Curated movement for a stronger you.

Everyone can do Pilates. It does not require any specific age, condition, strength, ability or fitness. It is a wonderful life-changing form of exercise that has been around for decades.

Far from it. Pilates was after all invented by a man for his own overall strength and fitness. In addition men tend to be less flexible than women and therefore need it even more. Men also prefer momentum based movement, and we have found that the slower pace and intense isometric exercises where you are required to maintain a position before movement challenges even our strongest male clients. Pilates is for both men and women alike, athletes and non athletic people as well.

Absolutely Pilates is for men. Pilates was after all invented by a man for his own overall strength and fitness. In addition men tend to be less flexible than women and therefore need it even more. Men also prefer momentum based movement, and we have found that the slower pace and intense isometric exercises where you are required to maintain a position before movement challenges even our strongest male clients. Pilates is for both men and women alike, athletes and non-athletic people as well.

In some respects, Pilates is like yoga. Joseph Pilates did draw on both Western and Eastern influences when developing this method. Both are considered mind-body methods of movement; and do emphasis deep breathing and smooth movements that require focus and control, without momentum. The difference is that while yoga moves from one static posture to the next, Pilates flows through a series of movements that are more dynamic, systematic and anatomically-based often incorporating resistance equipment. The goal with Pilates is to strengthen the postural muscles while achieving optimal functional fitness

Pilates is popular with athletes, dancers, gymnasts and others in their physical prime but it is equally suitable for almost any age. One of benefits of Pilates is that it is tailored to suit each person, whatever their age or physical condition. Many of our clients are middle-aged or elderly. In fact many start doing Pilates specifically because they have reached ‘a certain age’, started to feel stiffness and aches and pains creeping in and suddenly thought, ‘I better do something before it gets worse!’. It is always important if you are slightly older to just make sure with your doctor before taking up Pilates (or any exercise for that matter) and to start more slowly. Many people do Pilates into their eighties and nineties. A properly tailored Pilates programme is one of the best-known ways to ward off the infirmities of old age. As Joseph Pilates himself put it: ‘If, at the age of 30, you are stiff and out of shape, you are old. If, at 60, you are supple and strong, then you are young.’

Ideally we find that twice a week (or more if you can) is the best way to see the benefits of Pilates. Whether you come once a week or once a day we also encourage our clients to try doing a basic routine at home to continue the daily benefits that Pilates offers.

Pilates in general is not a cardiovascular based form of exercise. It focuses on mind muscle connections, strength, posture and control. However we do offer Barre, Cardio Barre and Pilates Fit classes which blend Pilates with cardio intervals to improve cardiovascular fitness and conditioning.

Both Pilates and Yoga have benefits and often complement each other very well. While Yoga focuses more on flexibility and mindfulness, as well as breath techniques and meditation through movement. Pilates focuses on core strength, control in movement, muscle endurance as well as mobility and mind muscle connections.