Since her early childhood Benita Cantieni suffered from Scoliosis and Scheuermann’s desease, both of which stayed untreated. By the age of 27 several joints were affected by severe Arthrosis (hip, jaw, iliosacrum), replacement of the hip joint seemed inevitable. Benita felt, she was too young to get „spare parts“ and decided to try to cure her illnesses through therapy.

She tried every physical therapy she could get hold of – Feldenkrais, Rolfing, Structural Integration, Alexander-Technique, Physiotherapy, Yoga etc.. „If the Therapist was good, everything helped a bit to soothe the pains I suffered“, says Benita, „but nothing changed my body.“ 1991 she read a Book about Callanetics, a then popular workout. „At the beginning the exercises felt really good. The precise positions and tiny movements seemed to help“, she recounts. Together with a partner she bought a Masterfranchise for Callanetics in Switzerland, went to Denver for Training. „Teaching classes in groups or private lessons I realized that something was missing in the method: it wasn’t anatomically founded. There was no underlying structure that could safely be applied to everybody.“ She went on searching. In 1993 she met Christian Larsen, M.D. and co-founder of Spiraldynamik International, an anatomy-based system to analyze and improve posture and movement. Larsen introduced her to the three-layered system of the Pelvic floor, the core muscles for aligning the bones.

Since then Cantieni is studying how the structure of bones in the human body can be aligned and how the deepest layers of muscles can hold the newly organized bones in their optimal structure. And more, Cantieni developed an ingenious method to teach and instruct people irrespective of age and fitness level to this true „physical education“. „Knowing the instruction manual for the human body is the most important tool against Aging“, say Cantieni who, with 58, has a perfectly straight spine and completely recovered joints. „I feel younger than with 20, I’m stronger than ever and more flexible“, says Cantieni, „and, as a great side effect, my body feels and looks better than ever.“

Core of the CANTIENICA® – Method are the networked Pelvic Floor muscles, consisting of three highly potent muscle-layers at the bottom of the Pelvis, building a solid “storey” for the torso, taking all weight off the leg joints. From this pelvic powerhouse the spine is stretched and aligned, rib cage, shoulders, head are brought in perfect human structure. All muscle training is conducted from inside out, deepest muscles first, than the outer layers. All movements are three-dimensional, which avoids injuries and guarantees great strength without bulky muscles.

Beside the readers and viewers of her books and videos Cantieni’s work has attracted Therapists, Orthopedists, Chiropractors, Fitness Instructors, Midwives etc. Since 1998 approximately 400 Trainees attended the CANTIENICA® - Trainings in Switzerland, Germany, Austria and are certified to instruct the Method. The Training brings fast results, “you feel better after the first try”, says Cantieni, “after the third hour you look better, after 10 trainings your body has transformed into a power engine.”

The Training can be built and adjusted for every focus: