Pilates is an accessible form of exercise (you only need a mat!) in which you learn to use muscles correctly, leading to improved posture. You are taught to align your body perfectly before starting an exercise, to use your breath to activate the core muscles, and to focus on individual muscle groups without putting a strain on other areas.

It is also an approach which seeks to unify body, mind and spirit. The unique blend of the physical and the body-mind connection is what makes Pilates such an effective system.

In my classes the atmosphere is calm to allow participants to focus on the movement. There is a lot to think about, which keeps it interesting, and I lead you along slowly so that you are not overwhelmed.

Mat work Pilates provides a low impact system where you use your own body weight to improve muscle function and strength, so it is a very safe form of exercise for older participants.

As my teacher Alan Herdman writes:

Pilates requires total concentration, as you breathe to enhance the effectiveness of the movements and focus on the feelings in your muscles. Joseph Pilates liked to quote Schiller: “It is the mind itself which builds the body.”