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Judith Aston, MFA LMT
Founder & Developer of Aston-Patterning® 
Judith Aston is a pioneer in the field of movement education and bodywork. Her mission is to assist in the integration of body, mind, and spirit by developing concepts and practices that challenge the traditional viewpoint of body as linear, constrained and uni-dimensional. She has developed a new paradigm for the optimal body, in stationary and moving postures, based on natural three-dimensional asymmetry in relation to gravity and ground reaction force. Judith has applied these discoveries to a full range of activities and environments, changing ideas of how movement could be taught, how products are designed, and the manner in which injuries are rehabilitated.
She brings the message of her unique biomechanical model to teaching and training worldwide. Judith is the author of Aston Postural Assessment, which includes an easy system for visual notation and describes concepts of the Aston Paradigm. She also designs and teaches programs which integrate her discoveries with existing movement disciplines such as Yoga, Pilates, personal training/coaching, rehabilitation therapies, sports and dance as well as bodywork techniques. creating bodywork forms: the Arthro-Kinetics in 1976 (a bodywork mobilizing technique for joints and periosteum layers), Myo-Kinetics in 1977 (myofascial technique from superficial to deep layers), and Spiraling Technique (a massage form) in 1980.
Judith Aston is a graduate from UCLA with a B.A. and M.F.A. in education and dance. In 1963, she was faculty and creator of the movement education program for athletes, dancers, and actors at Long Beach City College. Concurrently, she expanded her new interest in the ways in which movement and stillness create and communicate emotion. Later she called this new form: Ideo-Kinetics.
In need of rehabilitation following a serious auto accident, she sought out Dr. Ida Rolf for myofascial treatment (Rolfing) in 1968. This experience assisted Judith in her recovery and expanded her understanding of how bodies can change through hands-on bodywork. Dr. Rolf trained Judith in Structural Integration in 1968-1969. In 1968, Dr. Rolf asked her to develop a movement education counterpart to the myofascial release bodywork, with the aim of helping clients maintain the process achieved. Judith developed and taught the movement education curriculum from 1971-1977. Student Rolfers learned how to work with minimal effort and maximum precision. Clients gained awareness of beneficial changes and were taught how to maintain their “line.” These contributions to the Structural Integration (Rolfing) movement became known as Rolf-Aston Structural Patterning and were integrated into the training requirements.
By the mid-1970’s, Judith found herself in disagreement with the standard postural models of segmental alignment and a constrained posture. Through her years of experience working with clients, she had made some startling discoveries that evolved into the Aston Paradigm. These she formalized into Aston-Patterning®, a new model of biomechanics, learning and movement education. The benefits of the movement and bodywork created a demand both for Aston-Patterning work with clients, and training in the Aston Paradigm model.
Aston Paradigm trainings in Incline Village, Nevada, and the Big Island of Hawaii, provide experienced, well-trained teachers to make Aston-Patterning® movement education and bodywork available to interested persons.
Judith has personally trained and selected faculty from a diverse group of healthcare practitioners who are committed to the advantages of ease and efficiency of movement, the lessening of the effects of pain and injury, and a new understanding of the body in natural balance. In addition, Judith has designed a series of products supporting the optimal body, and holds 6 patents. And she actively continues to design new products and programs.