There are many different forms of Pilates and you will find some teachers have trained in a very comprehensive way, learning not just the exercises but the reasons for giving the exercises and how to change them to suit individual needs. This is how I was trained, my training took a few years to complete and is ongoing in terms of development. There are also fitness Pilates instructors, who have trained to teach gym and aerobics, then completed a weekend course on Pilates.
Both types of teacher training are great depending on what you want and need, it is important to find what is best for you.
You need to wear something that is easy to move in, preferable close fitting to the body. It is best to wear layers of clothing so that, as you get warmer during the class, you can remove some layers. Tracksuit bottoms or leggings and a T-shirt work well. No shoes are needed, just socks or bare feet.
Yes, you will need to bring a mat unless you are attending a class at the Hayloft in Emsworth. I can lend you a mat for the first few classes and we can discuss which mats would be suitable for you. Often clients need more padding than the basic thin yoga mat and I recommend the 15mm mats from Amazon or Ebay (often £12-£14).
I will bring everything else you need including cushions and any other equipment that I use in class, although some people prefer to have their own cushions.
It is best to come 15 minutes before class on your first day so that you can fill out a medical form and discuss any specific problems you may have. If you have access to email then please make sure I have your email address so that I can forward the form to you prior to your class. If you think you may be late please let me know so I can post you a form to fill in.
Normally you should aim to arrive 10 minutes before the lesson.
Please note! The front door of the Hayloft is closed during classes, so you need to arrive before the class starts, or notify the teacher in advance that you will be late.
It is always best to check with your doctor, and / or your practitioner first if you have an injury, before participating in any exercise. It may be necessary for me to contact your practitioner for advice on your particular condition, although full permission must be granted by you first.
Most of the exercises can be modified to suit your needs and any injuries you have, so that you can still work the rest of your body. Often working the rest of your body will help you feel better.
If you are feeling unwell then please let me know; if it’s a small cold then you should be fine to exercise and it may make you feel better. However if you have something contagious or you feel really bad, then please tuck yourself up in bed and make up the missed class another time.
Any fitness level is suitable, ranging from someone who has never done any exercise, to dancers and athletes. However there are different class levels so please check that the one you are attending is right for you. Levels are not standardised amongst teachers and therefor what is intermediate or advanced to one teacher could be beginner plus to another.
Classes are normally booked in blocks of six or seven weeks.
All classes in the block must be paid for in advance, but you are welcome to make up any classes you miss by using the swop sheets to join another suitable class during the block.
There are no refunds or exchanges for classes once paid for, except in extreme circumstances and any unused classes cannot be transferred to the following block.
Well Yoga has a spiritual side to it and you work through a number of positions, holding and releasing.
Pilates is more about posture, alignment and core work. There is a big focus on mind and body connection.
Both are usually slow and some exercises overlap.