Inner Strength Pilates with Lucy

09/06/2026

Today I had a regular lady in for a one to one session.
This lady is in her 70s, she is a slight lady who uses a stick when walking.
She had been coming to classes for a few years but switched to one to ones in March. Generally we had been working on maintenance but we have been increasing some of the difficulty and working on precision.
This week I really noticed an increase in her strength and endurance. Usually towards the end of the session the client lets me know she is getting tired, so we wind things down. This week not only did she manage a full 10 mins more but her movements were more fluid and controlled, and she was visibly stronger. She was pleased with her improvements.
Roll on next week!

07/06/2026

Last week I worked with a lady who has been living with rheumatoid arthritis for many years.

Walking has been her main form of exercise, but increasing pain has made it difficult to go much beyond an hour. She had wanted to try something else for a while but wasn’t sure what would be suitable, so she booked an individual Pilates session with me. She had read on my website that I had previously been an occupational therapist so she knew I had an extensive knowledge of various conditions.

One of the advantages of one-to-one Pilates is that everything can be tailored to the individual. We checked in regularly throughout the session to make sure the movements felt comfortable and weren’t causing any joint pain.

A few days later she got in touch to say she had the expected muscle aches that often come with trying something new, but no increase in joint symptoms. She enjoyed the session, has a few exercises to practise at home, and is now booked in for another appointment.

When working with long-term conditions, progress comes from finding the right level, building confidence, and being consistent. Slow and steady really does win the race.

If you’ve been putting off exercise because of pain, injury, arthritis, or a health condition, an individual Pilates session can be a great place to start.

31/05/2026

With the growing popularity of reformer Pilates, you would be forgiven for thinking that the reformer Pilates is better than mat Pilates.
There’s no denying that equipment like reformers and Cadillacs can add resistance, support and variety to Pilates practice—but assuming they’re essential for building strength misses the point of Pilates entirely.

Matwork is incredibly powerful.

It uses your own body weight, gravity, lever length and the floor to create challenge. And when it’s done with control and precision, even the simplest-looking exercises can feel seriously demanding.

If matwork doesn’t feel challenging enough, it’s often not because the exercises are “too easy”…

It’s usually because:
• the control and precision aren’t quite there yet
• the exercises haven’t been progressed effectively
• the tempo or load hasn’t been adjusted

The reality is this:

Mat Pilates can be just as challenging as equipment-based work—and often even more honest—because there’s nowhere to hide.

No springs to assist. No straps to rely on.

Just strength, control, breath and awareness.

And that’s where the magic happens ✨

28/05/2026

It’s me, I am your short friend 😃

Check out Inner Strength Pilates’s post.

24/05/2026

When I write my posts about my individual Pilates sessions, and it’s a regular customer I always want to start with “I saw one of my favourite clients today”. Honestly I have the most lovely bunch of people who chose to come to do Pilates with me, either individually, in group classes and online. Thank you all for being just fabulous

13/05/2026

Sometimes I get quite creative with the titles of my online classes 🤔

10/05/2026

Earlier this week I had a lovely lady back for her second 1:1 Pilates session.

She told me she’d been hoping to get back to Pilates for the last 5 years, but life had simply got in the way. I think so many of us can relate to that.

Between sessions she had only managed to practise one small thing we worked on — but even that made a difference. She could feel herself using her core muscles more effectively and already felt more confident with the exercises.

She’ll probably have one or two more individual sessions before joining a class, which is such a lovely way to build confidence and learn the basics in a way that works for her.

That’s the thing with Pilates — there’s no “one size fits all”. Some people come for one beginner 1:1 session, others come for six. Everyone starts in a different place, and that’s absolutely fine.

Getting the foundations right really can make all the difference. ✨

07/05/2026

I had a lovely 1:1 session this week with a beginner client who came to me feeling a long-standing weakness through her core following the birth of her second child… 17 years ago.

She’s naturally slim and has never felt drawn to the gym, but had noticed that her tummy still “domes” when she tries to sit up — something that can be a sign the deeper core muscles aren’t quite doing their job.

She found me on Instagram and felt a gentle, supportive introduction to Pilates would suit her best — and she was absolutely right 🤍

We focused on:
✨ Gentle activation of the deep abdominal muscles
✨ Connecting with the pelvic floor
✨ Learning how to move without that doming effect

By starting slowly and building the right foundations, we can begin to strengthen her core safely and effectively.

She’s gone away with 4 simple movements to practise at home, and I’m really looking forward to seeing her again in a couple of weeks to build on this 💛

This is exactly why I love what I do — helping women feel more connected, confident, and supported in their bodies, no matter how long it’s been.

If this sounds familiar to you, you’re not alone… and it’s never too late to start 🌿