Author: Priya Tew

Core Blast Video

Priya Tew

Doing Pilates once a week is awesome. But you know what is even better? Doing Pilates inbetween your weekly classes 😉 You could take up an extra class or you could do some at home. If you already have my amazing DVD (I’m that modest) but find you can remember the moves from class later in the week then have no fear. I am working on bringing you regular videos using the moves we have worked on in classes.

Here is the first one…

We recently used a series of moves that originated from a double knee fold. It went down well in class and people fed back that they were feeling it a few days later. So I’ve filmed part of that class.

https://youtu.be/69rQDH8Yn5A

If you like it: 

1. PLEASE let me know –  you can like the video on Youtube or write a comment on this post or on the Youtube Video. If I know you like it I will do more!

2. PLEASE share it around. Share the Pilates love people 🙂

3. SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube Channel so you get to see all the videos.

Now go do it.

The best healthy snacks for Pilates: Review.

Priya Tew

Being a Pilates teacher and the owner of a busy studio life really can be busy. I often have to eat at odd times or on the run. As someone who not only teaches exercise but is also a dietitian, I really do have to practise what I preach. So as part of our BARN studio LAUNCH I contacted a few companies who are known for their healthy products. People often ask me to recommend products to them, these ones below are all ones I would definitely say are great healthy choices and taste amazing.

Lizi’s Granola:

I don’t usually eat granola as it is packed full of sugar. I keep thinking about making my own, but that never quite happens. So I was delighted to have a lot of granola be sent to us. Lizi’s Granola has a low Glycaemic Load, which is a measure of the effect it has on blood sugar levels. This granola therefore will not lead to your blood sugar levels rising up too high but instead you will get a slow release of energy from it over your morning. Perfect for Pilates!

We were sent 4 flavours in individual portion packs. At our launch party people really enjoyed tasting all the flavours. I’ve then been giving out sample packs in our client goody bags, which has brought a big smile to people’s faces.

Comments include:

“It was really nice mixed in with my porridge”

“This made a fabulous snack on the run, dry from the packet with no milk”

“The packet makes portion control so easy”

Personally I’m enjoying it with fruit and yoghurt as a snack after teaching Pilates in the evenings. I’m always hungry and this is leaving me feeling satisfied and yet I know it’s a healthy treat.

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Munchy Seeds:

I’ve heard of these and always wanted to try them, so I was super pleased when Munchy Seeds said they would send us some. The biggest accolade I can give these is that my 4 year old, who doesn’t like seeds, adores them (I can’t quite figure that one out) and my husband who prefers dry roasted peanuts, is also a huge fan.

Somehow these cross the divide between a salty snack and a healthy snack. Clever work.

Emily Fruit Crisps:

These were the first thing to go at our launch party. Emily Fruit Crisps are sweet to the taste, crunchy and delicious, yet these literally only contain fruit and vegetable oil. I’d have to be careful when opening a packet of these as they would fly out the door!

These are certainly something I would reccomend as a healthy snack or to have out when friends come round as a nice nibble. I also love the pretty packaging.

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California Prunes:

Now I used to think that a prune was a prune. I was wrong. These are extra juicy, squidgy and soft. It must be all the extra sun they have when growing!

One thing I loved was the California Prune company sent over a leaflet with a great sounding recipe in for a savoury dish, enough for each of our client goody bags. I usually only use prunes in baking and sweet dishes so this has certainly inspired me to try them out in a few savoury dishes too.

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I like to make up a mixed portion of dried fruit, nuts and seeds with a couple of squares of dark chocolate, my own snack box 🙂

What are your favourite healthy snacks?

DISCLAIMER: These products were all sent to me to review for free. All thoughts and views are my own.

Top 5 Pilates Books.

Priya Tew

I’ll be honest. If someone tesll me that they have been learning Pilates from a book I inwardly cringe. Personally I feel that you can only get a proper understanding of Pilates from attending a class with a good teacher. One who will correct your technique, be hands on with you if needed and who takes the time to understand you and your body. Where books can be useful if for home practice or for learning more about how and why exercises work. It’s still not as a good as a class where a teacher can eyeball you… but it’s definitely a good idea to try and do some Pilates practice between classes if you can. Pilates with Priya: Top 5 Pilates books So here are my top 5 Pilates books: 1. A Pilates Primer: Return to life through Contrology and your health by Joseph Pilates – this has the original exercises in that Joseph Pilates designed as a home workout. However please do not use this as your home workout, we modify these exercises now! It is a good read to learn how Pilates started, for those interested in Mr Pilates himself. For home workouts, I find The Body Control Books are all pretty good options, with clear instructions and good tips on technique. 2. The Complete Classic Pilates Method by Lynne Robinson. A good starter book to have. 3. The Pilates Bible: The Most Comprehensive and Accessible Guide to Pilates Ever by Lynne Robinson. This has so many exercises in it that you are bound to find ones you recognise. Pick the ones you know help your body and that you need to work on. 4. Pilates: Simple Routines for Home, Work and Travel by Alan Herdman This has some nice stretches you can use in the morning and a good section with exercises you can do at work which I like. 5. Pilates for Life by Darcey Bussell. Split into sections making it easy to follow. You probably won’t end up looking like Darcey but you can imagine 😉

Southampton’s Newest Pilates and Wellness Studio is LAUNCHED.

Priya Tew

It’s been a flipping exciting week. Opening our new BARN studio has been so much fun. Now the studio is actually our garage but for a few hours a week we have now tranformed it into a tranquil space that is already being loved by many. It was a fantastic excuse to have a party and throughout this week we will be having a giveaway each day!

