About Pilates
Pilates is a form of body conditioning based on the original ‘classical’ exercises devised by Joseph Pilates in the 1930s.
Born in Germany in 1887, Joseph Pilates was a sickly child, suffering from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever. Determined to build his strength and fitness, he studied a range of health and fitness approaches such as yoga, martial arts, self defence, gymnastics, skiing, dance, circus skills and weight training. Taking various elements from these he developed a system which he believed provided the perfect balance of strength and flexibility. He called this system ‘Contrology’.
Pilates and his wife Clara opened a studio in New York and this is where Pilates as we know it today was defined. Dancers from New York City Ballet sought out his methods when they were injured. Many of these dancers went on to become his assistants and were a great influence on how the method evolved. After his death in 1967, his method was renamed ‘Pilates’ and continued to be developed from the original ‘classical’ exercises with many schools of Pilates adapting these very challenging exercises to be more widely accessible.
With this adaptive approach it is a unique training method suitable for all ages, gender and fitness levels. Each body is unique and Pilates exercises can be adapted to provide a safe and achievable outcome at any level of fitness. This may be to improve strength and mobility for sport, recovering from injury or just the general wear and tear on the body through lifestyle or work (manual work or sitting at computer all day).
Fundamental to the training is finding an individuals true postural alignment and working on core stability, joint mobilisation and spine articulation to achieve this. It also encourages good breathing patterns helping relieve stress and unwanted tension.
Jospeh Pilates believed that one of the main results of his method was to have complete control of your body. To achieve this, a variety of principles have been attributed to the method: concentration; relaxation; alignment; breathing; centring; coordination, flowing movement; stamina.
Pilates is now clinically recognised and often recommended by medical specialists, GPs, osteopaths and physiotherapists to help with recovery from injury, chronic pain and health conditions and to improve posture.
“Physical fitness is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind fully capable of naturally, easily and satisfactorily performing our many and varied daily tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure.”
JOSEPH PILATES
Return to Life Through Contrology
About Cathy
I am a freelance Pilates teacher, working from my home studio, on Zoom and in clients’ homes.
I have a particular interest in rehabilitating clients post injury and those with challenges which require a bespoke plan to restore safe functional movement in daily life, through to those who require a plan to support elite training such as dance or sport.
My personal journey with Pilates begin in the mid 1990s when my Mum was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in her spine when she became paralysed from the waist down and had a tumour removed from her spine.
I worked closely with my Mum’s physiotherapist with whom she had a session every week for many years. I learned each of her exercises, and worked with her every day to support her recovery to be able to walk again.
Her physiotherapist was also Pilates trained and integrated Pilates exercises into her daily regime. This experience opened my eyes to how medical professionals, Pilates and the will of a client can make such positive change to enable a better quality of life through movement.
At this time, I began taking group and one-to-one Body Control Pilates sessions myself to help with very painful shoulder and hip injuries and not only did I become pain free, Pilates improved my own fitness, mobility, health and wellbeing.
I have forty years experience as a professional dance teacher, teaching primarily Classical Ballet, along with Modern Theatre Dance, Tap, National Dance, Contemporary and Creative Dance in settings ranging from dance studios, primary schools and care homes. Teaching recreational dancers (age two to age ninety-nine) through to full-time students training to advanced levels to enter the dance and performing arts profession.
Pilates has been an integral part of my dance teacher training, enabling me to provide students with a better understanding of their bodies and provide an essential base for teaching safe dance practice to all ages and abilities, working carefully within the physical range of the individual body.
Choosing to train to teach with Body Control Pilates (recognised as a world-leading education provider for Pilates teaching), provided me with the skills to offer the best possible learning experience to my clients so they can gain a better quality of life through movement. It is a privilege to share the amazing effects of Pilates and work with my clients to reach their personal goals.
Qualifications:
Body Control Pilates certified ‘Level 3 Matwork’ Pilates Teacher
Designing Pilates Programmes for Bone Health (Osteoporosis) Level 3
First Aid Certificate in CPR Life Support
Additional BCP Courses:
Pilates and Scoliosis
Understanding Neurological Disorders and how Pilates can help
Musculoskeletal Problems and how Pilates can help
Pilates with the Band
Pilates with Small Ball and Toning Circle
Pilates with the Ball