Level 1 – Beginners
Beginner classes are for those who are new to Pilates, or haven’t done Pilates for a while and would like to join a refresh course. Beginner classes aim at teaching the fundamentals of Pilates, from breathing techniques, alignment, focus, centering and control. You will work towards improving your core and back strength, improving your body awareness, posture and balance, while increasing the range and quality of overall movement.
Level 2 – Improvers
Improver classes are for those who have grasped good basic technique and would like to be challenged with stronger exercises. At this point the focus is on increasing core strength, stamina and, at the same time, much more complex patterns of movement.
This is also a good class to come to if you have done Matwork Pilates before with other teachers.
These classes will help you relieve stress and leave you feeling energised.
Level 3 – Intermediate
Intermediate level classes are even more challenging, working towards the ‘classic’ original exercises that were designed by Joseph Pilates for execution on the mat. Modifications will be given where necessary. The aim is for movement to be flowing and dynamic so the body becomes evenly strengthened and toned. A higher level of body awareness and movement are attained.
Level 4 – Advanced
The original matwork class in its purest form, in the correct sequence with a fast tempo and with flowing transitions. This is a tough workout and the ultimate Pilates challenge. This is an excellent class for strength, flexibility and stamina. At this level, it is important for people with any injuries to have a comprehensive understanding of what is appropriate for them, and where they should be perform lower levels of an exercise.
Pilates & Joints Mobility – Over 60s
This is a gentle class which main focus is to increase and maintain the quality of joints mobility and general muscle strength. It also works on improving balance, coordination, suppleness and body awareness.
The class is structured in a way that allows you to always have some form of support, should you wish, like a chair. Exercises are performed standing, sitting on a chair and lying down. However, the teacher will always offer modifications and alternative exercises.
This is a drop in session. No pre-booking is required.
Back Care Pilates
This class is for clients who have been cleared to exercise by their physio/practitioner.
The slower pace and smaller size of this class makes it ideal for those suffering with back or neck issues. Sessions will focus on stability, strength and getting the body moving again.
It will re-educate you over muscle use, balance and control of movements. It is the perfect follow-on from your physio based exercises.
Pilates for Sport
It has been recognized that Pilates is a great form of training/exercise that complements many sports, and at all levels, from top athletes to the recreational sport person. Pilates is especially effective in building core stability, improving focus and injury prevention.
All sports have their own key patterns of movement and repeated use of these movement patterns can result in muscular imbalance. Less relevant muscle groups can become weak and inefficient, with the more predominant muscles becoming bulky and tight. Pilates focuses on the body as a whole, aiming to rebalance muscles and improve postural alignment.
By addressing postural issues through Pilates, athletes can avoid many common injuries. Instability through the pelvis is a common cause of lower back pain. The cause is often postural; an anterior pelvic tilt (in plain English, a tendency to stick the bum out), which is often caused by tight hip flexors. This in turn shortens the lower back muscles and brings the hamstrings into a stretched position, leaving both vulnerable to injuries.
Pilates is excellent for releasing the hip flexors, which will help bring the hips in to a more neutral position, and reduce strain through the back and hamstrings.
Pilates can help increasing power output.
The body cannot generate powerful movements from a position of instability. Increased core stability is one of the key benefits of all Pilates programmes, enabling athletes to channel and maximise their power more effectively.
The extra stability through the hips and core that Pilates develops can allow athletes to generate power from more unorthodox positions. A lot of exercises in Pilates are unilateral, generating strength and control in unstable positions even through an athlete’s ‘weak’ side.
While Pilates offers clear and important advantages for elite sportsmen and women, the benefits are equally valuable for recreational sports people, because many of the underlying postural issues it addresses are actually more prevalent for them.
Elite and professional athletes apart, we lead ever increasingly sedentary work lives. Training and playing for a couple of hours each day teamed with 12 hours sat on the phone, at a computer or on a train/plane is the perfect recipe for tight muscles, poor posture and muscular imbalances.
This makes it even more important for recreational sports and exercise enthusiasts to include Pilates based training into their regime to avoid injury and to aid optimal performance.
