Frequently Asked Questions

Pilates is for everyone, whatever your age, body shape or fitness level. It’s particularly beneficial for people recovering from injuries and athletes and performers seeking to compliment their regular training.

Specially developed Pilates equipment is used to help you move more efficiently and freely in everything you do – from training for a marathon, to practising yoga or simply keeping up with your children.

Mat pilates helps improve overall core strength, fitness and flexibility, it can also aid in the prevention of injury and enhance posture, mobility and muscle tone.

We are often asked about the difference between mat and studio equipment Pilates.

Mat Pilates is popular for improving core-strength. It achieves this with movements that primarily roll, twist and curl to target your torso, from your hips to your shoulders.

Studio equipment Pilates has become one of the world’s most popular workouts because it demands more from the body, by way of resistance and co-ordination, than classic fitness or mat-based routines alone. The reformer offers all the core-building benefits you get on the mat and more. The force from the pulley and spring system means more resistance than just your body weight, and it’s harder to balance. This additional challenge to your stability and range of motion helps you to achieve results faster.

How often you attend Pilates classes is up to you. It all boils down to the frequency and quality of your other activities, and how much rest you get. If you are happy with how you feel in your body and Pilates supplements your fitness routine, you might find one class a week is enough.

How often to do Pilates also comes down to commitment. If you feel sore across your neck and shoulders for example, or you want to see specific results in a particular time frame, then commit to two or three classes per week for at least eight weeks. The answer to this question is very personal, if you’re unsure the best course of action is to ask. I can help you to decide based on your level of experience and personal requirements.

If you’re not moving much at the moment, no problem. Pilates is a great way to start moving your body again, and my studio in Hadleigh is a welcoming environment to get started with Pilates. Equally if you have a regular fitness or wellness routine that includes things like walking, swimming, cycling, running and/or weight training, add Pilates to your routine to realign your body, reduce joint pain, and improve performance across all your other activities. Training your body for optimal movement is the foundation for moving and feeling well.

Depending on your level of body awareness, conditioning, or previous experience, you might choose to go straight in to group classes, or start with a one-to-one Pilates class. One-to-one sessions are a great way to assess and resolve patterns that may be contributing to poor posture, neck, shoulder, back or knee pain. We offer a number of ways to help you ease into your Pilates practise and achieve your best self. Choose from group mat classes, one-to-one Pilates or studio equipment sessions to balance your plan for treatment, exercise and overall wellbeing.

No. I provide Pilates classes to suit just about everyone.

Are you a Cyclist? Runner? Tennis player? Skier? In short, Pilates will benefit your performance. Pilates isn’t just physical, it’s mental. At the heart of Pilates is breathing, mindfulness and body awareness. Research has linked Pilates to better flexibility, trunk stability, injury prevention and relief for athletes suffering from chronic conditions and joint pain. More and more professional athletes are turning to Pilates to improve flexibility, core strength, range of motion, power and overall performance, while reducing the risk of injury.

if you are returning to Pilates after an injury or are in chronic pain, we don’t recommend taking part in a group class, but I do provide one-to-one Pilates classes which we can tailor to your needs. If you have any doubts about any injury, disability or other medical condition, get in touch and we’ll help you get started in the most effective way for your body.

Watch this Gym Catch video for instructions on how to book and pay for your classes.