PILATES

My journey into teaching began in 2008 at The Body Control Studio in Kings Cross as an apprentice under the guidance of Conchita Del Campo. I was amazed at how Pilates was changing my own body and I wanted to learn more. I started teaching group classes and 1-1's and loved how accessible Pilates was for non-dancers too. After completing Teacher Training qualification in 2010 with STOTT® Pilates, I began developing my own practice working in yoga and Pilates studios, gyms, health clubs as well as drama and dance colleges across London alongside my performing and creative projects.

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The technique is designed to bring greater awareness to the breath and the core also known as the "powerhouse". Breathing is incorporated into each exercise to promote deep oxygenation of the blood [Pilates called this "bodily house-cleaning"]. It is also used to support the body where the exhalation is utilised on more challenging movements.

Control and focus are required to perform the exercises with as much precision as possible. Moving consciously stops us from falling into autopilot mode and deepens the mind-body connection. Paying attention to specifics in our movement patterns can enable us to have a greater physical awareness and connection to our own bodies; moving from the inside out. 

The pace is steady and the movements performed are low-impact making Pilates a great choice for anyone who wants to gain both strength and flexibility without too much stress on the joints. Modifications have been developed to allow individuals to access the exercises and make adjustments to suit their own needs.

Once the foundations are understood the exercises build in intensity and challenge to develop the practitioners' fluidity and strength. More efficient kinetic pathways are made through the body, which evens out our overall postural tone promoting a more efficient alignment and embodied posture. 

Pilates has evolved over the years and is a massive part of the fitness and wellness industry. The method is built upon Pilates' original "Classic" repertoire and some of these exercises are still taught today. With contemporary physiological knowledge and sport science, a more contemporary approach has enabled the ongoing development of the Pilates method and the exercises can be modified or enhanced to suit all bodies making it extremely accessible. It can also form part of injury rehabilitation as well as pre and post-natal well-being.

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As part of my own rehabilitation process after surgery, Pilates gave me the ability to regain movement patterns lost through nerve damage and the proprioceptive awareness of how to move with and around my injuries.