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It may surprise you to know that we didn’t actually set out to have a Pilates business. This business came and snuck up on us and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Priya started doing her Pilates training in 2009 and began 2 community classes. After having her daughter, James came up with the brilliant idea of using a room in the house for classes to help with looking after the baby. Word of mouth led to there soon being a waiting list and more and more classes were added to the timetable. So it came to the point where there are 2 children and an awful lot of classes. We knew we had outgrown the room in our house!

Pilates with Priya: first class in the new studio

THANKYOU to everyone who has given us encouragement with this project, those who have given us feedback and all who came to the party. We feel truly blessed to have such wonderful clients, may of whom are friends too.

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This studio will be used for many things including Pilates, ballet, step aerobics, pregnancy classes, nutrition and dietetics, massage therapy and possible counselling. But most of all it is a space for you all to enjoy.

Pilates with Priya: the BARN studio

New Pilates in Southampton! The BARN studio is OPEN.

Priya Tew

The studio is OPEN! WHOOOOOOOP!

Oh my goodness it’s been an exciting week – and it’s only Tuesday! Yesterday we opened the studio doors for the first time. Cue squeals, jumping for joy and a victory dance from Priya. James was a little more reserved, thank goodness as that evens us out 😉

The feedback so far has been excellent. Comments include finding the new studio very peaceful, relaxing, how nice the floor feels, liking the beams and loving the fairy lights! The new mirrors may seem a little daunting at first but you really will get used to them and they will help you. Already in one class Lucy commented on how she could whether she was sitting up straight enough or not.

Pilates with Priya: first class in the new studio
The first class in full swing.

Personally I felt that I was teaching in someone else’s studio, it is all so amazing that I can’t believe this space is ours.

Pilates with Priya: the BARN studio
Love, love, love the fairy lights.

We will now be holding the majority of classes in the Barn Studio. A few will continue to be in the home studio – these include Post-natal and the Wed 6.15pm. All classes in the Barn Studio will accommodate 8 people and we are putting on new classes:

Thurs 11am Pilates

Sun 9.15am Pilates

Wed 10am Toddler ballet (from 18 months to preschool)

Wed 3.45pm Pre- Primary Ballet (reception and year 1)

Please bear with us as we put on the finishing touches and do give us your feedback. This space is for YOU. So WELCOME!

Pilates with Priya - 1/2 roll back with rotation
WELCOME TO THE BARN STUDIO

MASSIVE THANKS to ANDY who did all the hard work on this project and was amazing throughout.

Squat & Scapular Squeeze: a perfect combo for working the upper and lower body.

Priya Tew

Squats Rock. Period. One of the best exercises if you are pregnant or postnatal. They strengthen your legs, bum, thighs, work your pelvic floor and your core. Just to add in a bit extra I’ve used a resisitance band to work the upper back too. A fabulous all-rounder of an exercise.

If you aren’t pregnant/postnatal this is ALSO a fabulous exercise. Try it out and let me know how you find it.

http://youtu.be/qaI6u-iYYzo

The best Pilates leggings?

Priya Tew

Decent clothing for Pilates is a must for me. There are days I am teaching all day and days when I’m in my Pilates apparel all day between classes, the school run and meetings. So not only does it need to be functional but it need to look good and wash well too. Here are the gorgeous tops I was sent, pink is not normally my favourite colour but I’m loving this particular pink top.

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My latest favourite items are the leggings I was also sent from Helly Hansen. They wash well, they fit like a glove, they are thick enough for Pilates (a see-through bum is not a good look) and they feel very nice, so nice that I’ve had people stroking my legs 😉 I’ve worn and washed them a few times now and they are still looking as good as new. I’ve had several compliments on them too so I reckon they look pretty good on 😉

I was invited to a Helly Hansen event recently but was unable to make it, so they kindly sent me some free kit to try out. I’m now definitely a fan.

Photo credit to Anthony Potts
Photo credit to Anthony Potts

I have a fair few pairs of black Pilates trousers in my life. Some end up attracting fluff too easily, some don’t wash well and some don’t fit as well as I would like. So thankyou Helly Hansen for creating the almost-perfect pair of leggings for Pilates. Now all I need is a pair that are child-friendly and repel sticky finger prints!!

Dislcaimer: I was sent these clothes free of charge, all views are my own and I was not paid financially for this post.

 

 

Help! My back hurts

Priya Tew

Lower back pain is one of the top reasons people come to us. It is such a common complaint that I almost expect people to mention it and tend to ask if it is not mentioned on our induction form.

The top 3 reasons I see lower back pain:

1. Being too sedentary and sitting down too long each day.

2. Carrying small children and incorrect lifting techniques.

4. An injury or fall.

We therefore often get messages from people saying their back is playing up, they feel like they have overused it or it is aching – so they will give Pilates a miss. Which almost makes sense. Almost.

Here are my thoughts on what to do if your back is aching. Think through what you have been doing and see if you can find the cause of the pain. Have you been sitting for longer than usual, for example on a long car journey? Have you been decorating, gardening or lifting heavy objects? Have you been doing a different form of activity? Did you sleep on a different bed or in an unusual position? If the answer is yes then the pain is likely to be muscular and Pilates can actually help. Strengthening your core will help prevent further damage to your back plus mobilising the spine can help stretch it out and release tight muscles.

Pilates with Priya: My back hurts...

To help muscular back aches:

1. Keep mobilising and moving it. Sitting or lying still  for too long will cause it to stiffen up.

2. Take some painkillers.

3. Come to Pilates but work at a lower level and one that does not cause you pain, make sure you tell your instructor wat has happened.

4. Soak in a hot bath.

5. See your GP/Physio if it gets worse.

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