“Change happens through movement, and movement heals”. Joseph Pilates
Pilates is in my opinion a wonderful form of exercise, that focuses on optimising an individual's alignment, promoting overall health, well-being and ease of movement.
My aim as an Instructor, is to offer an individual client particular exercises that are specific to their requirements, with the aim to balance all aspects of movement holistically, to create optimal posture, and functional strength and mobility.
Like everything, Pilates has evolved over time, Joseph Pilates himself was a great pragmatist. As our understanding of biomechanics and movement has advanced, so we can now choose to incorporate new variations and additional exercises to the original Method or sequence, whilst still honouring the original fundamentals Joseph Pilates laid down.
Pilates' original set of exercises were based on key principles that include concentration, flow, precision, alignment, integration, centring and the use of the breath. Joseph Pilates also developed some specialised Pilates equipment, and in those days each piece was made specifically to fit each of his clients - they were based on metal frames or converted hospital beds, and interestingly at the time, utilised metal coiled springs to provide resistance rather than metal plates. You may have heard of the Reformer as this has become very popular over the last few years with the introduction of group Reformer Classes and in gyms and specialist studios, and this was one of Joseph Pilates' first pieces of equipment that he devised!
The idea of using equipment with springs rather than fixed weights such as metal plates or dumbbells, is that springs, similar to elastic or rubber bands, provide variable resistance - the muscles have to constantly adjust to the load because that load is constantly changing as the band or spring is pulled apart and released back to it's original length. The advantage of this is that the muscular and skeletal structures involved in the exercise can be challenged in a different way than when using a fixed weight. You can try it yourself - the more you pull on an elastic band, the more tension is created, and the more effort is required...and then this is reduced gradually as you let the band return to it's normal length. It's a similar principle with springs. There are several springs on each piece of Pilates equipment, and nowadays these are made with different tensions. If you looked at a Reformer for example, you'd see the springs are colour coded, on some equipment they are black and white, on the equipment I use you will see Green - being the strongest, through Red, Blue and lastly Yellow, being the lightest. These different spring tensions provide the additional benefit of making the exercises ever more variable and adjustable to the individual client, and that client's progression!
In my small studio I have included some of my favourite Pilates apparatus that I have found over the years to be the most effective, adjustable, and enjoyable to use, and these include a flat-bed Reformer with optional Tower (half Cadillac), the Exo Chair, a Pilates Arc, and a soft-table (similar to a massage table) - traditionally floor-based exercises can be done on this soft but raised surface, and this can be particularly convenient for anyone experiencing either short or long term mobility restrictions that may make it tricky getting up and down off of the floor.
(Please note, all equipment is cleaned in between each client session.)
Exercises can be modified and varied for every body, and with particular goals in mind, there is a huge ‘toolbox’ of exercises to choose from, ensuring appropriate exercises are selected for each individual, so movement programmes - whether to facilitate rehabilitation, as an adjunct to other activities or sports, or just for the joy of practising Pilates - can be specifically tailored to maximise benefits and results, relevant to personal goals and requirements.
Pilates can be used as a full body workout, an activity specific training regime, or as a rehabilitative programme, and be practised either with the use of the Pilates Apparatus in the Studio, or as an at-home workout, requiring a mat and perhaps some small props.
In my experience, Pilates works! So whether you are looking for a new form of exercise to explore, are recovering from illness or injury, are looking for a way back into active movement, or are just curious to try Pilates, then I'd wholeheartedly recommend you give it a try!
My aim as an Instructor, is to offer an individual client particular exercises that are specific to their requirements, with the aim to balance all aspects of movement holistically, to create optimal posture, and functional strength and mobility.
Like everything, Pilates has evolved over time, Joseph Pilates himself was a great pragmatist. As our understanding of biomechanics and movement has advanced, so we can now choose to incorporate new variations and additional exercises to the original Method or sequence, whilst still honouring the original fundamentals Joseph Pilates laid down.
Pilates' original set of exercises were based on key principles that include concentration, flow, precision, alignment, integration, centring and the use of the breath. Joseph Pilates also developed some specialised Pilates equipment, and in those days each piece was made specifically to fit each of his clients - they were based on metal frames or converted hospital beds, and interestingly at the time, utilised metal coiled springs to provide resistance rather than metal plates. You may have heard of the Reformer as this has become very popular over the last few years with the introduction of group Reformer Classes and in gyms and specialist studios, and this was one of Joseph Pilates' first pieces of equipment that he devised!
The idea of using equipment with springs rather than fixed weights such as metal plates or dumbbells, is that springs, similar to elastic or rubber bands, provide variable resistance - the muscles have to constantly adjust to the load because that load is constantly changing as the band or spring is pulled apart and released back to it's original length. The advantage of this is that the muscular and skeletal structures involved in the exercise can be challenged in a different way than when using a fixed weight. You can try it yourself - the more you pull on an elastic band, the more tension is created, and the more effort is required...and then this is reduced gradually as you let the band return to it's normal length. It's a similar principle with springs. There are several springs on each piece of Pilates equipment, and nowadays these are made with different tensions. If you looked at a Reformer for example, you'd see the springs are colour coded, on some equipment they are black and white, on the equipment I use you will see Green - being the strongest, through Red, Blue and lastly Yellow, being the lightest. These different spring tensions provide the additional benefit of making the exercises ever more variable and adjustable to the individual client, and that client's progression!
In my small studio I have included some of my favourite Pilates apparatus that I have found over the years to be the most effective, adjustable, and enjoyable to use, and these include a flat-bed Reformer with optional Tower (half Cadillac), the Exo Chair, a Pilates Arc, and a soft-table (similar to a massage table) - traditionally floor-based exercises can be done on this soft but raised surface, and this can be particularly convenient for anyone experiencing either short or long term mobility restrictions that may make it tricky getting up and down off of the floor.
(Please note, all equipment is cleaned in between each client session.)
Exercises can be modified and varied for every body, and with particular goals in mind, there is a huge ‘toolbox’ of exercises to choose from, ensuring appropriate exercises are selected for each individual, so movement programmes - whether to facilitate rehabilitation, as an adjunct to other activities or sports, or just for the joy of practising Pilates - can be specifically tailored to maximise benefits and results, relevant to personal goals and requirements.
Pilates can be used as a full body workout, an activity specific training regime, or as a rehabilitative programme, and be practised either with the use of the Pilates Apparatus in the Studio, or as an at-home workout, requiring a mat and perhaps some small props.
In my experience, Pilates works! So whether you are looking for a new form of exercise to explore, are recovering from illness or injury, are looking for a way back into active movement, or are just curious to try Pilates, then I'd wholeheartedly recommend you give it a try!