand down into its essential components. You’ll learn how the body should organise itself overhead, what the shoulders need to be capable of, and how mobility, strength and balance interact.

 

The workshop will cover preparation for the wrists and shoulders, effective bodyline drills, methods for developing balance and practical progressions towards a freestanding handstand. More experienced participants will also be able to identify where their current technique or physical preparation may be holding them back.

 

You’ll leave with a set of useful drills and, more importantly, a clearer model of what you are trying to improve and why.

 

Suitable for all levels.

Smarter Backbending

Saturday 13th February: 3.30-6.00pm
£60 or £275 for full weekend

A good backbend is not created by forcing more movement into the back. It comes from distributing extension across the spine, shoulders and hips, while developing enough strength and control to support the position.

 

In this masterclass, Emmet will explore the different physical qualities involved in backbending, including shoulder flexion, hip extension, thoracic movement and learning how to speak to the axial skeleton. You’ll learn how to identify where your own backbend is being limited and how to develop the missing pieces without relying on brute force or excessive compression.

 

The session will combine flexibility work with strength and control exercises, helping you build backbends that feel more spacious, stable and sustainable.

 

The principles covered can be applied to practice requiring strong spinal extension.

 

Suitable for all levels of flexibility and backbending experience.

Front Splits

Sunday 14th February: 12.30 – 3.00pm
£60 or £275 for full weekend

The front split looks like one position, but it is the product of several different qualities working together. Hamstring flexibility, hip extension, strength and individual anatomy all influence what the final position looks and feels like.

 

In this masterclass, Emmet will break the front split into its component parts and show you how to identify which of them is currently limiting your progress.

 

Using the Modern Methods of Mobility approach, the session will combine loaded stretching, active flexibility, dynamic work and strength at end range. You’ll explore both the front and back legs separately before bringing them together into the full position.

 

Rather than giving everyone the same handful of stretches, the aim is to help you understand which methods are appropriate for your body and how to organise them into a productive practice.

 

You’ll leave with clear regressions, progressions and programming ideas that can be adapted as your flexibility develops.

 

Suitable for all levels.

Side Splits & Pancake

Sunday 14th February: 3.30-6.00pm
£60 or £275 for full weekend

Side splits and pancakes are often grouped together because they both involve opening the legs widely, but they are not the same movement and do not require exactly the same qualities.

 

In this masterclass, Emmet will break down the biomechanics of both positions. You’ll explore adductor flexibility, hip rotation, pelvic movement, forward folding and the strength required to actively control wide-legged positions.

 

The workshop will combine active stretching, active flexibility, dynamic mobility and strength through range. You’ll also learn how to distinguish between a genuine flexibility limitation, a technical problem and a position that simply needs more time and exposure.

 

The aim is not to force everyone towards an identical shape, but to help each participant develop stronger and more usable range while understanding how their own hip structure influences the movement.

 

You’ll leave with practical drills, progressions and a clearer way to structure your side split and pancake training.

 

Suitable for all levels.

Your Teacher

Emmet Louis

Emmet Louis is one of the world’s leading flexibility and mobility educators and the creator of the internationally recognised “Modern Methods of Mobility” system. Known for combining biomechanics, strength training and flexibility science with clear, practical coaching, he has helped thousands of students and coaches move beyond traditional stretching methods.

 

Drawing from gymnastics, circus arts, rehabilitation and strength & conditioning, Emmet’s teaching focuses on building mobility that is not only greater, but stronger, more resilient and immediately transferable to movement practice.

 

Whether your goal is yoga, handstands, martial arts, calisthenics or simply moving with greater freedom, Emmet’s workshops provide a structured, evidence-informed approach that has influenced coaches and practitioners around the world.