Designed Pilates

Pretty bonkers we’re in September already!

Lots of people managing little (or not so little) ones back to school, being back to work after a break or just using September as a moment in time to reset.

Here’s a reminder of the weekly group class schedule where we change the focus of the sessions every few weeks, which could mean using a different piece of small equipment (it’s the blocks right now), zoning in on a particular set of exercises and delving into strategies for our bodies to explore these exercises, or focusing on areas of our body…hips is a popular one!

And over the coming weeks we’ll be delving into (again) Joseph Pilates original 34 exercises. The order and flow with a little help along the way to access them.

Link in bio to find out more and book a session 💚

This post is inspired by a recent conversation I had with someone who came to the studio for their first class and commented that my sessions were not as cardio based as their previous Pilates sessions.

I fully respect other teacher styles and having different styles in often a positive thing. It offers choice and you find a style and teacher that works for you.

But rest assured, my ongoing learning and training is rooted in the Pilates principles and the method will develop so much strength and mobility in your body in addition to learning loads about your body too. And…body’s evolve, so we keep learning and developing!

I also love cardio work and varying my movement, but in the studio you’ll work on:

🧠 Concentration
🎯 Control
💫 Centring
✨ Precision
🌬️ Breath
🌊 Flow

PilatesPractice MovementWithIntention

Our upcoming class focus, meet Amp Wellbeing Wrist & Ankle Weights 💚

Adding these weights is not just about making exercises harder (some are 😁). One of the biggest benefits is increased proprioception.

Proprioception is your body’s ability to sense where it is in space, helping you feel your movement, stability and balance without having to look.

Adding a little weight can give your body more sensory feedback, helping you become more aware of how you move and encouraging controlled, intentional movement. Joints just feel more stable!

Scroll to see a few exercises we’ll be doing in class!

And…my legs never tan 🤣 but it’s hot and they’re out!

❌MYTHS vs ✅TRUTHS: Pilates Edition ✨

Every session works to improve:
• Strength from head to toe 💪
• Balance and coordination 🤸
• Flexibility and mobility 🌿
• Posture and alignment 🚶
• Breath control and body awareness 💚

Pilates is about building a stronger, more balanced body that moves better in everyday life, for EVERYbody

Every Summer and Winter, Pilates teachers come together for the Joanne Cobbe convention, in London.

Jo has an incredible teacher community who love to move and learn together, and enjoy the time together to talk everything Pilates 💚

At this convention we delved into:

💫 Archival Joseph Pilates work
💫 Found our Diaphragm with focussed breathwork, taking our diaphragms to its end range like you would work other muscle groups
💫 Delved into second generation teachers (my favourite!)
💫 Explored strategies to find strength and length into our neck, which is so often compressed. Strategies included Neuro drills which continues to blow my mind in how effective Neuro focused work is!
💫 Used ankle and wrist weights to find more stability in our bodies

Thank you Jo for always being creative and continuing to add onto our teacher toolkit, which allows us to add so many levels onto our teaching 🙏🏼

Spending two days with Blossom Leilani Crawford has been a Pilates high for me!

Blossom has worked with first generation (those who worked with Joseph Pilates) teachers and worked with Kathy Grant for many years.

Blossom has an incredible eye to spot individual movement opportunities, and she carry’s around a large bag of balls which ended up between my heels in footwork and under my little toes in Downstretch!

Surrounded by many talented teachers at Pilates Nation London studio 💚

Moved with Pilates friends I knew and met new Pilates legends along the way 🙏🏼

So much to digest and bring into my own teaching. Grateful 🙏🏼

I assessed some incredible (now qualified) Pilates teachers last weekend. Very proud to be part of the JPilates Limited assessor team 💚