Pilates is a form of exercise that improves core strength and balances the muscles around the joints, improving the way your body functions, looks and feels. It strengthens the whole body, develops flexibility, muscular endurance, coordination, balance, and good posture.

The muscles of the body are conditioned through movements that use gravity, body weight and specially-designed equipment as forms of resistance.

It is taught in group classes or private training sessions, with or without equipment, such as reformers, cadillacs, stability chairs, barrels and fitness circles.

Pilates, originally called Contrology and created by Joseph Pilates, is one of the fastest growing forms of exercise in the world. It was developed from a combination of yoga, gymnastics and martial arts. As Joseph Pilates stated, it “develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong postures, restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit”. The connection between the mind and body is crucial to Pilates.

Whether you are just starting to exercise, you're an elite athlete or somewhere in between, Pilates will apply to you. It is whole-body fitness and, when done correctly, offers major health benefits. It has long been the exercise of choice for dancers and gymnasts, and now footballers and Hollywood actors.

Pilates trains the body to express itself with strength and harmony. The workouts develop core strength which helps to improve posture, stability and peripheral mobility.

In Pilates, we also work to improve your functional fitness and ease of movement, and hopefully increase your energy. Pilates creates strength, increases flexibility and improves balance and coordination. It also heightens body awareness.

Pilates is used to integrate body and mind, it complements other methods of exercise and improves performance in sport, including golf, skiing and skating. It provides a level of integrative fitness that is hard to find elsewhere and is why Pilates is so popular in rehabilitation.

This will depend on your injury. You may need to get a medical certificate from your doctor or physio before you can attend, or start with a private session to assess if group classes will be appropriate in the future. We advise you to speak to one of our instructors before participating in a class to make sure you’re not putting yourself at risk of further damage or injuries. Always remember that all our instructors are STOTT PILATES certified and have all completed the Injuries and Special Populations course. Our most senior members have complementary qualifications in additional fields such as rehabilitative pilates and neuro-muscular therapy.

Absolutely not! With small group classes our instructors are highly qualified and experienced in modifying exercises to accommodate each individual’s ability, while at the same time allowing the client to work at their own pace.