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Pilates:- Improving core stability, posture, spinal and abdominal strength
Pilates is an exercise class designed to help develop balance, strength and flexibility, bringing about optimal physical and mental well-being.
The class will focus on mat work and will revolve around breathing, pelvic and shoulder stabilisation, and restoration of the natural curves of the spine.
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Pilates was originally developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1930s and has evolved tremendously since then. Pilates was originally designed to help dancers and athletes heal injuries through a range of mobilising, stretching and strengthening techniques.
Its main focus concentrates on a mind and body link through breath control and core stability.
Pilates is a low-impact technique which is designed to strengthen and lengthen muscles safely and without adding bulk, resulting in better posture and better body shape.
Pilates can streamline your body, flatten your belly, support your back. Improve posture, body alignment, flexibility and balance.
It aims to create muscle balance and maintain mobility in the joints.
Pilates brings together mind and body and heightens body awareness. It targets key postural muscles, building strength from within, by stabilizing the torso.
Pilates provides deep abdominal exercises to strengthen core stability muscles.
Pilates can correct poor posture and misalignment and re-educate the body to prevent previous injuries recurring.
This is done using precise, controlled movements to give you a trimmer body that is both supple and strong. The body is gently realigned and reshaped, the muscles balanced, so that the whole body moves efficiently.
Pilates tones muscles gently and can make you feel great!
You do NOT have to be fit to attend beginners or mixed ability Pilates classes.
Pilates. Mixed Ability & Beginners
Gentle class. Good introduction to Pilates exercise.
I do include more challenging intermediate or advanced work as and when appropriate if suitable for certain members of the class or session. I offer lots of options, variations and modifications as and when appropriate so you can work at your own level.
Pilates for Clients with MS (Multiple Sclerosis)
The is a semi-private class which I'm running at Heaton Moor Methodist Church.
There are a small number of clients in the class to allow for individual attention.
Please contact me in the first instance to check on your suitability to join the class.
Clients need to be able to get onto and off the floor unassisted.
Below is an article written (by Jude G.) for the Stockport MS Society's "Hot Gossip" Magazine.
(April 2010 - version of article below is submitted version)
Pilates with Mathew
I have been attending Mathew’s Pilates Class for the last two years and have felt it to be very beneficial to my posture, and general wellbeing.
I’ll give you a short history of my condition. I felt my body wasn’t performing 100% about 15years ago so I joined a weekly Yoga class, which appeared to help me greatly.
I was then diagnosed with MS in 2003 & then later took Voluntary Redundancy. Unfortunately I was finding the Yoga Class increasingly difficult as my sense of balance had gone completely. Standing on one leg had become impossible without the aid of a wall to lean on amongst other things so I stopped attending!
As I realised my condition was worsening I contacted the ‘STAR’ team who visited me at home and filled in a lot of forms about my disability, I asked them about any exercises which may help me ect. They initially loaned me an Exercise Ball & a squishy cushion to help my Balance, and then later, when they retrieved the Aids they gave me several sheets of Physio/Pilates type exercises, which I did every morning during the following months.
I then heard about Mathews Pilates class at Heaton Moor Methodist Church. Where the exercise routines are specifically tailored for MS suffers. As I appreciate that doing exercises at home one tends to fall into bad habits without realising it, in my cases I was whizzing though the given exercises in 15-20 mins, where I should have been doing them in a much slower and calmer fashion taking more like 30-40 mins! Mathews class is specifically for anyone with MS, who can get down on the floor, and of course get back up again.
Mathews Class usually starts with seated warm up type stretches focusing on the upper body, head, neck, shoulders, body twists & lower back. Then we exercise the muscle in the front of our thighs. This is done by rising out of our chairs about a foot & returning to a seated position. We sometimes exercise our feet whilst seated by lifting our toes on alternate feet, then our heels on alternate feet, and then lifting toe/heel alternately this often causes a few giggles as our co-ordination isn’t what it should be but, as we’re all in the same situation there’s no embarrassment!
We then usually move onto the floor doing Lunges, Back Arches and Forward Bends to name a few. Swimming Legs, which is the worst one for me. This exercise consists of lying on the floor in a prone position and stretching each leg back in turn, this lifts the leg off the floor an inch or so whilst keeping my hips on the floor and keeping my stomach pulled in, not forgetting to breath and smile!
He also, sometimes introduces squishy balls to squeeze between our knees to strengthen our inner thighs, and Thera-Bands to exercise our shoulders and stretch our legs. At the end of each class we return to our seats for some slow cooling, calming twists and bends.
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Every month or so, after the class, we will retire to one of the numerous café’s along Heaton Moor Road for a Coffee, a bite to eat and a Chat.
We all feel these weekly sessions are invaluable to our well being and we especially missed them over the extended winter break due to the bad weather we experienced during December/January!
Jude G. April 2010 |
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