About Us
What are my classes like?
Let's talk about what I'm all about!
Pilates is having a big moment. I started teaching Pilates over 10 years ago and since then the Pilates scene has changed a lot. Social media is currently overflowing with Pilates inspired workouts that emphasise "the burn" and breaking a sweat, perhaps orientated towards achieving a certain "Pilates body aesthetic". These type of workouts absolutely can help increase fitness and be enjoyable to do! Whether they achieve what specifically Pilates is about, is perhaps another matter.
My approach to Pilates is a bit more old school. I wouldn't say I'm a "purist" classical Pilates practitioner, I do love combining classical repertoire with modern Pilates exercises, and update exercises based on latest scientific research on movement. However, I'm definitely here for the ethos of the original Pilates method: educating your body to align and move better. The end goal is not visible abs. The goal is to feel strong, physically and mentally, to move through life with ease and without pain, adding years to your health span. As a bonus, yes you are likely to notice your body changing shape and becoming more toned!
Pilates is not just a workout, it's so much more! It's a practice. Learning requires repetition, understanding what you're doing and a teacher who is genuinely there to guide you. I nudge those collapsed arches and knees into position, a simple adjustment that can make your lower back pain ease off. I adjust your hips when you've spent decades with hyperlordosis without knowing and realising that's why your back has always felt so stiff. I show you how to release tension in your right shoulder as I noticed that's where you carry tension when you entered the room. And we practice... and practice... until the better alignment becomes your new, pain free normal! This is the difference between just a workout and practicing Pilates with me.
I find it extremely important to give each client attention and hands-on corrections to ensure correct form and technique, whether the class is in-person or on Zoom. This ensures a safe and effective class where I know each client's body and tailor each exercise to suit and improve any potential limitations to movement. If I see you're ready for it I will encourage you to move on to the next difficulty level of an exercise.
Whether you are a 25-year-old hairdresser with a sore back, a completely fit and healthy 30-year-old, or a 72-year-old struggling with mobility, I've got you. How I teach and run my classes, your body has the opportunity to learn, progress, and feel better. This is why my classes are sold as blocks. It makes it possible for me to get to know each body, progress everyone at their own pace and for you to build your Pilates practice into a habit (hopefully a lifelong one!). Getting better at anything requires commitment, consistency and repetition.
What about Barre? How I like to describe it, Pilates is your education and Barre is playtime. You take what you learn in Pilates and have fun with it! It's ballet inspired exercises mixed with Pilates, so think lots of plies, pulses, ball squeezes, resistance bands, Pilates circles... your legs will feel like jelly but somehow you absolutely love it! Fantastic for strengthening your lower and upper body while improving posture and core stability. It's a faster paced class set to fun, uplifting music. You feel like you're dancing through the exercises! And I will still make sure your form stays correct. Pilates and Barre are the perfect combo and most of my clients take both (often back to back!)
If all this sounds like what you're after, I look forward to seeing you at class!
How about my online classes?
The Internet is full of Pilates workouts, and many fitness and yoga apps also offer Pilates content. It’s very likely you’ve tried some of these options, but maybe were left a bit confused. Did I do this right? It felt kind of easy? The same thing might happen in face-to-face classes as well if the class size is too big, levels are mixed and the teacher doesn't have the chance to make sure everyone learns the basics correctly.
If the exercises felt easy, most likely the technique was not explained properly. When you perform Pilates exercises correctly, you really feel it in your core. In Pilates we engage our deeper core muscles (TVA and lumbar multifidus) and our pelvic floor, all while adopting a certain breathing technique (lateral thoracic breathing). In addition, we want to make sure our spine is aligned correctly. You won’t intuitively know how to do these just because the teacher on YouTube says “Engage your core”! You need taught how to. If an exercise you tried felt easy, the odds are you didn't quite know how to engage the muscles Pilates wants you to strengthen.
Let's fix that!
Both in my classes in Kirkcaldy as well as the On-Demand video classes, you will actually be taught the technique and exercises in a way that makes sense and is easy to follow. In person and via live zoom classes you will also get corrections and feedback on your alignment so you know you are performing everything correctly. This means you will get the best benefits from practicing Pilates. You can join my higher level Pilates classes in Kirkcaldy via zoom, or take my video classes in my extensive video library.