We’re not like other mums…

Welcome to your new Pilates home, we’re one of a kind.

In addition to our training in Exercise and Sports Science, the bread and butter of this studio is the original classical method featuring the archival work of Joseph Pilates as well as the lineages of Romana Krzyzanowska, Jay Grimes, Kathy Stanford-Grant. All new clients require a minimum of 2-10 private sessions before being cleared to enter our group training programme. In our effort to support you holistically, we do not rush this process. This enables us to understand your individual needs, movement and medical history and learning style. It also gives you the space to ask plenty of questions and work with confidence before sharing the attention of your teacher.

Whether you’ve done Pilates before or are brand new, see this as private training process as an investment in your health. Rely on our expertise to guide you through parts of your body and movement you probably didn’t know existed or how to operate.

Once you’re ready for group training, we invite you to join either level one or level two and opt-in to progression at your own pace. We split our classes across the week into two categories, Studio and Reformer and ask all clients to complete at least of each to be true practitioners of the method.

Our Studio class covers the mat, Cadillac, Barrels and Wunda Chair*. Studio classes are available in three levels Wednesday-Friday. The Reformer class concentrates on the Universal Reformer breaking down the original Reformer list for 21st century bodies over three levels, Saturday - Tuesday.

GROUP CLASS ENTRY CRITERIA

  • Participated in 2-10 private sessions and cleared by the Studio Director

  • Free from acute and chronic injuries

  • Able to exercise on a moving surface and change positions quickly and frequently

  • Can lift head off of mat without hands or support

  • Can kneel and bear weight on wrists and knees and hold a plank for at least 10seconds

  • Can to move limbs and spine to full range without discomfort

    Considerations

  • Chronic health conditions require medical and studio clearance to exercise in a group – please provide in advance of your class

  • We ask pregnant clients to switch to private sessions after 16 weeks

  • Osteoporosis / Osteopenia require additional discussion with Studio Director

  • Be mindful of this criteria and communicate with the studio and instructor if you have niggles injuries or are unwell. Please give us the opportunity to look after you rather than turn you away from a booked class.

Level one 

Purpose: A class to learn the basics of the method and how to operate the human body through and in the exercise environment

Pace: Slow at times, moderate mostly and at key times pushing for stamina

Expectation: Clients are committed to learning exercises to work on general fitness and principles of the Pilates method and complete a home exercise regime a couple of times per week

In this level you will learn how to make the shapes required and work with higher sets and reps to drill a skill, build physical endurance and work to join the dots on the apparatus to good health. As this class is about skills/drills and building, it is suitable for all levels but remains our first level for new clients.

Clients may opt-in to progression or stay in this level permanently, either way it is a time to educate and build the body and mind.

Time spent in this level: Minimum one cycle per apparatus

Warm up, autonomy and culture:

  • Class starts on time and door is locked 5 minutes after start time; entry after this point is prohibited.

  • Clients are on the apparatus five minutes prior to class time and begin warming up

  • This is a lead class that focuses on building strength, mobility and postural awareness with generic movements as well as some contemporary and classical Pilates movements.

  • Although this is a light-hearted level, we take our work and your time seriously

Level two

Purpose: A class to learn the next level of human movement fundamentals now having demonstrated physical capability of novice concepts and build a strong technique in the next stage in classical Pilates

Pace: Faster than the previous level, looking to build stamina and deeper understanding and recall of exercise names, set up and series

Expectations: The focus is building the middle section of the Classical Mat, expanding your horizons on the studio equipment (Tower and Spine Corrector) and ensuring you have solid footing with the classical work on the Reformer. In this level, modifications are not available and you are expected to be able to move your spine and limbs in all directions without issue or need for modification.

Commitment level: It’s getting serious now, train at least twice per week if you are active with other modalities or three per week if it’s just Pilates with us.

Time spent in this level: Minimum one cycle per apparatus when supplemented with other training such as private tuition, recommended at least two cycles

Criteria to start this level

  • Correct head/neck/chest lifting off the mat technique

    • comfortably able to hold head/neck up for 3 x 10 breaths without hand support or reminders

  • Arm to torso connection

    • Can bear weight on wrists (4 point kneeling) 3 x 30seconds

  • The Rollover

    • can execute into spinal flexion on the shoulders starting at 90° straight leg raise

    • demonstrates control throughout and can execute without discomfort

  • Memory recall and engagement in session

    • Client is working towards learning the technical detail and name of each exercise including equipment set up

    • Knows the classical mat through to The Saw

    • Is familiar with the classical Reformer through to Stomach Massage

  • Operate the equipment independently including

    • Tower springs, bars and their settings

    • Reformer including spring setting, head rest use, sitting box, straps and poles

Warm up, autonomy and culture:

  • Class starts on time and latecomers are not admitted. Our aim is to get moving as soon as the clock hits start time, your investment in your warm up is imperative and is self-guided.

Purpose: a class level to

  • Move beyond the new client phase and dig deep into the serious work of the original method with clear and strong technique, without modification and at pace

  • Introduce more complex patterns and planes of movement

  • Push the stamina and general fitness in each class

  • Enjoy moments of autonomy and self-instruction

Pace: Deep, steady and fast at times … be on your game mentally and physically

Support style: Moderate at the start and withdrawing as the teaching block continues where the client works the method completely autonomously at times

Commitment required: VERY HIGH in every class and in general

Expectations: This is our most series level and is for clients who

  • have logged the hours and are building to the fuller Classical method

  • have demonstrated their physical and mental knowledge

  • can work independently at times

  • are looking to go even deeper into the more physical elements of the Pilates method

Level three

Physical criteria to join

  • Maintain the 100 scoop/hollow body shape and arm to body connection in tricky exercises

  • Work into spinal flexion and extension without crunching the neck or lower back

  • Lift the head off the mat/Reformer without discomfort and solid spinal integration technique for minutes at a time to execute the Mat to Saw without stopping

  • Hold a plank with optimal positioning for 45-60seconds / 6+ breaths – or to finish the Long Stretch series in full without needing a wrist break

Additional criteria

  • Is familiar and competent in the classical mat through to and including Neck Pull including knowledge of names, order and use of props

  • Can execute the Classical Reformer with solid technique through to the end of Short box series with minimal prompting.

Warm up, autonomy and culture:

classes will have a strict lockout policy at the start time. Progressive level clients will be required to complete a quiet 5-10 minute self-directed warm up PRIOR to the class time. This will enable us to provide you with more Pilates content and encourage your independence within the method and when away from the studio. Working this way is an important milestone in the lifecycle of a Pilates client/student and will plant the seeds for autonomous studio access.

Injuries and physical niggles are natural. There is no judgement that these occur, however, progressive level classes are not modified. We ask that you contact the studio and rebook your sessions during these times so that we can care for you while also maintaining the studio culture and class plan for your classmates.

Sample schedule