People With Back Problems

Many of the people we teach are post-surgery, or hoping to avoid surgery, and are often referred via local surgeons, GPs, physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths. Most health professionals use core stability to promote good support for the majority of back complaints and our classes are seen as a safe referral point for people to continue to
work correctly, without risk of further injury.

However, Pilates is no quick fix and it is helpful to bear in mind the following points when thinking about joining a Pilates class:

For the average healthy person, starting a Pilates exercise programme can seem very gentle at the beginning - you are learning the principles of Pilates, gaining an understanding of how your body functions, and how to ensure that ANY fitness work, or even just being at work, can be improved using Pilates techniques.

However, for someone with years of back pain, poor posture, or a sedentary job, Pilates could well be uncomfortable to begin with. It is totally unrealistic to expect it to be otherwise.

If you have had a back problem for some time, it won’t be fixed overnight.

When you have a bad back you are very careful with it, but along with that comes tension, created to try and protect yourself from further pain or injury. During classes
you will be exercising muscles that have not worked correctly, and possibly not worked at all, for a while and they won’t like it! It is no different for a healthy person,
who rarely works out, to go to the gym and do a heavy, sweaty weights workout the next day, and the day after that their muscles will be protesting.

It’s a trade off - you cannot expect a back to improve without effort, and that must be your effort. It’s your bad back, not anyone else’s. You get out what you put in. Take
responsibility for it and it will improve, especially if you are taught properly in a small group with lots of individual correction and reminders.

Teenage Back Problems

We are seeing many more teenagers/young people with back problems so we have added another class to our timetable to enable them to come to class after school on Tuesdays. If you would like to discuss joining this class or you would like to come along and bring your son/ daughter as some of our clients are already doing please contact Karen.

Fit & Healthy

You may be thinking that Pilates is only for those with back problems or needing rehab - not so! Our mat classes and equipment sessions are suitable for all levels of ability, from rehab to elite sports people. If you have ever seen a performer from Cirque Du Soleil, you will understand that they need much more from a workout than a few weights! Olympic athletes to stage and musical theatre performers, are finding that Pilates can take their work-outs and performance to another level.

Health Professionals

We have provided in-service training, for both NHS and private physiotherapy practices, in the Pilates technique. If you are interested, for you or your practice, please contact Karen to discuss your requirements. All of these can be used towards your PDPs.

Shift Workers

If you are a shift worker as some of our clients are, in the police force, NHS or fire service etc., we will always try and offer you the chance to move between classes, to
accommodate your work pattern.

Sports People

Whatever level of sport you play from amateur to professional, Pilates can improve your technique and performance. We already teach the County Cricket main squad, the County Academy players, Rugby, Tennis and Golf professionals too. We can tailor your workout to your particular sport.

Private Health Insurance

If you have private health insurance, you can attend the sessions run on Wednesdays and Fridays with a senior pilates instructor and either Mark Conway, or Barry Goudriaan, who are both Chartered Physiotherapists, and are registered with most private health
insurance companies.

The sessions will combine physiotherapy, and Pilates exercise, to enable all participants to gain a good understanding of the exercises required to assist in their recovery, from surgery or injury.

We work closely with Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Nicholas Birch FRCS Orth, who is based at The Three Shires Hospital in Northampton, and we have an excellent
cross referral system between Mr Birch and many of the people attending our Pilates Classes at both venues.

We also have many patients referred via local hospitals, GP surgeries, and other health professionals around the county.

If you would like to book for these physio led sessions, please contact Karen for availability.