What is Pilates?

"Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness. In order to achieve happiness, it is imperative to gain mastery of your body. If at the age of 30 you are stiff and out of shape, you are old. If at 60 you are supple and strong then you are young."  Joseph Pilates

Pilates is an invigorating exercise method designed to elongate, strengthen and restore the body to balance. Using an anatomical understanding of the body's muscular and skeletal systems combined with knowledge of the client's injury history, the Pilates teacher creates a comprehensive exercise programme for each individual client. Each one to one session will focus on specific areas individually whilst at the same time using exercises that integrate the whole body to re-educate and restore it to optimum function.

It is this holistic approach that sets Pilates apart from many other forms of exercise. Osteopaths, physiotherapists and general practitioners recommend Pilates as one of the safest forms of exercise today. Pilates can be beneficial for just about everyone, regardless of age and fitness level.

General Fitness

• Improves your posture
• Improves mobility and flexibility of the spine
• Delivers muscle tone and flexibility
• Promotes a more efficient and supportive core
• Increases stability for the pelvis and shoulders
• Fosters the health of joints through improved mobility and support from the surrounding musculature
• Complements training for athletes

Health Conditions

• Facilitates injury prevention and physical rehabilitation
• Builds better balance and coordination, particularly for the elderly
• Offers a safe and excellent form of exercise for ante and post-natal women
• Alleviates aches and pains
• Helps maintain and can improve bone density
• Develops the function and efficiency of the lungs with improvement in circulation

Offers a safe and beneficial form of exercise for a wide range of medical conditions, including Scoliosis, Osteoporosis, Arthritis, and Multiple Sclerosis. Relieves stress and tension and promotes a feeling of well-being. Helps restore your body to balance. As a result, your posture will change and you will move more efficiently. You'll achieve a strong core, develop longer, leaner muscles and improve your overall sense of well-being. And, if you are a sports enthusiast, Pilates can help improve your game.

How is Pilates different from other forms of exercise?

Pilates is more dynamic than yoga but less aggressive and high-impact than aerobics, jogging or gym-work. Whereas most forms of exercise build the body's stronger muscles, Pilates exercises work as much or more to strengthen the weaker ones too. The result is a properly balanced body, with better joint mobility, a firm musculature and good, natural posture. Pilates helps you achieve such posture by strengthening the centre of the body so that it supports your lower back, helping you to stand straight and hold your upper body correctly.

Whereas many kinds of exercise aim only to raise your general fitness, our instructors are able to isolate and strengthen a specific muscle or tackle a particular problem with rare precision.

Whilst other forms of exercise often cause injuries, our Pilates exercises not only help to treat injuries but are themselves so controlled and low-impact that they are extremely safe – if taught, that is, by a properly trained instructor. What's more, the awareness of your body that you will develop enables you to avoid the same injuries or problems recurring in the future.