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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is your class on today/tomorrow/tonight? And how much does a class cost?
A: Check the Class Timetable page. I keep it up-to date!
Q: Can I just turn up to a class or workshop, or do I have to book in advance?
A: Yes, you can just turn up to a class or workshop, and pay on the day. Classes are very rarely full and there are always places. But try to arrive on time or early if possible.
You don't need to book in advance.
Q: Where is St Clements Church / St Barnabas Church?
A: Click on the venue name on the timetable page, or click on the venue name on the main menu. Directions and photos and links to map websites are available there.
Q: What do I wear?
A: Loose, light or lycra clothing. Something that you can move freely in. For the end of a yoga session you may want an extra top layer, e.g. fleece or jumper if we do a relaxation. In a Pilates or Yin Yoga class socks or bare feet are both OK. Skirts are not suitable.
Q: Is there anything else I need to bring?
A:
PILATES
Towel:A small hand towel can also be useful rolled up under the forehead or face when doing some prone exercises (lying face-down).
Mat: You can bring a yoga mat if you have one. Lots of spare mats are available for free loan.
After trying out my classes you may wish to purchase your own yoga mat for hygienic reasons. (I wash my mats regularly on a rota system)
I provide all other equipment for Pilates classes.
YOGA
Towel:In Ashtanga Yoga or Thursday Dynamic Yoga classes a small towel can also be useful.
Mat: You can bring a yoga mat if you have one. Spare mats are available for loan.
After trying out my classes you may wish to purchase your own yoga mat for hygienic reasons. (I wash my mats regularly on a rota system)
I provide towels and all other equipment for Pilates classes.
Yin Yoga: For the Yin classes it is worth bringing extra props if you have them, e.g. blankets, pillows, yoga blocks, cushions etc. I provide various props but would strongly recommend you bring along extra props if it's your first experience of Yin Yoga. In the Yin Yoga class it's ok to wear socks and/or an extra layer or clothing.
Q: Are there changing facilities?
A: There are toilet/changing facilities at all venues, but no showers.
Q: Will I be OK doing the Ashtanga Yoga or Dynamic Yoga class?
A: The Ashtanga Yoga or Dynamic Flow Yoga classes are strong challenging Hatha yoga classes.
I advise taking it easy on your first session and not try to compete with anyone else or with yourself. Then you'll know the kind of physical work that you may be doing during the course of the whole session (although it does vary week to week).
After you've tried out the first class then you can work a little harder on your second or third class if you want to.
Just listen to your body and don't do anything it's not happy about.
Try and take it easy on your first session.
When you finish the first session, maybe have a hot bath afterwards.
Q: Who teaches the classes?
A: Classes will be taught by Mathew Godebski. In the unlikely event of illness, classes will be covered by another instructor.
Q: What is a block booking?
A:
Block Bookings are a way to save money and to encourage you to attend classes regularly.
You can use a block booking for any class on any evening, yoga or pilates.
However, having a block-booking does not guarantee entry if a class is full. Full classes rarely happen but if they do then it's first-come first-serve. So please try to arrive early or on time for classes.
Block bookings last for 6 months from the date of payment..
Block bookings are for a named person and are not transferable to another person.
Q: I'm pregnant, you don't know me,I've never done yoga before, I want to start yoga now. Can I come to your classes?
A:
Pilates:
To my Pilates classes... maybe, it depends, we need to discuss it further. Pilates can be very beneficial during your pregnancy.
Also check with your medical professional what exercise they're happy for you to do.
Yoga:
To my current open Yoga classes... sorry, no. We could arrange private yoga classes, depending on circumstances.
If you've done a fair amount of a similar style of yoga recently then it MAY be OK to practice yoga gently after that, so long as all's going OK in your pregnancy and your medical professional agrees with you doing it.
Q: Which yoga class would be best suited to beginners? Do you run any beginners only classes?
A: All my yoga classes are suitable for beginners and more experienced practitioners. It depends on the physical and mental make-up of the person. Neither you or I know until you try.
You're welcome to join any of my classes. I have a mixture of complete beginners and more experienced people in all my classes. I offer a variety of practices, starting with basics and moving on from there, you can do as much as you want. So you can work at one level, then move on from there, or drop back again to the previous level.
If you're new then try not to compete and do everything, but just take it easy and do as much as you like.
I don't run beginners only classes, as it's good for more advanced practitioners to do more "basic" practices too, also people who've been coming to classes for years don't necessarily want to do a more "advanced" class.
Q: Over time I have put on a lot of weight/done no exercise. I want to try and get back to healthy eating, to get slimmer, exercise more and generally feel better. Would Pilates be the right sort of thing for me?
A; Pilates is an excellent way of getting back into exercise, it's non-impact, gentle in nature (the way I teach it) and you can work at your own level. I do include more advanced and traditional Pilates exercises when appropriate which you can try if you want to. Pilates also transfers certain skills into other forms of exercise in terms of learning to move and work efficiently and more safely.
Pilates doesn't burn much in the way of calories, not much exercise does! But exercise is good for creating strength, fitness, to look better (various mechanisms) and to feel good about oneself.
Eating less calories is about the only way to lose weight, but it's difficult to do. The nice thing about exercise is that you're not eating when you're exercising!
Just be patient, stick with it and give it time.
Q: I've done yoga before but not Pilates, can I do Pilates as well?
A: Of course you can. I find that Pilates and Yoga complete each other very well.
If you've done a lot of certain styles of yoga before you may find some of the breathing patterns in Pilates a little alien, but don't worry about them, just do the movements of the exercises and breathe normally. You'll get used to the breathing patterns after a while as you would with anything else. Just thing of Pilates breathing patterns as another type of Yoga (yogic) breathing and you'll be on the right track.
Q: Which is the best session for a complete beginner?
A: It depends on the beginner! I have beginners and experienced people in all my classes.
Pilates is subjectively/physically easiest. Yin Yoga is (in a way) all about stretching, but you keep still for while and some people struggle with that but most are OK with it.
Sivananda Yoga is physically harder and Ashtanga Yoga is physically the most challenging. All the practices/classes are quite different to each other. Just try out what’s convenient for you and see which class/es you like.
If you go for Ashtanga Yoga straight away you can take lots of rests and not try to compete with anyone and don't try to do everything!
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