What is pilates?
Pilates is a form of movement exercise that can help you to improve your well-being- whether it be overcoming an injury, discomfort or to generally improve your health and fitness potential.
With focus and understanding your movements more clearly, you can achieve great things; Pilates can assist in giving you unique understanding about your own body’s movement (this is called proprioception).
Pilates exercises are completed in (mostly) slow and always controlled movements of the arms, legs and spine; stabilising when it is needed and mobilising the joints within the range you have- which often increases, the more you practice!
SAY YES TO NEW ADVENTURES
There are classes that take place on Pilates equipment, such as the Reformer, Cadillac, Ladder Barrel and Chair, or there are Matwork based classes; meaning that you complete the class in a range of positions on a mat.
(Don’t worry, all the equipment is provided, so you don’t need to buy anything).
There are a range of class types; the lower level classes are not designed to be a cardio workout, so you won’t necessarily be working up a sweat or feeling out of breath by the end of class;
If you’re still unsure, please have a read of our client testimonials, or better still, come along and see for yourself.
TESTIMONIALS
PILATES OR YOGA?
People confuse Pilates and yoga. This is understandable. It becomes even more complex when you learn that there are different types of Pilates and different types of yoga!
There is more information in our blog about the differences.
IS ALL PILATES THE SAME?
Not all Pilates is the same. For example, there are over 70 training providers in the UK- with many differences between courses on offer. This is perhaps understandable as Joseph Pilates trained up several Elders, who went on to teach the Second Generation Pilates Teachers; it is from each of these lines that current Pilates Training Providers have come. With each Elder, came variation, through their personality, backgrounds and own perspective. Pilates has continued to develop over time through medical advances and our understanding of the human body.
There are 2 main types of Pilates; Contemporary and Classical and you can learn the difference in our blog.
Our Equipment
Tower
Reformer
Jumpboard
PILATES Chair
Arc
Ladder Barrel
Barre
THE FUNDAMENTALS: 8 PRINCIPLES
CONCENTRATION
Concentration promotes the mind-body connection. As you focus on your movement, Pilates states you will enhance your body awareness.
CENTERING
Centering consciously brings your focus to stabilising the body where needed, to create controlled and isolated movement.
CONTROL
The Pilates method is based on safe and complete muscle control. With proper control, you execute correct form, leaving no part of your body unattended- you direct each and every movement.
PRECISION
According to Pilates’ precision principle, executing one exercise well is more important than completing more repetitions with poor form.
BREATHING
Controlled breathing activates blood circulation, awakens muscles and prevents unnecessary intra-abdominal pressure. Pilates encourages breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth.
FLOW
Continuous: smooth and dynamic movement is important when increasing muscle length.
ALIGNMENT
Pilates increases awareness of the placement of all parts of your body. During your Pilates workout, it is important to be aware of the position of your joints as they move and stabilise.
INTEGRATION
Uniting all the above principles to support and create pure, formed movement.