The main focus of Pilates is to strengthen and balance our core muscles. Predominantly the deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles, these help to stabilise our lower spine and improve our posture, allowing us to be more upright!

Core stability:
For the spine to be healthy it needs to be in a balanced state. Pilates helps by strengthening and balancing the muscles which support the spine and by encouraging good alignment.
Having a stable centre allows you to move with more strength, balance and flexibility. The Pilates system also helps to ensure that no particular muscle group is overworked and in doing so further helps your posture and limits muscle fatigue and soreness.

In conditioning the whole body, Pilates is beneficial for many musculo-skeletal disorders, and in particular back, shoulder and neck, knee and hip problems. Attention is paid to joint alignment, ensuring that the least amount of stress is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments.

Become body-aware:
Through regular practice of Pilates you will become more body-aware and will begin to bring its principles of core control, alignment and coordination into your everyday life.
Pilates is now recommended by many physiotherapists, osteopaths, GPs and chiropractors.

Pregnancy:
Pilates is suitable after the twelfth week of pregnancy. The exercises help pregnancy by supporting the back and pelvis, improving posture, toning the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles, helping to maintain flexibility and aiding relaxation.
Post-natally, Pilates is perfect for re-toning the abdominals and pelvic floor muscles and providing a safe and gentle form of exercise.

Penny is trained in teaching pregnancy Pilates. Click here to read Penny's article on ante-natal Pilates, which appeared in the January / February issue of Families Surrey East magazine.

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