Pilates at St Peter's, come rain or shine! 18/04/2012
Haggerston and De Beauvoir residents are dedicated to their core, and the new Tuesday 6:20pm Pilates at St Peter's session is gathering pace! A nice group is building up and I encourage you to join soon, before space runs out... For the next couple of weeks I will be in sunny (I wish!) Belgium, working on the production of a musical (long story...), so my lovely colleague Myriam Oudina will be taking over the sessions on Tue 24th April 6:20pm, Thu 26th April 9am and Tue1st May 6:20pm. Due to the election on May 3rd there will be NO SESSION Thu May 3rd (but come to the church to vote! It will become your local polling station) More info on the session, including directions, on the classes and prices page. I will be back as normal from Tue May 8th -- see you then! Add Comment I will be running a 10-week Pilates Intermediate course at City Lit, on Weds 5:25pm. The course is aimed at those who have done Pilates at mixed level for some time and are ready to try a bit more challenge. Every week we focus on a couple of specific movements within a balance one-hour workout. Handouts are provided for some of the movements and there is room for finding out more about the movements through questions and answers and feedback from the instructor. Click here to find out more and book your place As part of Adult Learners' Week (14-20 May) I will be offering a Pilates Taster session 10-11am on 16th May at Stamford Hill Library. Come and learn about or review the principles of Pilates, and to practice 8-10 Pilates movements. The session will be a mixed level workout, so all levels are welcome to join. For more information visit the Hackney Libraries What's On page. Pilates and men 12/10/2010
 Joseph Pilates I have recently started working with more male clients and I'm really excited about working with the different challenges that the male body brings to the Pilates session. A common misconception is that Pilates is a 'gentle exercise just for women'. Mmmmmm. Quite apart from the fact that there are some women out there who can actually do some pretty hard stuff that many guys can only dream of doing (in Pilates and elsewhere!), Pilates is a form of exercise designed by a man, Joseph Pilates, in order to improve the efficient working of the human body, male or female. With it's whole body approach and emphasis on core strengthening, alignment and balance, Pilates provides a good counterpoint to the traditional workouts for men, which tend to approach muscle groups individually rather than as a part of a whole (think weightlifting). Pilates can also bring benefits to men and women practising traditional sports. Many sports coaches are turning to Pilates for improving co-ordination, flexibility, mobility and precision, as well as for prevention of injuries, in disciplines such as football, rugby, cricket, surfing and horse riding. Top male athletes who practise Pilates include Andrew Flintoff of the England cricket team, footballer David Beckham, the All Blacks rugby team and rowers Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell. Even the US Military are doing it. Finally, if you're still not convinced that Pilates can work for men too, just take a look at Mr Pilates over there in the picture - doesn't look that 'girly', does he? If you're interested in taking a taster Pilates private class, please contact me to arrange.  Photo by Suhel Sheikh Pregnancy is one of the most amazing experiences that women - and women's bodies - can go through. During pregnancy you will experience a huge number of changes in your body and naturally you may have questions such as how to maintain your fitness levels during your pregnancy, how to best prepare your body for the safe delivery of your baby and what you can do after birth to keep your body in great shape to look after your newborn baby. According to the latest research, exercising before, during and after your pregnancy provides many potential benefits for you and your baby. Exercising during pregnancy may help reduce the risk of gaining excessive weight, help maintain or improve posture, help improve control and strength of the pelvic floor muscles, improve circulation and digestion, reduce the swelling associated with some pregnancies, increase the 'feel-good' factor and it may also promote a quicker return to your pre-pregnancy shape after delivery. Gentle Pilates workouts, with a focus on posture and alignment and control of core stability muscles including the pelvic floor, can be ideal for pregnant women who want to continue to exercise through their pregnancy and beyond. Everybody is different and there is no "one-size-fits-all" workout for pregnancy. However, if you're interested in private Pilates sessions designed specifically for you, please get in touch and we can talk about your requirements. Thanks to Helen Carpenter-Walters and Pilates Training Solutions for a fantastic Pilates & Pregnancy training course. Breathe in, breathe out, keep moving 18/08/2010
 Photo by Shawn Zehnder Lea Breathing is something we do all the time, without thinking. If we stop, it's not good! Most of us are not even aware of our breathing so it is useful to occasionally take a moment to think about this wonderful thing that is so simple and keeps us going. When we breathe in, oxygen comes into our lungs and from there it's distributed to every part of our body. Muscles need oxygen to generate energy and move, so it's really important that we breathe fully throughout any kind of exercise, avoiding holding our breath. When you breathe out you expel the used up air, and the action of breathing out helps you stabilize while you're making an effort (e.g. lifting a leg, or curling your biceps) In Pilates we use a technique called lateral or thoracic breathing, breathing into the ribcage rather than into your abdomen or chest, so we can maintain a mild contraction of core muscles. We also aim to coordinate breath and movement, to create an even flow. To start increasing your breathing awareness you can practise this simple 2-minute exercise:
Teaching Pilates here, there and everywhere! 12/08/2010
As well as private Pilates sessions I am currently also teaching regular sessions at these clubs:
Things are more fun in pairs? 06/08/2010
 Photo by Mike Baird For some of us, having a friend who shares your objectives to achieve a stronger, healthier body can help us stay motivated and improve the efficiency of our Pilates workouts. How does it work?
 Today I got full confirmation of my membership to the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs). Registration to REPS is voluntary, but it carries with it a recognition of my qualifications and my commitment to continuing professional development. REP fitness professionals are expected to continue to learn about their discipline including peripheral aspects, such as nutrition, healthy living, etc. I am planning to continue my professional development by looking at training on Pilates equipment, pre- and post- natal exercising and working with older adults. How long will it take...? 22/07/2010
 Joseph H. Pilates Tonight after their second Pilates Focus for you session at home, a couple of clients I'm working with asked "How long will it take to feel the difference?" This is what the man who developed the principles and techniques of Pilates had to say on the matter: "In ten sessions, you will feel the difference, in twenty you will see the difference, and in thirty you'll have a whole new body." -- Joseph H. Pilates It does take a few sessions to grasp the techniques and principles of Pilates. Getting the breath, core engagement, alignment, focus, control, co-ordination and flow all working at the same time requires practice, but it's not really all that difficult and it really pays off. A few tips for practising some of the different principles outside of a session:
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An occasional blog by Pilates Instructor Helena thinking out loud about Pilates teaching, learning and other fitness thoughts. ArchivesApril 2012 CategoriesAll |
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