Blog

The spine is one of the most vital structures in the human body, and Jospeh Plates talks about it being the ridgepole of the body which is involved in nearly all human movements. The original pilates method is well known for “making people taller”! But it actually returns the spine…

As a child, I was active and loved gymnastics. Movement came easily to me, and I took for granted that my spine and joints were strong and pain-free. As an adult, I pursued a corporate career in IT for over 20 years, leading to a more sedentary lifestyle with long…

Number ten in Joseph Pilates’ original 34 traditional mat exercises is The Corkscrew and as the name implies, there is a twisting and rotation aspect to this traditional pilates mat exercise.    The Corkscrew is considered an intermediate to advanced exercise. But there are many variations and regressions that enable…

Often referred to as the “forgotten” muscle, the psoas (pronounced so-az) is one of the most powerful and essential muscles in the human body. Despite its importance, many people are unaware of its role in movement, posture, and overall health. Located deep within the body, the psoas muscle has a…

If you’ve decided to try Pilates for the first time, you might be nervous and understandably wondering what will happen in your first class. This will be highly dependent on the style of class you’re attending. For instance, a group reformer or mat class will be very different to a…

When most people think about pilates and posture, the spine and “core” immediately come to mind.   But there’s one muscle group that plays a critical yet often overlooked role in maintaining functional posture: the hamstrings! The hamstrings are three muscles that are located at the back of the thigh.…

Number nine in Joseph Pilates’ original 34 traditional mat exercises is the Rocker with Open Legs, now commonly referred to as Open Leg Rocker. This exercise is a direct progression from the previous one, the Spine Stretch. Open Leg Rocker is considered an intermediate to advanced exercise. To master it,…

I am a fitness industry veteran, having taught group classes for the past 25 years, while working full time as a sports ground curator. I’ve long retired from full time work to pursue my true passion, which is health, fitness and pilates. I’ve learnt firsthand how valuable pilates is for…