As Pilates instructors, I am always seeking tools that deepen my clients’ body awareness, improve movement patterns, and enhance overall results. One often underestimated gem is the Arc Barrel—a small but mighty piece of equipment that can transform a session from basic to brilliant. An ally for beginners, advanced students, or those recovering from injury,…
DetailsACL (Anterior Cruciate injury) is one of the most infamous and often catastrophic knee injuries an athlete can suffer. Yet there are those that managed to return to their sport of choice in record time and without surgery. A famous English super league footballer bacame a case study for the shortest return to play (a…
DetailsYes you are not dreaming! Celebrities and elite athletes such as Ronaldo have discovered the secret transformative power of Pilates and they are using it to keep at the top of their game. Ronaldo particularly favours reformer Pilates and can be seen enjoying ‘feet in straps’ in this image. The power of pilates to train…
DetailsIt’s been a steep learning curve, no joke, but thanks to the feedback and trust of my clients, and the help and support of my family, I have just completed my first official online class! After initial trials last week, for which I had used my rather small laptop and some self-training, I gathered valuable feedback from…
DetailsHOW: From your Pilates rest position : supine hips knees and ankles in alignment and neutral spine (preserving the natural lumbar and neck curves) with bent knees. Breathe in to prepare. As you start breathing out flatten the lumbar curve using your abs to get into imprint, deepen the curve to a pelvic tilt (engaging…
DetailsWhen you get told to stand up straight the first reaction is to adopt the “military” stance: chest out shoulders pinned back and shoulder blades contracted towards each other. This will quickly feel unnatural and possibly painful. But there is more. This rigid stance can go as far as causing damage to the vessels and…
DetailsIf you ever experienced a sudden back spasms when getting up from your chair or from bed in the morning often accompanied by some referred pain at the front of the hip then Psoas major might be the culprit. This large muscle attaches to you low back and to the front of the hip and…
DetailsOA (Osteoarthritis) is prevalent in our society with 8.5M of people getting this in the UK alone (nice.org.uk statistics). Although some high-impact activities, such as running and jumping, should be avoided, it is important to maintain as much activity and joint motion as possible with some low impact movements. Staying active also can help with weight…
Detailshome I hear a lot about that sensation of tightness after a long day in the office. A hunched posture over a computer can be the culprit for many neck and shoulder aches as it creates muscle imbalances between the back muscles and the front of your chest. This can also lead to more permanently…
DetailsWhilst there is a great deal of talk about glutes strength to support hip and knee stability –and for good reasons- there is less out there about combating the tension that can arise from this very crucial area. Gluteus medius and piriformis tightness can create strong tension at the side of the hip and might…
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