Improves posture
Promotes fexibility
Tones the whole body
Increases core strength
Pilates is a complete exercise method developed by its founder Joseph Pilates over the course of a lifetime dedicated to improving physical and mental health.
Pilates focuses on building your body's core strength and improving your posture through a series of low impact stretching and conditioning exercises.
By core strength, we are talking about your back, abdominal and pelvic muscles. Through pilates, you will be able to develop these muscles without adding bulk, increasing your flexibility and agility and at the same time toning your stomach and thigh muscles.
Pilates goes far beyond your core muscles however and not only provides a complete body workout (you will be working muscles you didn't even know you had!), but also helps you develop an awareness of how your body works, creating a balance between body and mind.
A gentle form of exercise that concentrates in core stability, its intense and effective and you will feel like you have a flatter more toned stomach in a matter of weeks.
Feedback from classes:
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Debra Brent Ana is a very knowledgeable teacher and is full of enthusiasm. I really look forward to her classes and know they've helped me improve my posture and had a positive effect on my running!
Christine Harwood
Loving Ana's Pilates classes. :-) Margaret Morris
Really look forward to Ana's Tuesday sessions. Vivien Harrington
6 months of Ana's classes have improved my posture, my balance and core strength - I have loved the classes and feel great! Thank you 5* |
Inspirational. Mind cleansing and relaxing. Perfect X 5* FLEUR KENNY-DAVIS Excellent health, beauty and relaxing classes. Have a developed a stronger stomach and corrected my posture. Thank you! 5*
VIVIEN VON SON I finished my chemotherapy for lymphoma (cancer of the lymph system) in March 2010. I desperately needed to do something to get my life back on track again. I was a wreck when I started Pilates last September - totally stiff from my chemo, (I could hardly get out of a chair), weak, two frozen shoulders, tearful, and lacking in confidence. I have 4 different pilates teachers but you are the one who encouraged me, took an interest in my progress and helped me build up my confidence again.
Thank you so much. I feel much stronger and look so much better. JUDY (59 years old) |
The Eight Principles Of Pilates
Centering: Physically bringing the focus to the centre of the body, the powerhouse (core muscle group) area between the lower ribs and pubic bone. Pilates exercises are sourced from centre.
Concentration: If one brings full attention to the exercise and does it with full commitment, maximum value will be obtained from each movement.
Control: Every Pilates exercise is done with complete muscular control. No body part is left to its own devices.
Precision: In Pilates, awareness is sustained throughout each movement. There is an appropriate placement, alignment relative to other body parts, and trajectory for each part of the body.
Breath: Joseph Pilates emphasized using a very full breath in his exercises. He advocated thinking of the lungs as a bellows - using them strongly to pump the air fully in and out of the body. Most Pilates exercises coordinate with the breath, and using the breath properly is an integral part of Pilates exercise. Pilates breathing is known as Thoratic or Lateral breathing. Expanding and contracting the ribs as you breathe.
Flow: Pilates exercise is done in a flowing manner. Fluidity and grace are goals applied to all exercises. The energy of an exercise connects all body parts and flows through the body in an even way.
Coordination: To refine the brain’s control of the body’s movement and dynamic function.
Imaging: To develop an internal visual sense of the body in both postural alignment and functional movement, which enhances the quality and efficiency of movement.
