We don’t just do dance classes at Strawberry Hill, Sarah Taylor is also a qualified Pilates instructor.
Pilates is a gentle, low-impact form of exercise, that focuses on stretching and strengthening the whole body to improve balance, muscle-strength, flexibility and posture. Pilates is suitable for people of all levels of fitness. Practitioners say it’s a more gentle way of raising your activity levels, especially if you have poor mobility, aches and pains or an injury. All our classes are open to men and women or all shapes and sizes.
Pilates History
Created in the early 1900 by Joseph Pilates a German who overcame his own childhood illnesses through developing and practicing his own regime of exercises. During World War 1 Pilates developed his techniques and equipment for soldiers who were unable to walk owing to their injuries. Many of these techniques and pieces of equipment are still in use one form or another today.
Benefits
Stress Reduction
Pilates is about focusing on your movements and your body, and ignoring your day to day commentary, Pilates involves focusing on and improving breathing techniques which are also recognised stress reducers.
Pilates for Weight Loss
Pilates can be used as part of an overall strategy to lose weight and increase muscle tone, but should be used in conjunction with cardio vascular exercise for the best results. Pilates can also help increase self-esteem.
Pilates teaches you to consciously maintain optimum anatomical alignment in all positions and during movement. Sounds wordy doesn’t it, but basically it means ensuring your spine is in line with the rest of your body. By coordinating the body as a whole, we are stronger, reducing the chances of injury caused by overuse of one area. Improving your posture and core takes pressure off other parts of your body that aren’t designed to handle it. For example there’s evidence that Pilates can provide pain relief to people with non-specific lower back pain.
Total Body Workout
Not only will you work out every part of your body, you will begin to become more aware of your body, your posture and yourself.
Muscle Tone And Strength
Pilates can help to sculpt your muscles. Although in order to get optimum results you should participate in 3 or more sessions per week. You could use Pilates along with cardiovascular exercise to lose weight and change your shape.
Improved Body Awareness – Pilates work outs are designed to improve balance and coordination by teaching a greater connection between the mind and body. Pilates is an ideal way to get back in touch with your own body so that you can use it to its full potential. Becoming aware of your own bodies limitations, but you’ll be encouraged to push yourself safely.
Injury Rehabilitation
One of the early uses of the Pilates method was rehabilitation of injured soldiers, today it is still used to help rebuild strength and function following injuries. Because Pilates is low impact it makes it a great form of physical therapy, allowing you to work at your own level, just do what you can do.
Pilates Classes
At Strawberry Hill we offer one free class for anyone wanting to try us out.
We run two classes both on Monday 10am-11am & 8pm-9pm, they cost £6 per session, Pay as you go. Our classes are fun, and will work every part of your body. You don’t need to book but if you do have any questions or want to discuss anything give me a call 07738 161689 (Sarah Taylor) or contact us.
Wear something comfortable, that you can move freely in and bring yourself a drink.