Pilates with Katie

12/09/2022

It's never too late ........ 🤗.

06/09/2022

Breath is the first act of life..... and the last.... this was frequently heard by students of Joseph Pilates. Without breath there is no movement, without breath there is no life. Breath is the most important part of any exercise or discipline yet so frequently neglected in the pursuit of pushing our bodies via our egos! We need to slow down, become more mindful and in this calmer space we can allow our breath to become the guide, the master of our movement.

17/08/2022

One of the most important things to remember in any practice is to keep your mind on your own body, your own abilities, your own strengths and "weaknesses", your own version of movement, your own physical or emotional state in the moment and to work with that. Accept where you are, be proud of what you have achieved and embrace the things that you find difficult rather than seeing them as failure. Some times it's not about strength, flexibility, alignment. Some times it's simply that your bones don't want to go there! We're all different. Every single one of us. Keep your vision on your own mat rather than what is happening around you because your mind will only focus on the things that people appear to do "better" than you rather than the things they don't! Stay with your breath, your body, your mind and bring that together in to a beautifully focused and mindful way of moving. Doing what you can and adapting what you can't. Simply enjoy the movement your body gives you on any one day! ###

16/08/2022

I'm often asked what's the difference between Pilates & Yoga so again here's the answer! We've spoken about this in previous posts but always interesting to revisit the different aspects especially for new practitioners. As always in life, although very different, they are also very complimentary and so it's great if you can do both knowing they support one another and help you come in to a different place within your practice........

16/05/2022

So many people ask me what the difference between Pilates and Yoga actually is. Isn't it more or less the same? I hear that asked so frequently. The answer is no! They are two completely different practices physically, mentally and spiritually. This is a fab article that sets out the differences between and benefits of the two practices...... https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/beauty/fitness-wellbeing/a25626354/yoga-vs-pilates/

02/05/2022

Pilates with the soft ball for our lessons this week folks. Lots of exercises designed to engage your deep intrinsic muscles, work your balance & stability and assist with your alignment as well as challenge your focus! Weds class FULL (waiting list). Friday class two spaces available if you'd like to come along and give it a try or integrate a second class in to your week! Just message me for details. Enjoy the rest of your Bank Holiday😊.

29/04/2022

Excellent class today with three new members and a "back to basics" theme. Interesting to see how "Beginner" exercises can actually seem tougher once we've been practising Pilates for several months! The reason? It's because you are gradually learning how to use your body efficiently and are carrying out these exercises far more accurately and mindfully than before plus engaging the correct muscles to create stability and strength. All of this means that the exercises actually seem harder than at the beginning but are now even more beneficial to the body!

16/03/2022

Hi Folks. Just to let you know that I've now separated my page into two with one for Yoga and one for Pilates. This just helps keep the pages more specific to your personal practice. Of course if you'd like to also join my Yoga page you're more than welcome! Here's the link:
https://www.facebook.com/Yoga-with-Katie-109889144990144

Journey into the discovery of your true self, your true nature.

16/03/2022

Waiting list now in action for a new gently paced Yoga class starting at the end of the month at Preston Village Hall on Wednesdays at around 11am. We will move mindfully through various asanas (postures) that are achievable for all levels from Beginner to Experienced and over time we will learn some Pranayama (breathwork). Of course no yoga class would be complete without Savasana (guided relaxation lying down) so this will always be included to finish off our practice in the ancient yogic way. If you're interested please do let me know 😊.

15/03/2022

I find that sometimes clients wonder "where is this leading to" when beginning the first few weeks and months of Pilates practice. As a guideline to the various stages of Beginner, Improver, Intermediate and Advanced Pilates I've written this synopsis to give you an idea of what to expect as time passes......

PILATES HAS A LEARNING CURVE!
No matter how fit and athletic you may be, there is a learning curve to Pilates. You will be accessing new muscles and moving in a way that you may not be used to doing. You may need to focus on releasing currently overactive patterns so you can gain access to new strength and mobility. Changing HOW you move requires concentration and practice which can be frustrating but so rewarding when you feel the first “shift”.

Beginner Level:
You’ll learn the form of a whole bunch of new exercises, and the breath patterns that go with each of them. You’ll learn how to connect to your “core” in a supportive and functional way. You will realize that your “core” is not just about your abdominal muscles but also the glutes (buttocks), adductors (inner thighs), abductors (outer thighs) and the whole shoulder girdle. Your early workouts may feel more like mental gymnastics than a serious sweat session. You will begin to integrate your whole body in a way that creates a sense of ease and flow.

Intermediate Level:
As you become more practiced in the Pilates method, you will experience a deeper understanding of your own body in motion. You will progressively gain better mobility, strength and control. Your body will be capable of more complex movements without strain. You’ll likely find that you can manage more load with less effort. There are more advanced exercises to learn, but even the basics will now give better results because you can work through them with a more knowledgeable and physically capable system which allows you to work deeper in to the intrinsic muscles. Movements in other parts of your life will likely feel lighter and easier. If you’re an athlete, you might notice that you have “more in the tank” than you’re used to, without other contributing factors or that your sports performance is improving.

Advanced Level:
At an advanced level, the body becomes capable of sophisticated, complex movement in a wide variety of planes and under a wide range of load demands. You’ll experience a quality of flow as you negotiate difficult physical challenges and access the more Advanced Classical movements of Pilates. The breath becomes truly integrated into every motion, guiding and supporting the body. Rather than feeling “beaten up” and depleted by hard workouts, you might feel energized and feel more connection between the mind and the body. In martial arts, some say that the real learning begins at the black belt level. I think the same is true of Pilates. At this level, it’s not about fancy tricks, although those are always fun to learn! There is a depth to the work in the body that can feel truly nourishing on many levels.

Finally, Pilates does work. Be patient, stick with it and reap the benefits of strength, fluidity, stability and ease!