Pilates with Sylvia

Staying strong should be a lifetime commitment to ourselves 💪

‘Standing Strength and Balance’ is one of my favourite classes of the week. 💖

The class is and is mix of standing Pilates and callisthenics, and mat pilates. We use a mix of small equipment resistance bands, miniweight, mini balls sometimes Magic circles. Ultimately our aim is in the title to improve our standing strength and balance.

There are many reasons why balance can be an issue, and we don’t improve balance through simply practicing standing on one leg. We do this by working on building strength in our centre, and lower body, maintaining mobility in the joints, working towards improving alignment and posture, through footwork and coordination, and sending sensory information 🦶👀🧠and awareness of the body in space.

Sometimes in the Pilates world we can get very caught up in debates around what is or isn’t Pilates? As a teacher I find this 🥱

Really I think the focus should be on the real value of the work, and how Pilates is really about improving our day-to-day health and wellbeing, maintaining and improving our functional movement. What is important is that those attending are working towards their goal, enjoying it, attending regularly, and actually feeling the benefits of being strong for life. 💪

If you’re interested in joining our Friday group contact through the link in their Bio.

It’s not about bouncing back. It’s about coming back to yourself.

We work to rebuild strength, yes but always with a mindful connection to your breath and your body. No pressure, no rush. Just movement that meets you where you are.

And the benefits go far beyond the physical. Pilates boosts energy and supports mental well-being. Gentle movement improves blood flow and lymphatic drainage, clearing the fog and easing the tension that new motherhood can bring.

As circulation and oxygen flow improve, many mums notice a real shift in postpartum fatigue, stress, and anxiety. That’s the power of moving together.

Whether you’re weeks or months postpartum, whether this is your first class after your check or you’re returning after a long break, you belong here. Babies absolutely welcome

Every Monday · 12:30pm – 1 hour
Goldfinch Create & Play, Westbury

or

Every Thursday · 10:30am – 1 hour
Horfield Quaker Meeting House

Babies welcome
Taster sessions available
Book via the link in bio

Introducing this new ‘Gentle Pilates’ session in Shirehampton, at Alive for Life Chiropractic Clinic.

From its remedial beginnings during the 1st World War, the Pilates system has evolved however the intention has stayed the same.
Joseph Pilates’s method was originally developed to build strength and increase immunity to disease. Today the many modified versions of the techniques still teach your body to work at its most efficient.

He observed the links between weak areas of the body and over compensation ( if you are weak in one area the rest of your body has to support the imbalance) and the exercises he devised were based around re-education and the re-alignment of the body.

You may have heard that Pilates has a strong emphasis on core and the breath which is true…

Trunk and core stability requires strength, endurance and coordination of the stabilising muscles abdominal, pelvic floor and lower back muscles. Stability is necessary to protect the lower back from injury, to help with general postural alignment and to allow the release of the hips for greater freedom of movement.

As a Pilates teacher of 15 years I know there is always more to learn about the movement system he (and his method descendants) developed, but the more I learn the more I know Pilates really is for everyone and there is always a way into Pilates movement with huge gains in health and wellbeing.

This ‘Gentle Pilates’ class is a low intensity class, perfect for beginners, those returning to exercise after a break from an injury or a life shift, or those who would like a slower paced session.

Mondays 10am - Starting June 1st.

If you’re curious to know more sign up for our £5 taster session. Regular Drop in £15 and 7 week block £92. Booking through Alive For Live Chiropractic Clinic.
Mats provided DM or email any queries.

Pilates supports your body through every trimester and sets you up for recovery too.

All abilities, all stages.

Pregnancy Pilates
Shirehampton Public Hall
Thursdays 6pm-6.55pm

These group pregnancy sessions allow you to continue to practice your Pilates as part of a supportive group, tailored towards supporting your body as it changes through the trimesters.

We will focus on maintaining your fitness levels during this period, keeping the abdominal wall strong whilst mobilising and easing out the joints and muscles. Investing some time for your health and wellbeing around other mums to be.

If you have an injury or health consideration please contact me in advance of joining so we can discuss how you can be supported in the space.

DM me to claim your free trial.

After the huge success of our last Wellness Day, we've decided to bring you 'Bloom into Summer' 💐- an opportunity to slow down, connect with nature, and celebrate the new season. We will give you the space to return to you.

