ABOUT
JOSEPH PILATES
Pilates was invented by Joseph Pilates from Germany. He was a strong gymnast and boxer, Motivated by the very strong belief that many ailments are preventable. Get enough sunlight, eat nutritious food and sleep was also part of his prescription, among much more. He studied the body and movement modalities his whole life. It’s the unique blend of this unity and his inventions of the equipment that makes Pilates so effective and so unique.
His first studio was in New York where doctors sent people in pain to ‘get fixed’ and where ballerinas and many athletes sought him out to help them lengthen their careers. He was a boxer, a gymnast and inventor who dedicated his life to movement and ultimately health.
THE PRACTICE
Pilates is a Method, with a system of exercises, with a marked purpose where the exercises are not developed at random. There is no such thing as a “floor Pilates” or “reformer Pilates”; These are expressions created for business, to increase the profitability but often sacrificing the purpose of the Pilates Method and therefore its benefits, this is not the way I work.
Pilates is never about force or muscling through but calls on a deeper strength that helps us develop ease in movement. Together we’ll explore and encourage you to find a deeper sense of self-awareness and connection.
Meet Jo
I found Pilates at a time when I needed it most and it truly revolutionised my life!
When I was younger I loved fitness, movement and dance and took many classes including yoga and pilates. However, after having a family and working full time as a teacher I struggled to prioritise time for myself and my own fitness. As I got older this was something I began to regret as my body no longer moved in a way that I was used to.
Then I found Classical Pilates. I gave mat, reformer and tower classes a try and I have never looked back. I immediately found a passion for Pilates and experienced first hand the many physical improvements and health benefits that this wonderful movement system can bring to the body and mind. After attending sessions regularly, I found a lightness in all aspects of my health and wellbeing. My physical fitness has changed beyond recognition and I feel years younger in the way I move not only through pilates sessions but also through normal everyday tasks. In addition to discovering the physical enhancements of pilates, I also found it to be such a stress relieving mindful activity as you have to really connect your mind in order to move, connect and engage with your body.
I feel so passionate about the benefits that I have personally experienced that I was inspired to train as an Instructor myself and share this passion with others. I have never looked back. I still absolutely love studying pilates. Whether your goal is to start improving your physical movement in a safe and supported way or to help you to focus on goals by strengthening and conditioning, I would love to work alongside you.
“If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old; if it is completely flexible at 60, you are young.”
Joseph Pilates