What is Pilates?
Pilates is often described as " the complete coordination of body, mind and spirit” because of its holistic basis. Pilates is all about creating an acute sense of body awareness and moving with intention and balance. There have been many interpretations of The Pilates Method over the years, but when Joseph H Pilates first created the system, it was actually called Contrology because of his belief in the power of ‘mind control’. The founding principles are concentration, breath, control, centering, flow and precision and although some schools have added others such as efficiency, harmony and awareness, the premis of threading principles into every exercise and every session remains the same .
Mat vs Equipment
Both are great! At Fisherpilates Studio our ethos has always been to use the method in whatever way will benefit the individual. The matwork was created first and then Joseph Pilates invented equipment such as the Reformer, Cadillac and Wunda Chair which gave clients important feedback when moving. These machines, now updated and popularised utilise weighted springs as a form of ‘time under tension’ (meaning that the body becomes ‘loaded’ and has to work eccentrically against the weight as it lightens).
On the other hand, without any resistance to work against, Pilates mat-work places more demand on the mind-body connection and when moving in a group, co-ordination, stamina and flow also play a part in achieving a powerful workout. Our mat classes are small and pitched at a mixed ability level because we get to know our clients and are therefore able to program well-rounded and appropriate sessions.
Onboarding
At Fisherpilates we insist on at least one, one to one in the form of an Initial Assessment for each new person who comes through our doors. After this we may agree moving into classes or we may suggest a few more one to one sessions to build confidence. With the current trend in Reformer Pilates Studios, our onboarding offers something unique in this noisy industry. We have observed an influx of people left frustrated in their search for trained instructors to help with specific needs and goals. Our way of dealing with this is to continue delivering a high quality service from the very beginning of a clients journey. As such we have a reputation for ‘detail and precision’ and we collaborate with clients from all sorts of backgrounds with complex needs - and week after week we watch them improve in ways they never thought were possible. Helping people to enjoy the journey towards feeling stronger and healthier is a priority for us - small steps of progress over superficial perfection every time.