Before joining a class you will be asked to complete an enrolment form, where you can give details of any injuries or medical conditions as well as describing any exercise goals you may have. If you are new to Pilates, it is important to attend at least two 1:1 sessions before joining an existing class (unless a Beginners class is available.). This enables us to discuss the information on your enrolment form and allows you to begin to 'learn the basics' of Pilates. These valuable Introductory Sessions also provide opportunity for individual assessment and advice before joining a group class.
It may also be necessary to attend a 1:1 session if you have certain injuries or medical conditions, in order to determine which group class would be most suitable or if private sessions would be most appropriate for you at this time.
What to expect from a matwork class at Worth Pilates?
My aim is to help you to move more effortlessly and freely in your everyday life, “oiling” the joints with gentle controlled movements and helping you to develop both strength and mobility in a balanced way.
Every class includes a variety of standing, seated, kneeling and lying exercises using small equipment (such as resistance bands, balls, foam rollers, weights and toning circles) or just gravity to strengthen and mobilise the main joints of the body. We learn how breathing well can really help you to move well and how it is crucial for building a strong yet adaptable “core” as well as helping you to relax at the end of the day.
Pilates is also wonderful for teaching you high-quality movement to carry into your everyday lives and as such we practise day-to-day "natural movements" such as squatting, rolling, crawling, getting up and down from the floor, and sitting or standing with great posture. These are the essential movements that our bodies need to do well for healthy day-to-day living but often our sedentary lives cause us to lose these fundamental movement skills. Even if you are very sporty and active you may still have pain in your joints or stiffness that you notice when you for run or play tennis or golf or work hard in the garden. Pilates gives you the opportunity to slow down and “look under the microscope” at how your joints are working and practise the small movements which put together in the correct sequence mean we can move freely and with ease once more.
Very often stiffness, joint problems and balance- or movement difficulties can be caused by alignment issues and so our exercises focus on how we align or “stack” the different parts of our body for optimal effect, reducing wear and tear on the joints, maximising the bone-building capability of every movement and allowing our muscles to work in the most coordinated way possible.
Being able to focus on detailed movements at specific joints means that we can adjust each exercise to be safe and beneficial for those of you with, for example, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, hip or knee replacements etc. But we can also tweak each movement to make it more challenging, highlighting when and where your body might be compensating for movement restrictions or inbalances and showing you how to get more "bang for your buck" with every exercise.
Class members often comment that they have developed a greater body awareness, learning how to move differently and move well so that previously stiff, immobile or painful areas of their body can now move with greater ease. Others say that they feel taller and more lengthened at the end of each class. While newcomers sometimes comment that although some of the movements might look easy to the casual observer, every exercise makes a such a positive difference to how they feel and move.
"I enjoy the way you plan each class, that you demonstrate the exercise, and that you make sure we are in the right position. I have been doing Pilates for 7 years and I am still learning, from you, how to position myself correctly. I appreciate the fact that you are aware of each individual's difficulties and will offer alternate exercises."
Buff Bones® is a medically-endorsed system of movement for bone and joint health. It leverages bone-strengthening and balance techniques along with Pilates, functional movement, strength training and therapeutic exercise. Toning your arms, hips, back and abs, the Buff Bones® system also improves posture, is adaptable to varying levels and is safe for those with osteoporosis or arthritis.
Call or email Karen to ask about joining a Friday morning Buff Bones®class at Bramble Hall, Balcombe. Find out more about the Buff Bones® system here.