A: Before you begin classes, it is essential that you make me aware (in confidence if you prefer) of any injuries, recent surgery, pregnancy or medical conditions, and that you keep me updated with any changes. This will help me to ensure that I give you a suitable programme and do not place unnecessary demands on you. On your first session, I will ask you to fill in a questionnaire to help me better understand your needs. If you are under the care of a health professional for any reason, I may ask you to check with them that Pilates is suitable for you at this point, and I am very happy to liaise with physiotherapists and osteopaths in tailoring a personal programme.
A: Pilates can be enormously beneficial during pregnancy (with a medical practitioner’s approval), however the nature of my current group classes means that they are not suitable for pregnant new clients to join. If you do want to begin classes as a pre-natal client, contact me and we can discuss your needs, potentially booking you in for a series of bespoke 1-1 sessions. If you are an existing client and you become pregnant, please let me know in confidence before class, and I will ensure that you are following a programme that is fully suited to you as your pregnancy progresses.
A: For most classes you will need to bring your own mat. If you are coming to the ball class, then bring your mat as well as your ball. You will need to wear clothes that are comfortable to move in, without any buckles or restrictive fabrics (jeans are not appropriate), and ideally close enough fitting that I can see how you are moving. Shoes are not needed, and you may either work in bare feet or socks. It’s wise to bring a few layers as some venues can be a little chilly.
A: I’m often asked for recommendations for practice DVDs and books. There are hundreds out there, many of which are very good. However, as we all teach subtly different approaches to the work, many of the books may seem to contradict each other. I would really recommend that to practise at home, listen to the suggestions I make in class, and try to remember a couple of exercises each week to practise in detail. Then, when you understand the exercises well in your body, if you need a book or DVD to help you put things in sequence, find one that appeals to you and is easy to refer to quickly.
A: If you have taken Pilates classes with different teachers, and particularly in different countries, you may have found that the approach and content can vary quite widely. Like many movement systems that originated with a single person and were then disseminated by a growing ‘family-tree’ of teachers, different styles have developed over the years. And as Joseph Pilates died in 1967, that’s a lot of evolution already. Depending on the branch of the family-tree, styles vary from somatic approaches focusing on optimising the function of the body and mind as a whole, to more dynamic, athletic classes, and much else besides. You will find that there are certainly national trends, and that different training organisations have different influences. There has been much debate about what is ‘real’ Pilates, and it seems that there is no one answer to that today. My best advice is to find a teacher who suits you, who understands your needs as a client, who is fully conversant with the original repertoire and the guiding principles and can apply them to your needs.