Teresa Malins

The Man Himself

Let's face it...Pilates was a genius!

Joseph was born in 1880, which means that he was around at the same time as Queen Victoria!  When we think about it like that, we start to see what groundbreaking work he was coming up with.

This was a time when there were no Gyms, no Studio's as such and certainly no Lycra based yoga and Pilates pants.  Was it that Joseph Pilates had some sort of foresight as to how his system of exercise would work in the 21st Century? Or did he purely devise some excellently, well mastered exercises which took his clients body through every movement plane in a varied, balanced and controlled way?  I believe it was both and although I make it sound so simple, that was the whole thing about Joseph's method, how simple it was, yet at the same time, magnificently profound.   

So years and years later, here we are; passionate, interested and eager to learn about Joseph Pilates method.

Whether we use Pilates as a form of rehabilitation or as a part of our fitness regime, whether we are an expert at his exercises, or purely just starting out, his exercises challenge us.  Lets face it, his exercises WORK.

We undoubtedly grow stronger, leaner, feel more energised and at the same time relaxed, knowing that everything we are doing in Pilates is contributing to a healthy body and mind.

The more we do Pilates, the more we learn, the more we learn, the more we realise how much there is to Joseph's method of exercising that we have all grown to know and love.

Today I celebrate Mr Joseph Pilates and the inspiring work he devised.  He was a true genius.

 

New Years Resolutions

Have you over done it throughout the Christmas Holidays?

Is one of your New Years Resolutions to get back into shape and improve your health?

Are you thinking of embarking on a new excercise program?

If Pilates is already your 'thing' and you want to expand your current program or maybe you've heard all about it and want to give it a go - I can help!

Get in touch and I can give you details of my one to one sessions, beginners courses and drop in classes throughout Nottingham.

Beginners Pilates Course

I have a few spaces left on my new Thursday evening beginners Pilates course starting on 8th November in central Nottingham.

Please contact me for more information.

8 Benefits Of Having One to One Sessions

Motivation - One to one Pilates is the perfect place to help you with the very basics and to give you the motivation to move forward with your Pilates practise.

Consistency - One to one Pilates is perfect if you find it difficult to stick to a program.  Scheduling regular appointments helps eliminate any excuse you may come up with for not exercising.

Safety - During your one to one session I will show you how to exercise safely, including instructing you on which exercises are more beneficial to you and which ones to avoid.

Individualised Instruction - A program that works for one person may not work for another.  I will help you develop an effective program based on your personal needs and goals.

Supervision - I will make sure that the exercises you are performing are done correctly.  With correct form you will ensure you are getting the most out of your program and see and feel results much much quicker.

Injury Rehabilitation - If you are returning to exercise after an injury, then this is the perfect way to begin.  Pilates is recommended by Physio's, Osteopaths and Chiropractors as a safe way to return to health.

Personal Preference - If classes just aren't your thing and you feel happier to work on a one to one basis, then this is for you!  You can work at your own pace, ask questions as you go and have a laugh along the way!

Ego Boost - It's a fact that feeling good makes you look good and vice versa.  Remember Joseph Pilates mantra.." In 10 sessions you'll feel the difference, in 20 you'll see the difference and by 30 sessions you'll have a whole new body!"

Oops, I've done it again!

I've let time slide and neglected my blog!

Sometimes life seems pretty hectic.  I seem to be juggeling jobs at the moment! I have my Studio Coordinators role, where I manage the classes and timetables for 4 studio's, I have freelance Pilates classes that I teach in and around Nottingham, I see clients on a one to one basis and also tutor Pilates courses up and down the country at weekends. 

I suppose the thing is with juggeling is that at some point, something has to be either dropped or put down gently.  In my case, the thing that I dropped was blog writing - again.  I was all blogged out! Drained of any kind of Pilates chit chat -  mainly because the thought of coming home and writng about what I had been teaching all day was enough to make me close my laptop for ever (poor little me!)

