Pilates

Equilibrum is a Fully Comprehensive Pilates Studio, teaching all six apparatus in Pilates including Mat, Reformer, Tower, Cadillac, Spine Corrector & Ladder Barrell.

I instruct Pilates following the ‘Pilates Principles’: Control, Precision, Breath, Concentration, Centre and Flow, helping clients achieve complete muscle control, building muscular strength and mobility from your centre, outwards.

Working from Beginner Level to Advanced, through Mat Pilates and the use of small equipment, such as small weighted balls, hand weights, resistance bands, Pilates rings and balls (dependent on your activity/experience level).

The main focus is the use of breath through movement and abdominal engagement. Using your breath helps not only with strengthening your cardiovascular system, but also with getting the full benefit of each movement; correct breathing technique makes you use your abdominals throughout all movements, meaning that your muscles will relax into the exercises being performed at the time.

Beginners

I always start with checking your overall mobility. Then work through basic exercises to test your strength and range of movement, to see what you are capable of before getting into the Pilates Classical Exercises.

We will start with basic bodyweight exercises, working on strength and mobility simultaneously to improve full body range of movement and core strength. This is done by working specific major muscle groups, in order to carry out the Classical Pilates Exercises with grace and pure technique.

We will then start adding in Pilates Small Equipment as you become stronger, to make the movements/exercises harder before moving onto the next level of Pilates.

Intermediate

We will start to properly introduce the use of all Pilates Small Equipment. You will progress to the next level of the Classical Pilates exercises, while still using the basic training gained at beginner’s level, maintaining strength and mobility. By focusing on the coordination of breath and movement simultaneously you will be able to achieve correct form and technique throughout your progression.

Advanced

This level is for those who are or have previously been in high activity exercise for the majority of their lives. We will begin to explore advanced exercises of the Classical Pilates movements. Advanced classes will always still include the use of basic exercises, but by adding equipment, the intensity will be increased at an appropriate level. You will begin to flow from one exercise to the next with full fluidity. Focusing on strength, mobility and use of breath, you will be at the point where you should be able to achieve the use of natural breath with movement without instruction.

Pilates Reformer

The reformer is a great form of low impact resistance training for anyone who is just starting out with exercise, especially if you don’t fancy lifting heavy weights or cardio training to begin with. The reformer is good for anyone at any level being a Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced in your activity level, working on strength and mobility. It can also be used as a form of physical therapy if recovering from an injury. You don’t have to force yourself into rigorous training. The reformer exercises align nicely with Pilates through the type of movement/exercises being performed, still using the breath to complete the exercises to your fullest potential.

Pilates Cadillac

The Cadillac is a fabulous piece of Pilates equipment, adding another dimension to my Pilates Reformer classes. The Cadillac enables you to isolate particular muscle groups for strengthening, stabilising, stretching and mobilising.

Beneﬁts include:

Injury Recovery & Prevention
Overall Strengthening & Mobilising
Long-term Conditions: Cancer Recovery, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Muscle Wastage, Osteoporosis & More

Improving General Physical & Mental Health

Those who suﬀer with a long-term condition, it is another great way to improve your overall physical and mental ﬁtness, to prevent your condition from worsening.

Spine Corrector & Ladder Barrel

The Spine Corrector and Ladder Barrel are other great pieces of Classical Pilates equipment. Improving your posture, spinal articulation and core strength, assisting to re-align your spine by building core and trunk strength. Both pieces enhance spinal ﬂexion and extension, in a supported way, as the curve of the equipment encourages you into the positions required.

Beneﬁts of using the Spine Corrector & Ladder Barrel:

Injury Recovery & Prevention
Improving Long-term Conditions
Strengthening the Core
Mobilising of the Spine & Hips
Improving General Physical & Mental Health

Pilates Tower

Using the Pilates Tower is a way of helping you execute the Classical Pilates exercises with added resistance training. You work on strength and mobility simultaneously, as you would in traditional Mat Pilates.

Utilising the Pilates Tower with your Reformer classes to add more resistance training into your low impact exercise programme.