Lesson 4 - less is more!
After years of thinking lifting weights would give me a flat tummy and highly defined limbs, I learned (and then experienced) an interesting fact today during my lesson. This is, the less resistance/weight you have on the apparatus the more muscle control you have to apply in the pilates exercise. The process connected my brain to the muscles I was working and I realised it’s all about physics. This really is the most intelligent exercise I have ever done - love it!

Now here is an amazing boost. During my Saturday morning back rub, before lesson #3 my partner commented that my back felt longer and firmer - wow! So lesson 3 involved some incredible exercises that stretched me in places I didn’t know could be stretched. And Steff massively boosted my confidence by suggesting I tried a hanging pull up (google it - it’s amazing). I have come away from the lesson standing tall and ready for the weekend. You have to try it to believe the inner and outer strength it gives you - if it’s good enough for the England football team, it’s good enough for me!

“Lesson two - it is 7.15pm Tuesday evening lesson at 7.45pm. Euphoria from lesson one stayed with me until about twenty minutes ago - tired and drained after a very busy day at work. 90 minutes later I am ready to take on the world. I feel strong for the first time in a very long time. Steff was full of fun and encouragement and asking what I did between lessons. Answer - massively more aware of my posture, sitting more comfortably, shoulders down, tummy tighter - beginning to feel like I could be a ballet dancer. Come on Saturday - next lesson awaits...”

New client Louise offered to blog about her experience of Pilates.

“Lesson one - what is this Pilates malarkey all about? Empowering, testing, invigorating, fun are just a few of the words I would use to describe it. Full of trepidation after several sedentary years I booked some lessons with Steff and, to be honest I think without her, the words I would have chosen to describe Pilates would have been confusing, hard, inaccessible and daunting. Lesson two Tuesday and I can’t wait...”

Firstly, this week, news that England football captain Harry Kane does Pilates, and then more news that Suzanne Scott (of Scott Studio in my home town of Castle Cary, Somerset) is currently with the squad as they prepare for the semi final of the World Cup.
Pilates can help to find better balance within the body, no matter what activities you enjoy. It can also help with injury prevention: I often have clients come in thinking they are fine, and very quickly they discover that they are not alright at all... a little niggle here, a bit of tightness there... generally nothing major, but giving the client the right exercise can usually sort things out before it causes problems.
Pilates really is for everyone!