Hi

Having had a successful couple of training days last week, my focus this week will be to start to share everything new and good in the Pilates world.

Firstly, you may or may not be aware that there are only 34 original Joseph Pilates exercises. As instructors we then take these 34 exercises, break them down, modify them, develop them, and use the principles of each one to provide a programme for our class participants and studio sessions.

Pilates, you see, is truly an evolving exercise technique and each time we attend training programmes we learn something new, and this enables us to take that into our classes. I think it is this continuous development as teachers which enables us to maximise your Pilates experience and ensure you are fully benefiting in your sessions. So I have focused on just 5 out of the many reasons why I believe you should do Pilates:

Our Pilates programmes are all designed to help you achieve these five basic aims, among others, and for those of you who attend the studio for individual sessions, the programmes then become bespoke to your personal needs.

So let's look at posture and the powerhouse - focusing on building the inner strength. You will see from the graphic three main areas multifidus, transverse abdominus and pelvic floor. The multifidus muscle starts at the sacrum, the base of the spine, and runs up along the full length of the spine, inserting at multiple points along the way. This muscle provides stiffness, stability and support to the spinal column. It allows each vertebra to work more efficiently and guards against spinal joints deteriorating. The transversus abdominus is a muscle layer of the anterior and lateral abdominal wall, which is deep and significant to our core strength. The Pelvic floor muscle acts as a maintenance of continence and helps to maintain optimal intra-abdominal pressure. All three are crucial to our posture and as they are all supportive muscles we have to actively and consciously use them. They are not automatic reactors to movement, because they are stability muscles and support the body when it is moving.

And, to reinforce all this, this week we are looking at the Pelvic Floor as our exercise of the week.

Start to get in touch with your pelvic floor muscles this week:

Here is the link.

As you are aware, I try to attend training and development courses regularly throughout the year. These courses are not always Pilates-specific, as I believe in continuous personal development as well as continuing developing my knowledge in Pilates and fitness. And this week it made me think about why I do this, and I believe it is because I am striving — like everyone — towards achieving a level 10 in all areas of our lives. Whether this be health, relationships, spirituality...

It all matters, and I believe it can be achieved if we are prepared to commit and apply consistency of thought and action.

Lots of people come to us because they want to change their lives, they may have aches and pains — sometimes chronic pain — they may want to maintain flexibility and strength, they may want to make a change in order to allow them to live their lives.

What is important is that they come to us to get their fitness/health/wellbeing up to a level 10, and I believe the big WHY for me, Helen, Josie and Caroline is that we are here to help you achieve your level 10.

Here is a lovely email from one of my class participants:

Jo is working towards her level 10 with her movement and fitness... Quite simply she is committed in thought and action and we are helping her achieve it.

Have a fantastic week folks, stay fit, happy and healthy and keep moving freely.

The JTP team