Our retreat will be in the tranquil settings of The River Room - a yoga studio based in the beautiful oasis of Westbury Wildlife Park. With the soothing sounds of the stream outside, this calm setting is the perfect location to have a break from the world and nurture your body and mind.

Through yoga, Pilates, meditation and an intention setting crafting session, this Wellness Day will give you a chance to embrace your summer feeling restored, refreshed, realigned and positively blooming!

Any questions comment below or DM myself or Lucy.

To book your spot : https://www.yogaforall.co.uk/online-class-booking

POV: when you finally understand what the ring thingy in Pilates is for 🪄

Meet the Magic Circle (or Power Circle), one of Joseph Pilates’ original inventions, and legend has it he made the first one from the metal rings around beer barrels in early 20th century Germany. A true icon!

So what does it actually do? A light press against the circle helps you connect to your deepest core muscles, recruiting the right muscle groups instead of letting your dominant ones take over. It adds resistance, challenge and body awareness all at once, whilst also assisting and supporting where you need it.

You can push and pull, inward and outward (hence the pads on both sides!), and use it between your hands, thighs, calves, ankles… The options are endless. Small, portable, and gives you that same sensory feedback you’d get from studio apparatus, on your mat.

In class, movements are always layered, so you work at your level and build when you’re ready.

Curious? Come and give them a try and check my stories to hear what clients thought after using them in class.

What else do Pilates teachers do?

They hold space.

When people ask me what do I do as a Pilates teacher actually a lot of what I do is hold space. Holding space for my clients is one of, if not the most important thing I do, it’s also why I love my job.

Pilates is great for wellbeing, not just because we’re moving our bodies. Outside of the teaching holding space means not just supporting you and encouraging during class, but also including everyone, connecting with each person in the room so they feel seen, and simply giving opportunity for people to meet and spend time with others.

Holding space is even more important for my Pregnant and Postnatal groups. Having a sense of the group energy as well as individually. When I use the phrase ‘come as you are’ to me this means I’m inviting you to be mindfully present for the class and I will hold space for that session so you can invest some time for you.

Today was the start of a new Postnatal Pilates class in Horfield Quaker Meeting House, and it was great meeting some new mums and babies, and it reminded me how important holding space for these groups are 😊

If you’re curious to try a session, I offer a free taster. Simply add FreeTasterClass at checkout.

Link in bio 🔗

New postnatal Pilates class in Horfield

If you’ve had your first postnatal check and you are ready to start move your body again after having your baby, this is your sign.

You don’t need to feel prepared.

You just need to show up.

Quaker Meeting House, Horfield
Postnatal Pilates | 10.30am | Babies welcome

This session is designed as a gentle, supported introduction back to movement. No pressure, no expectations, just specialist postnatal Pilates guidance that meets you exactly where you are.

Pilates is perfect for this season of life. It helps rebuild strength from the inside out, releases the tension and aches that come with early motherhood, and honours the pace your body actually needs, not the pace you think it should need.

And because this community matters just as much as the movement, we’ve built in time at the end of every session for tea in the garden 🪴 a chance to breathe, chat, and maybe meet someone who just gets it.

Come as you are. Bring your baby. You’re welcome here.

Link in bio to book or send a DM to find out more and save your spot. Free taster session available

I used to dread mornings. Now they’re the part of the day that’s just mine.

For a long time, mornings felt like something to push through. I felt groggy, stiff, and already behind before the day had even begun. Sound familiar?

That all changed when I started moving my body first thing. Not a punishing workout. Not an early alarm for the gym. Just Pilates: gentle, intentional, and completely for me.

Here’s what nobody tells you: even after a broken night’s sleep, getting up and moving can shift everything.

Your circulation wakes up, the stiffness eases, and something clicks. You feel centred. Focused. Ready in a way that no extra hour in bed ever delivers.

Pilates has a way of bringing you back into your body. Starting with the breath, grounding you in the present moment, then flowing through movements that reach every part of you.

If mornings feel like a struggle right now, I’d love to show you what’s possible.

Your first class is on me. Book your free taster class via my website (link in bio) and come and see what a Pilates morning feels like.

All abilities welcome - new class starting at Quaker Meeting House Thursday 14th May at 9.15am.