WHAT IS PILATES?

A History of Pilates

I discovered Pilates whist training as a professional dancer. I had lower back pain and after seeing a physiotherapist was advised to take Pilates classes. We were fortunate to have a small reformer studio at college and I often trained in there between classes and soon saw a marked improvement in core strength, flexibility and my back pain vanished and has never returned!

After graduating I decided to train to teach Pilates with Michael King and Malcolm Muirhead at the Pilates Institute. Over the next 20 years teaching Pilates and the fundamentals of the method across my classes I have seen clients and students also feel the same benefits I experienced.

I now work with training providers tutoring and assessing the Level 3 Pilates Matwork Instructor Diploma and continue to grow my skills as an instructor with specific CPD training in Pregnancy and Postnatal Pilates.

BENEFITS OF PILATES

  • Improvement in core strength - these are all the muscles around the centre of the body. From the pelvic girdle at the base, through the abdominal area to the shoulder girdle at at the top.

  • Improvement in mobility

  • Improvement in pelvic floor strength

  • Improvement in balance

  • Improvement in flexibility and range of movement

REFORMER PILATES

Reformer Pilates is a low-impact form of exercise that utilises a specialised machine known as the Reformer. This apparatus, which was created by Joseph Pilates, employs springs, pulleys, and a movable carriage to provide resistance, allowing for a wide range of movements designed to strengthen and tone the body.

During Reformer Pilates sessions, participants engage in controlled, precise movements that focus on core strength, flexibility, and overall body alignment. Suitable for all fitness levels, this method promotes muscle balance, rehabilitation, and improved posture, making it an effective workout option for individuals seeking to enhance their physical well-being.