“Pilates is designed to give you suppleness, natural grace and skill that will be unmistakably reflected in the way you walk, in the way you play and in the way you work.” Joseph Pilates
WHAT IS PILATES:
Pilates is an exercise system accessible to everybody regardless of age or fitness level, including those recovering from injury. The movements are designed to stretch and strengthen the whole body, improving posture, balance, flexibility and mobility. It was developed by German-born Joseph Pilates around a hundred years ago and influenced by yoga, martial arts and Western forms of exercise. The low impact nature of the movements and the emphasis on muscle lengthening leads to increased strength and leaner muscles.
At Studio Yoga mat based Pilates is taught in small classes allowing the teacher to focus on giving students individual attention. Private instruction is also available by appointment.
GENERAL CLASSES:
Pilates classes are taught in ability groups: Beginners, Improvers and Intermediates. Beginners sessions break down the exercises into more manageable parts and teach the basic principles of breathing, concentration, relaxation, alignment and centring. For Improvers, the focus changes more to coordination, flowing movements and stamina. These classes may include work with a Swiss Ball and other equipment to improve strength and fitness. Intermediate sessions are for more experienced students putting everything together to truly challenge your core.
PILATES FOR COMPLETE BEGINNERS:
If you’ve never done Pilates before we strongly recommend having an induction session before you join a beginners group. Our experience is that people who start this way get more benefit from their classes and make faster progress.
We run beginners workshops where you will be taken through the basics and enjoy a taster session to get you up to speed before joining a group class. These are held at the start of term. Another option, available at any time, is to have a 1:1 session. These can be arranged to suit and shared with a friend.
PILATES FOR SENIORS:
Pilates is suitable for all ages and these gentle sessions are designed to help the over 70s stay fit and reduce the risk of injury. The exercises focus on controlled breathing and the quality of movement, not the quantity of repetitions. Pilates also helps with a variety of age-related ailments. Arthritis sufferers benefit because the gentle mid-range movements decrease the chance of joints compressing while maintaining the range of motion around them.
