Pilates, the difference between a “Fitness Class Pilates” and what we offer.
Pilates has been a buzz word in the fitness and wellness industries for a while now. With everyone now offering Pilates of some form it can be confusing where to start. The easiest distinction to make between classes is who is teaching them – this can guide you in whether it is a Fitness Pilates class (run by a fitness instructor and commonly held in a gym or leisure facility) or if it is a Clinical Pilates class (run by a rehab specialist such as a physiotherapist or sports therapist).
Pilates classes can vary greatly, make sure you attend one that is best suited to your needs. A Pilates class is similar to many other types of fitness class in that it is only as good as its instructor, and the logistics of how the classes are run. You will have a very different experience in a class of 40 people with one instructor demonstrating a rehearsed routine than you will in a class of 6 with personalised exercises and the instructor being able to come around a individually coach you on correct technique.
If you are not carrying any injuries, and you are well versed in what the finer differences between correct and incorrect core
control technique are, and you want to do Pilates for the fitness buzz and to know you’ve done some general core work in your week, then your local gyms’ inclusive Pilates classes could suit you just fine. Fitness Pilates however is not for everyone. If you are carrying an injury or have a history of back problems or an underlying reason why you would have a not so great core (post baby, post-surgery, a long period of inactivity, etc) then you are likely to be better suited to a Clinical Pilates class. Some people who are familiar with regular exercise do a period of 1:1 Pilates sessions in order to learn the important details of the techniques, and how to best tailor the exercises to themselves, and then feel confident that they can attend Fitness Pilates.
What we offer: Here at The Physio Clinic we run Clinical Pilates classes and 1:1 Clinical Pilates sessions. These are run by a Sports Therapist who specialises in rehabilitation and movement control. In the group classes we take a maximum of 6 people and can tailor the exercises to your needs to ensure you get the most from the class. They are mat work based classes and we use small equipment such as Pilates balls and resistance bands. The 1:1 Clinical Pilates service is a great way to learn the basics if you have never done any Pilates before, or if you are recovering from an injury and want to be confident in your technique. These 1:1 sessions can be continued if you like the personal experience, or alternatively you can progress into a class once you feel confident.
If you would like more information on our Pilates service then check out the website https://www.thephysioclinicbristol.co.uk/pilates/ or call us in clinic 01454 540066
