Pilates

The Pilates method is a technique that was developed by physical trainer Joseph H Pilates in 1920’s America.

Pilates teaches you to work from the inside-out, focusing on the ‘core’ (the deep abdominal and spinal muscles), increasing control and stability around the spine and pelvis. This is the body’s ‘power house’, a strong core results in greater economy of movement and helps reduce the risk of injury especially in the lower back. Other benefits of Pilates are improved muscle tone, flexibility & posture.

Pilates has become very popular in recent years for a number of good reasons: it is a relaxing form of exercise which is very important in today’s hectic society, it delivers noticeable results and is one of the few forms of exercise that can really change your body’s structure and shape. Pilates is also a popular choice for the rehabilitation of back pain and injury with many physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals taking training in, or adapting exercises from the Pilates method.

 Pilates is delivered in two formats:

• Matwork – usually taught in a class, mat based exercises strengthen and stretch the body using your own body weight as resistance.
• Equipment – taught on a 1:1 basis or in very small groups, excellent for rehabilitation as well as general fitness. The scope of equipment based exercises is endless, some being harder and others easier than matwork. Training with the equipment provides something completely different to standard gym routines, and it really gives you that feel-good feeling after a workout.

Here at ICE we offer equipment training on a 1:1 basis and also offer matwork classes in groups of 6 - keeping class numbers small ensures you get a better quality of teaching and that your instructor is able to check your technique so that you get maximum benefit from the class and progress faster.