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What is Pilates?

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"If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old;
if it is completely flexible at 60, you are young."

Joseph Pilates

Devised by Joseph Pilates in the early 1900’s, it is a series of slow and controlled body conditioning exercises which target the deep postural muscles in order to build strength from within. It relieves stress, builds core stability and strength, improves muscle elasticity and mobilises spinal and peripheral joints. This can reduce the incidence of back & neck pain, which is why Pilates is often recommended by medical professionals.

The slow controlled approach to the exercises enables you to focus on the alignment, precision and quality of movement, thus re-training your body to move in safer, more efficient patterns of motion – invaluable for enjoying daily activities, injury recovery/prevention, sports performance, good posture and optimal health. We teach Pilates but with an emphasis on functional movement and injury prevention plus rehabilitation as required. This means that you are taught Pilates that is tailored in a way that best suits your individual needs.

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Some benefits of regular Pilates

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improved core strength and stability

improved muscle elasticity and flexibility

improved muscle balance promoting joint health

improved movement patterns in daily life and in sport

improved

bone

density

increased control, range and ease of movement

improved posture

& alignment,

longer, leaner, stronger muscles

increased efficiency and quality of movement

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improved

balance and

co-ordination

increased bodily awareness and connection

increased circulation through deep healthy breathing

reduced stress/tension

& improved mental health

The Pilates exercise method was originally used for Boxers, but soon attracted the New York Ballet dancers, actors/actresses, gymnasts and athletes.  In modern times it has been broken down in order to make it accessible to a much wider public.  Pilates is suitable for all shapes, sizes, ages, abilities, backgrounds, occupations, males and females and anyone who would like to enhance the way they look, feel and move.

Is Pilates for me?

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The Mat

There's never a dull moment in our Matwork classes! Small equipment such as circles, balls and bands are used to bring challenge (and sometimes support) where needed.

 

Classes are varied and the group size is restricted so that you can be observed, corrected, and treated as an individual, because there should never be one size that fits all.

Often seen attached to a Reformer, the Tower is a space saving version of the Cadillac, which was designed by Joseph Pilates in the late 1950's/early 1960's. Unlike the Reformer where the carriage moves back and forth on metal rails, the Cadillac is stationary, but similarly to the Reformer, the participant can be either challenged or supported by a selection of spring settings.

The Towers provide a great challenge for balance, and the core stability muscles work hard to control the trunk against the strength and instability of the springs. There is very little pressure on the joints as the bodyweight is supported.  
In addition to this, we have 2 Balanced Body Towers which attach onto our Reformers. ​​The traditional Cadillac is the largest piece of Pilates equipment found in a Studio, however, the Tower unit and mat converter fit perfectly into the Reformer to transform it into a compact Pilates Half Cadillac. In addition, the mat converter is ideal for rehab clients who are unable to get down to exercise on a mat on the floor.

The Tower

The Ladder Barrel has ladder rungs with a barrel surface for stretching, core strengthening and flexibility exercises.


The barrel connects to the ladder by a sliding base that adjusts to accommodate different torso sizes and leg lengths.

The Ladder Barrel

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The Wunda Chair is one of the most challenging pieces of Pilates apparatus and is great for strength building as well as stability and balance. Originally designed to fit into the small New York city apartments where Joseph Pilates had his first Studio, the Wunda Chair could be found in sitting rooms doubling up as a chair to relax on as well as a piece of exercise equipment!! The Wunda Chair offers a huge variety of exercises in different positions, and works with the resistance of spring tension.

 

The Wunda Chair's small size significantly reduces the base of support which increases the physical and technical challenge of the exercises performed. The Wunda Chair can improve strength and mobility and therefore sporting performance, but is also is of huge benefit in pregnancy, and the addition of the split pedals makes it another great tool in the field of rehabilitation.

The Wunda Chair

The Reformer is a popular choice of equipment not only for post injury/surgery rehabilitation and for pregnancy, but also for general fitness and strength. It gives all of the usual benefits of Pilates such as core and overall body strength, flexibility and balance, but brings new challenges and variation.

 

 Our private sessions are the perfect choice if you’re looking for a bespoke strength and flexibility training, or if you are using Reformer for injury rehabilitation. Or you can join a class for some group training. Different levels of resistance can be added to make the exercises more physically challenging. For those who are less able, the Reformer can provide extra support to the body to assist with the exercises. Our Reformers come with a variety of settings which are easily adjusted to accommodate each individual's body proportions and to suit their physical and technical ability.

The Reformer

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