New to Pilates

About Pilates:

Pilates exercises work with the breath, stabilizing the body with your deep abdominal muscles, and targeting specific areas.  A workout will take you through all areas of the body, working on improving your range of movement, and  balancing out the muscles of the body.  Not only do the exercises stretch and strengthen you, but as you are encouraged to concentrate on the quality of each movement, this is relaxation for the mind as well.

 

What to wear:

Please wear stretchy, comfortable clothing, that you can move around in, but nothing too baggy.   Pilates exercises are very exact, and I need to see how you are moving.

Exercising barefoot is best, and wear layers of clothing.  The venues are usually a nice temperature, but there are occasions, for instance a sudden change in weather, that cannot be predicted.  At these times,  the hall may not have time to become an ideal temperature.  The session ends with stretching and relaxing where you will not be moving as much, so an extra layer can be good.

What to expect during class:

I teach some standing or foot exercises at the beginning of the class, and then progress to exercising on the mats.  During the class I demonstrate and then walk round the room checking how the exercises are being performed, so I can help with adjustments where necessary.  We end with stretching and relaxation.  I welcome feedback, and work hard to make sure that my classes are varied and interesting.  I aim for everyone in the class to feel comfortable with the exercises they are doing, but also hope you feel challenged!  Please let me know if this is not the case, as it is important to keep on challenging yourself in order to progress with strength and range of movement.   This hour is for you and it is important to me that you enjoy it!

Finally and most importantly:

Please do not do any exercises if they do not feel right, or comfortable.  Every body has a different history, so although the exercises are very safe, if something just doesn’t feel right, and your gut instinct is to stop, then stop!   In my opinion, that is always the best option, rather than to risk an injury.   I am happy to go through an exercise again in more detail, during class, if appropriate, or afterwards if it needs more time.  I do my best to keep an eye on everyone in the class, but as my attention will always be divided, please remember that ultimately your body safety is your own responsibility.

 

“Contrology [Pilates] is not a fatiguing system of dull, boring, abhorred exercises repeated daily ad-nauseam………….The only unchanging rules you must conscientiously obey are that you must always faithfully and without deviation follow the instructions accompanying the exercises and always keep your mind wholly concentrated on the purpose of the exercises as you perform them”    Joseph Pilates