The main focus of Pilates is to strengthen and balance the 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.

For details of Core Pilates classes in Brighton and Hove with Penny Little click here.

Pregnancy:
Pilates is a wonderful form of exercise during and after pregnancy. The exercises focus on strengthening the deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles (the ‘core’) which help support the back and growing bump. Working the core muscles can help prevent back & pelvic pain, increase mobility, aid delivery and help with recovery. Pilates can also help prevent a wide ‘diastasis recti’ – the separating of the abdominal muscles – which can weaken the back.
Post-natally, Pilates can help you regain strength in the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles.The exercises are fun, safe, and combine a breathing technique to aid relaxation.

Pilates is suitable after the twelfth week of pregnancy and from 6 weeks post natal. Private sessions are also available and are advised if you are new to Pilates or if you have any back problems.

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

Back to top