Hello

I was asked a question last week at one of my group sessions and it got me thinking that perhaps I should provide more information about what Jane Thomas Pilates offers. So here is some clarity on everything that we provide.

Firstly of course are our Group Pilates Matwork classes that we put on in lots of venues in and around the Loughborough area. If you sign up to our matwork classes, not only do you get First Class Pilates coaching, but we offer a Catchup system to enable you to always be able to attend a class.

We also offer occasional FREE workshops such as — in the last 12 months: Mindset Workshop with Philippa Burnett; Jane Does Joseph — which was a full on class looking at the original and full 34 Joseph Pilates repertoire; Dealing with Back Pain/Healthy Backs Workshop — where Jane looked at how to move safely with pain and how to build strength once pain had eased; and most recently the Up Tight and Outta Sight — Pelvic Floor Health seminar with Cherry Baker. All of these were free to those currently attending  our classes whether they be group matwork or Studio sessions, and I believe this makes us unique in the level of care we provide. I recognise that not everyone will choose to take advantage of everything we offer, but I do want everyone to recognise what is included in your package when you sign up to one of our Pilates programmes. 

This leads me into our Pilates in Loughborough Studio where we have offered — for 14 years — small group Pilates Reformer Sessions; one-to-one Personal Pilates sessions — which will include Reformer, Tower, Wunda Chair and Arc Pilates; and Biomechanics Coaching. There is a clear difference between attending a group matwork session and attending our Studio for one-to-one work. Mainly the difference is in the title ‘one-to-one’ — we look at individuals at the studio, and what their specific needs are. This enables us to come up with very bespoke Pilates programmes aimed at promoting improved movement and strength depending on what the individual goals are. In the last year our range of issues at the Studio have covered rehab for clients suffering with bulging discs in the lower back, total immobility of shoulders and the neck, Achilles Tendon surgery, Discectomy for a professional footballer, hip replacements and knee replacements. Often we are dealing with referrals from other Medical Practitioners such as Physiotherapists and GPs, because the service they provide has reached its full potential and then the individuals require ongoing programmes of care that will move them forward with their recovery. 

I know that many of you have attended our free consultation sessions at the Studio, and these have included free mini Biomechanics Screens. The Biomechanics Coaching we offer is an ongoing programme and the issues we look at cannot be resolved in one session — but we have offered free consultations to provide an idea of what is involved. Very much like a Physiotherapist, Osteopath or Chiropractor —  Biomechanics Coaching is a programme aimed at improving the functional movement of the body. Our aim is to get the body moving with more freedom, addressing areas of the body that are not working effectively, to enable the body to participate and achieve their activity goals. We are extremely proud of the successes we have had with our Biomechanics Coaching for our clients, but success does not happen in one session; instead it will happen over time, and as the body starts to change due to the specific releases we prescribe then we can start to add Pilates exercises and stretching to the programme — which all helps to get the body more functional. Sometimes a client's goal can be quite small such as being able to put socks on in the morning easily and without pain, or it can be something bigger such as being able to stand for hours at a time and paint (artist rather than painter and decorator). Whatever the goal, Biomechanics Coaching can help you achieve, but it isn’t a ‘one-off’ quick fix, it is not a passive fix, it is an active way to regaining movement in the body — effectively, we coach you to be able to take control of and manage your specific issue. Plus we provide on-line video links to the releases prescribed for extra support over and above the Studio sessions.

Finally, I am also very proud to tell you that we are also now an accredited training centre offering the Level 3 Pilates Teaching qualification, as well as ongoing and continuous professional development courses for already-qualified and professional Pilates instructors.

I was once accused that my newsletter was a ‘Hard Sell’ and that it wasn’t what they wanted to see …. and I do not want anyone to think that the information I am providing this week is in anyway meant to be a ‘sales pitch’ because it most definitely isn’t. But when I was asked what exactly we offer at JTP I just really wanted to answer that question in full, because I know from experience that if one person is asking, then there are others who have the same question but just haven’t got round to asking me yet! 

So I hope this week’s newsletter provides information which explains in more detail what we do at Jane Thomas Pilates. With this in mind this week’s exercise of the week shows you the first steps to take in order to get more movement around the middle section of your spine. 

Summer classes are in full swing now, so check that you have booked yours, and remember to turn up if you have booked.