02/04/2022
A few days ago I said a tearful goodbye to my clients at , a place where I had been teaching for almost 9 years and where a few of the clients that day have been with me from the beginning. Like many of the clients that came and stayed, a majority first came due to back pain and quickly realised Pilates isn't just for back pain - which seems to be how it is portrayed in every magazine article and usually the only time Pilates is mentioned.
I have seen clients through pregnancy, postnatal, menopause, cancer, training for triathlons, rugby, football, relationship break ups and old age to name a few. Maybe at first Pilates can seem slow as you get to know the foundations, but soon it progresses into fluid movements. I have always said Pilates doesn't get easier, it gets harder as you rewire and repattern your body into more organic movements.
I myself reluctantly came into Pilates through injury from doing dance, yoga and sport. When I discovered Pilates in my early 20's I was at the tail end of a very destructive eating disorder that had seen me hospitalised 3 times. It was Pilates that finally made me appreciate my body for what it is, each session discovering my internal strength, suppleness and calming my parasympathetic nervous system. I love yoga but definitely at that time, and often still do, I found it too competitive, pushing my body into positions when it wasn't ready or due to my time of the month when my body was already too supple causing injury.
Pilates when trained right, sees every single body individually, modifying and adapting to that body's needs and accepting some bodies will never do certain exercises.
Pilates isn't just for toned abs like classes taught in gyms, Joseph Pilates himself studied yoga, martial arts, boxing and the movement of animals, in particular large cats, studying their primal movements, and this can be seen in the Pilates environment.
I also studied Somatics with and like to incorporate this into my teaching and my own practice. For many years I have taught by the energy of the moon and the seasons although I never said anything about this to my clients as it wasn't as mainstream as it is now. So with the Yin energy of the dark and new moon it would be more floor based and Somatics and the Yang energy of the fuller moon moving towards classical pilates and standing work, and similar practice with the seasons.
Training with has allowed me to teach both classically and contemporary.
I would like to get the word out Pilates isn't just for back pain, toned abs or so controlled in its teachings. Pilates is a lifestyle, helping you with every day tasks, being more aware of your alignment in more dynamic yoga and dance classes, and supporting you throughout all stages in your life.
Leaving Whitstable although very sad it will allow me to concentrate fully on my Pilates studio in Folkestone offering more classes and workshops and giving me the energy to return to my Acupuncture studies......
attend Andrea’s class with a group of people with varied needs and abilities that change weekly with the various problems that we all have.
It’s a really enjoyable class, always interesting, fun and varied but also tailored to each individual and how they are that day. Andrea is always aware of what we can manage and what we need to work on to the finest detail. She makes sure that we are working safely and although it can be challenging it is never beyond our capabilities. Her knowledge of Anatomy, Pilates and Movement is amazing. A class with Andrea is not just exercises it’s almost a treatment that gradually changes you for the better.
Isabelle Bassett
Occupational therapist
I have attended both Clinical Pilates and mat classes for 25 years in both
Australia and the UK. However, despite some benefits, it was not until I started with Andrea that my body really ‘got’ Pilates. Andrea’s expertise and attention to detail is exceptional. She can spot the tensing of an errant muscle through the back of her head and thus is able to tailor every movement to each individual client. Andrea ensures that she is up to date with new training and techniques and is quick to put into practice those that are beneficial to her clients. Her unique blend of wit and good humour make her classes a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Her flexibility, professionalism and skill make them essential to my health and wellbeing.
Dr Kerris Myers
“I have been doing Pilates for approx. 10 years mainly to help with my back pain and my flexibility. 4 years ago I joined Andrea’s classes at The Pilates Studio Whitstable and immediately found the method that she uses to be very different to anything that I had done before. The exercises ‘reach the parts others didn’t’. Andrea’s classes that I attend are challenging, very stimulating and fun and small enough for Andrea to take into account each individual’s needs. I now have more flexibility, structure and strength and a much deeper awareness of my body and as a result I am progressively fitter, more active and virtually pain free. I attend regularly the Improvers class and the Ball class, and have also attended some Equipment classes which are amazing.”
Linda Eames
