Helen Rackowe Pilates

Helen Rackowe Pilates

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Helen Rackowe is a specialist STOTT PILATES instructor offering group classes at selected venues in the Cheltenham area. (Click 'about' for more info)

WHAT IS STOTT PILATES? STOTT Pilates is a contemporary approach which has evolved from the original teachings of the late Joseph Pilates to incorporate modern scientific evidence on the human anatomy and spinal rehabilitation. STOTT Pilates has earned an international reputation as one of the world's most respected pilates training providers. STOTT Pilates ensures its instructors adhere to a code

13/04/2026

Oooh I just love my little home studio in the Spring. All the sights of nature doing its thing whilst moving on the reformer or lifting weights. Itโ€™s so sunny and relaxing ๐Ÿ˜Ž

31/03/2026

Every Thursday at 1pm I teach reformer at the gorgeous Cotswold Pilates Club. Itโ€™s one of my favourite hours in the week. I welcome those starting out on the apparatus or those familiar. Book direct with to join me this week. I am STOTT Pilates qualified with many years of teaching experience.
Hope to meet you soon .

31/01/2026

Thursdays . What a treat these guys are! They always work really hard and bring a smile to my face. โญ๏ธ. Looking strong here ladies. ๐Ÿ”ฅ

01/01/2026

Hereโ€™s to more feeling good in our skin, feeling stronger and more capable. # # #

28/12/2025

Mat Pilates Classes with a specialist instructor . Now taking bookings for a January start. โญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

Day 22: 22 Air Punches! ๐Ÿคœ๐Ÿผ 

To perform an air punch:
1: Form a fist: Curl your fingers into your palm, placing your thumb on the outside of your curled fingers.
2: Raise your arm: Bend your elbow and draw your fist back towards your shoulder.
3: Extend your: Quickly extend your arm in a forceful motion into the air. The direction can be straight ahead (jab/cross), upward (uppercut), or to the side (side hook).
4: Add enthusiasm: The key to a good air punch is energy and enthusiasm ๐Ÿ˜œ #airpunches #cheltenham #adventfitnesschallenge 22/12/2025

Day 22: 22 Air Punches! ๐Ÿคœ๐Ÿผ

To perform an air punch:
1: Form a fist: Curl your fingers into your palm, placing your thumb on the outside of your curled fingers.
2: Raise your arm: Bend your elbow and draw your fist back towards your shoulder.
3: Extend your: Quickly extend your arm in a forceful motion into the air. The direction can be straight ahead (jab/cross), upward (uppercut), or to the side (side hook).
4: Add enthusiasm: The key to a good air punch is energy and enthusiasm ๐Ÿ˜œ

Day 22: 22 Air Punches! ๐Ÿคœ๐Ÿผ To perform an air punch: 1: Form a fist: Curl your fingers into your palm, placing your thumb on the outside of your curled fingers. 2: Raise your arm: Bend your elbow and draw your fist back towards your shoulder. 3: Extend your: Quickly extend your arm in a forceful motion into the air. The direction can be straight ahead (jab/cross), upward (uppercut), or to the side (side hook). 4: Add enthusiasm: The key to a good air punch is energy and enthusiasm ๐Ÿ˜œ #airpunches #cheltenham #adventfitnesschallenge

18/12/2025

Day 18 of โ€˜25 Days of Fitnessโ€
๐ŸŽ„๐ŸŽ„ High knees ๐ŸŽ„๐ŸŽ„

Handy Tips
๐ŸŽ„ Standing tall with a long spine
๐ŸŽ„keep chest lifted and open
๐ŸŽ„One at a time raise your flexed leg up until ideally your knee is at waist height.
๐ŸŽ„๐Ÿ”ฅ For extra challenge you can make these jumping transitions rather than the marching steps.

Are you going to join us today? Please keep us posted with your pics and videos. โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ๐ŸŽ„

Day 17: 17 Sumo Squats ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿผ

Feet wider than shoulders, toes turned out. Sit back and down, chest up, core engaged, knees tracking over toes โ€” then drive through the heels and squeeze the glutes at the top ๐Ÿ”ฅ

I didnโ€™t even notice the elf behind me was being cheeky until now ๐Ÿ˜œ๐ŸŽ„ #cheltenham #fitnesschallenge #christmas 17/12/2025

Day 17: 17 Sumo Squats ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿผ

Feet wider than shoulders, toes turned out. Sit back and down, chest up, core engaged, knees tracking over toes โ€” then drive through the heels and squeeze the glutes at the top ๐Ÿ”ฅ

I didnโ€™t even notice the elf behind me was being cheeky until now ๐Ÿ˜œ๐ŸŽ„

Day 17: 17 Sumo Squats ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿผ Feet wider than shoulders, toes turned out. Sit back and down, chest up, core engaged, knees tracking over toes โ€” then drive through the heels and squeeze the glutes at the top ๐Ÿ”ฅ I didnโ€™t even notice the elf behind me was being cheeky until now ๐Ÿ˜œ๐ŸŽ„ #cheltenham #fitnesschallenge #christmas

11/12/2025

Hello!
Itโ€™s time to move. โญ๏ธ

๐ŸŽ Day 11 of our โ€˜25 Days of Fitnessโ€™ Advent Challenge.
The pilates Hip Twist
Itโ€™s designed to help you strengthen your core, hip flexors and quads alongside your shoulders and upper back.

Handy Tips

๐ŸŽ„Front your seated position tip onto the back of your sit bones then raise your legs to table top
๐ŸŽ„Ideally straight legs but bent legs if you donโ€™t have enough flexibility
๐ŸŽ„Keeping your chest lifted and with your arms reaching back either onto elbows or if you want challenge long arms start to draw a circle with your legs, one way then the other.
๐ŸŽ„Donโ€™t sink, keep your upper back and chest lifting

Good luck! Itโ€™s a tricky one! Send us your pics or videos of you trying. ๐ŸŽ๐ŸŽ„๐ŸŽ„๐ŸŽ„

10/12/2025

Hello!
Today marked day 10 of our โ€˜25 days of Fitnessโ€™ advent challenge.
Walk or run for 10 minutes.

Getting outside in the fresh air is so important for our well-being isnโ€™t it. Did you manage it today?

Send us your pics / videos or comment if you were able to join in today.



09/12/2025

Hello!
Lets get moving โญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

๐ŸŽ Day 9 of our โ€˜25 Days of Fitnessโ€™ Advent Challenge.
The pilates ROLL UP
Itโ€™s designed to help you mobilise and stretch your spinal column and strengthen your abs.

Handy Tips
๐ŸŽ„Lay flat on your back with arms stretched overhead.
๐ŸŽ„. Close your ribs down into the mat behind you.
๐ŸŽ„ Reach the arms to the sky, peel up the head and shoulders then roll up through the spine bone by bone.
๐ŸŽ„ You may find there is a tight spot in your lower back you need to tilt your pelvis back towards you and connect the lumbar into the ground to make this part smooth.
๐ŸŽ„ Keep the tummy muscles connecting to create a c shaped scoop on the front of the body as you stretch forwards over your legs.
๐ŸŽ„ Roll back down smoothly and slowly.
๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ For extra challenge try the whole sequence keeping your hands behind your head with wide elbows.

Soโ€ฆ now itโ€™s your turn.

Get your family to join in too if they fancy a try. If you do the challenge, share your photo or video! Itโ€™s brilliant to see this little advent community building. ๐Ÿ˜Šโค๏ธ๐Ÿคฃ

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