So I've pulled myself out of my procrustination and timewasting on - dare I say it - Facebook and have decided to concentrate on the things that will move me closer to my goals...

Pilates Course in Nottingham

My Beginners Pilates Course in Nottingham is filling up and spaces are going fast.

Please contact me soon to reserve your place...

Ooh my aching legs!

I'm still nursing my aching legs after the Robin Hood Half Marathon yesterday! 

I was such a happy girl though, walking home with my medal dangling round my neck, done up like a Christmas turkey wrapped in a silver foil blanket!  I managed to get around the course in 2 hours and 3 minutes!

I'd like to say that the months of gruelling training paid off, but the reality of it is, is that I was training but I peaked too soon and for the past 3 weeks didn't have the time, energy or inclination to run a mile, let alone fit in at least a 12 mile run before the big day!  Needless to say, on the day, I felt it.

'They' say that you 'hit the wall'.  I hit mine at 10 miles.  My legs suddenly felt like lead and the comfortable pace which I had been keeping for the previous 10 miles seemed to dwindle and I developed more of a strange kind of hobble for the last 3 miles of the race!

I got there though and did my best to style it out across the finish line, although I'm sure to onlookers my pain would have been obvious.

I'm happy to have taken part and to have finished and to now start training of a different kind and bring my focus back once again to my Pilates practice. 

 

Pilates For Beginners in Nottingham

I will be starting a brand new Pilates Matwork course for beginners on Thursday 27th September at 6.30pm at a venue just off Huntingdon St, Nottingham.(Details will be given upon request).

The course will last for six weeks and will run from Thurs 27th Sept until Thurs 1st Oct 07 inclusively.  The cost for this six week Pilates course will be £45.00 per person.

Places are very limited, so please book early to ensure your place.

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

News

New Pilates classes in Nottingham starting soon...

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE INFORMATION!

Or email me!

You know when you're ready

I have a friend who is suffering pretty badly with back pain at the moment.  This is ongoing and it seems to cause him a huge amount of pain.  The pain, it seems, is so bad that he can't sit down on the settee for more than and hour at a time without having to get up and stretch and do anything he can to relieve the tension in his thoracic spine. 

I know my work will help him, so I told him that I'll do what I can to help if he's willing to work with me.

He said he was but seemed to think that what he feels will help him most is massage of the area, manipulation and trigger pointing.  I agreed to a certain extent, but pointed out that this is all external treatment, ie, he'd be laying on a table and someone will be acting on him rather than him actually working on himself with the help of a therapist, in this case Pilates.

We agreed we'd get started on this, and I told him that he must trust me when it comes to my work and he must be prepared to put effort into this too.  I told him it's not just about doing exercises but tapping in a little deeper than that. I told him he would have to be honest with himself. He agreed and we set a date to start.

I was happy to help and excited that he may be taking the first steps to letting go of some of his pain.

Disappointed was an understatement when I had a phonecall to cancel his first session.  It wasn't even a cancellation phonecall but an 'i didn't even realise we arranged it' call! 

It dawned on me that he wasn't ready.  He wasn't ready to let go of his pain.  Now, although his pain is very real to him and manifests itself as tension in the muscles of his thoracic spine, there is much more than just physical pain we are talking about here.   

So he bailed out on working on himself and letting me work with him, not because he didn't trust me or my work, but because he did.  I believe he knew that we would make progress and he would begin to free himself, but that was not something he was ready to do.  For what ever reason, he was not ready to let go.

This is no way a critism of my friend.  He has reasons to hold onto this pain.  Reasons that he only knows about, but at this time...right now...he needs his pain.  As silly at sounds, and he may completely disagree with me it gets him attention.  Attention that comes from the place that no matter who he's been to see about his back, no-one has been able to help him.  This, in my eyes, is because he's not ready to help himself. 

We all have things we hold onto, emotionally I mean, which, I believe manifests as pain or dis-ease in the body.  It is entirely our own prerogative whether we choose to hold on to the burdens and self limiting beliefs of our past or let go and move on to a healthy, happy, pain free and magical future.