Benefits of Pilates

Pilates is claimed to offer benefits for almost anyone of any age or fitness level:

• Aiding rehabilitation after strain, injury or an operation
• Improving posture and balance
• Improving strength and stamina
• Preventing injury
• Treating and preventing back, neck and hip problems
• Relieving stress and improving sleep patterns
• Helping prevent osteoporosis
• Getting back into shape after giving birth.

After careful assessment, I incorporate Pilates into exercise programmes tailored to individual needs and goals.

Pilates in Your Fifties and Beyond

Generally, public and gym Pilates classes may not suit everyone attending them. This becomes increasingly evident as the years advance.

For clients in their fifties and beyond, after consultation and careful assessment, I tailor Pilates programmes to suit their pace, physical condition and preferences for exercise.

One-to-One Pilates

In recent years the scientific community has taken an interest in Pilates and its use for injury rehabilitation. The fusion of Pilates exercises with well-established physiotherapy concepts started in the 1990s and is now widespread.

Today osteopaths, physiotherapists and GPs may well recommend Pilates as a safe form of exercise. Pilates may be recommended to augment other treatment programmes.

One-to-One Pilates vs Exercise Pilates

The popular practice of exercise Pilates is in classes held at gyms and health clubs. This is the application of Pilates directly as an exercise aimed at general improvement in fitness .

One-to-one Pilates is an entirely personal application of Pilates techniques to the treatment of specific conditions and to accelerate rates of recovery.

The benefits of one-to-one Pilates can be summarised:

• Deals with individual, rather than group, needs
• Achieves faster results than those achieved through exercise-oriented activities
• Incorporates functional exercises which mimic everyday movements
• Can head off potential injuries by restoring the body's correct physical balances
• One-to-one relationship between patient and practitioner.

Pilates in Fitness Training

For those following a sport, energetic pastime or determined fitness programme, I have integrated Pilates routines into activities, aiming to achieve the best muscular and skeletal balance essential for their full enjoyment of their efforts, however energetic.

Golf, badminton, tennis, squash, rugby, football, cricket and so on, even walking, all make physical demands on the body. Pilates, applied appropriately, can condition muscles to meet these demands, thus improving performance and reducing the risk of injury.