Tag: southampton

New Classes

Priya TewLeave a Comment on New Classes

Thursday evening and Saturday morning classes are just starting up, I’m very excited! My new Thursday 8pm class is currently full but let me know if you would like to go on the waiting list. Saturday mornings has a couple of spaces and this will be a great class to give you a kick start to your weekend.

Thursday 8pm and Saturday 9.30am

As always classes are small and so you get lots of help from the instructor, plus its a friendly environment to meet people and exercise all at once. I’m very pleased to have some of my post natal mummies moving into these 2 classes as they are sadly going back to work….these mummies have made good friends through Pilates and like it so much they are continuing classes, showing how good their experience has been 🙂

Baby carrying and alignment

Priya TewLeave a Comment on Baby carrying and alignment

So I’ve certainly noticed that as my baby is getting older she is getting bigger and heavier. Those of you who know me may well smile at this as it’s a well known fact that I have a petite baby who really isn’t heavy compared to others her age 😉 But the fact remains she is getting bigger and I have been very aware that I need to be using proper alignment to carry her safely and protect my back, pelvis and shoulders. Pilates is so good at helping train your brain to think about correct alignment, it also strengthens your core so helping you lift safely and in my post natal classes we target the shoulders and arms as well. So if you manage to get to a Pilates class you will certainly be helping your body out.

The very lovely Katy Bowman has done a fab video post on how to carry your baby safely and so here it is for all of you, it made me think, hopefully it will help you too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CaNN8DiIn4&feature=youtu.be

In fitness, one size does not fit all.

Priya TewLeave a Comment on In fitness, one size does not fit all.

Skimming through a fitness magazine this morning whilst feeding the baby and this phrase leapt out at me.

“In fitness, one size does not fit all”

I LOVE IT.

To me that is completely how I like to teach. I always have a rough lesson plan but am ready to adapt the session dependant on who attends, how the class are feeling, how I am feeling and how many are there. I also adapt each exercise to a certain level dependant on the class and may have different people doing the same exercise at different levels. That way everyone gets the workout they want. Individuality is the key in my mind. We all have different bodies and different personalities so surely we all need different ways of exercising too. With Pilates you get that. Everyone works at their own level, some may add in an extra lever (arm/leg), some may have their head, neck and shoulders raised off the mat, some may use a ball as an aid. Others may take a break and have a snooze (its allowed, the break that is, maybe not the snooze!). In the case of post natal Pilates we also work at the need and request of the babies!! Mums dip in and out to feed or cuddle babes as needed. In my case yesterday with Little Miss Grump I had to feed and cuddle whilst teaching the class. Thank goodness I’m a woman so can multi-task 🙂

So however you feel today and whatever type of body shape, size and personality you are, get active in some way. Dance around the kitchen, go for a walk, go kite surfing, do some gardening…..or come to Pilates 😉

New classes for September. Book quickly!

Priya TewLeave a Comment on New classes for September. Book quickly!

I shall be launching 2 new classes in September to keep up with the demand! Exciting stuff.

The new classes will be:
Thursday evening 8-8.45pm
Saturday 9.30-10.15am

Both classes will be mixed ability so suitable for beginners but with added elements for those who have done Pilates before.

Let me know if you would like a space, Thursday evening is already pretty full and looking like a fun group, some beginners and some old faces from my post natal class who are back at work.

Pilates is a great way to exercise and relax at the end of a busy week so come and join us 🙂

Pilates recommended by Osteoporosis experts.

Priya TewLeave a Comment on Pilates recommended by Osteoporosis experts.

Osteoporosis International Journal has written a guide for health professional working in rehabilitation for patients with Osteoporosis. The techniques described are basically Pilates showing how spot on the Pilates technique really is.

There’s a summary of the journal advice here…http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/28/health/28backsb.html?_r=2&ref=todayspaper

It talks about avoiding stomach crunches/sit ups done in the way typically seen in gyms and other fitness classes, lots of repetitions, done at full speed where the back is jerked up off the floor putting pressure on the lower spine. The internal organs are pushed aside and the stomach compacted. Doing lots of repetitions means good technique is lost and the head is often pulled up by the arms. It is of course possible to do a good sit up but its not often seen in a gym/large class environment, in fact as an ex gym-bunny myself I can truly say I used to do sit ups all wrong! In Pilates a curl up would be done in a much slower, controlled way, lengthening the spine, peeling up off the mat bone by bone and replacing the same way. Only a few reps would be done as we look for quality and not quantity.

Other tips talk about maintaining good core strength when picking up objects and moving the body and maintaining a good posture. Again Pilates will help with this. I know that I am now so aware of my posture and the way I move that I tend to auto correct myself at points in the day. So if I bend to pick up the baby moving from my waist I tell myself off and practise doing it moving from the hips instead. Over time it becomes a habit. My shoulders used to be hunched up by my ears and after a while of working on that I now keep them pulled down properly (most of the time!).

So…not only is Pilates good for toning and building that all important core strength but the Pilates lifestyle is recommended for bone health. Fab news.