Pilates

Pilates is more than just a set of exercises done in a certain way. Pilates classes are meant to teach your mind and your body to work together. It is about the conscious moving of your body parts within the whole.

Regular pilates can provide various amazing benefits. The most lasting of these, a connection between mind and body.

Pilates can improve:

• Posture
• Balance
• Muscle tone
• Joint mobility
• Breathing

However, pilates can also help relieve stress and tension. Pilates for athletes and dancers, not only improve flexibility and whole-body strength, but it also prevents injury.

The pilates principles are in fact:

• Breath
• Concentration
• Centring
• Control
• Precision
• Flow

My journey with pilates started 15 years ago after a spinal injury. A prolapsed disc resulted in 2 back surgeries. The final one at the end of 2008 resulted in the fusion of my L4/5 vertebrae.

During my recovery, I developed a real love for pilates. So much so that in 2010 I trained as a Pilates teacher with Body Control Pilates. I gave up my career in Finance and I have been teaching Pilates classes ever since.

There are many aspects to my pilates classes. I try and make them as personalised as possible to help you get the best results for your body. Online group classes consist of mat work and can use a ring or bands as props.

My classes are focused on helping you get back in touch with your body. I am therefore very conscious of supporting you at a level that is beneficial to you.

However, for my in-person 1-2-1 classes, I love using the reformer to help you receive the best results for your body.

The reformer is a piece of equipment designed by Joseph Pilates and dates back to the 1920s. It looks like a bed with springs, pulleys, a sliding carriage and ropes. The reformer in fact provides resistance through the 5 springs. This resistance can be varied according to individual needs.

Joseph Pilates developed Contrology while interned at Lancaster Castle during World War I, as a method to help in the rehabilitation of injured veterans.

It was called Contrology because it referred to the mind controlling the muscles. This is in fact still the focus within my pilates classes.

Pilates exercises specifically teach awareness of breath and alignment of the spine. Subsequently, pilates classes also strengthen the deep torso and abdominal muscles.

As the pelvic floor muscles form the base of the group of the muscles that form the core, connecting all the parts of the core are very important. This is also something that is very important for women to engage. Especially after giving birth and as they grow older.

That is therefore another reason why I am also so passionate about the Holistic Core Restore® ‘Everywoman programme and carry those principles into all my work.

I would love to welcome you in one of my classes. Whether an online group class or a 1-2-1 pilates class. Everyone is different and the benefits of pilates can be immense. Why not contact me directly if you have any questions at all. as Joseph Pilates said:

“You will feel better in ten sessions, look better in twenty sessions, and have a completely new body in thirty sessions.” – Joseph Pilates