Pilates’ One to One Lessons

My overall aim is: ‘Helping You Fulfill Your Body’s Potential’.

Individual tuition enables clients to achieve specific aims, objectives and goals but this style of personal training exercise can be expensive and does not suit everyone.  I undertake to help clients in every way possible to enable them to achieve success.  However, they must play their part and co-operate with me if they are to succeed.  If you are considering attending one to one lessons, please read the rest of this page which outlines what is involved.

Many clients, once they have decided to embark on personal training, are usually in a hurry to get started.  However, before any exercise training can begin, it is necessary for a trainer to find out specific information that will enable them to provide a safe and effective exercise programme that will help a client reach their target goal.  They need to know what timescale the client has in mind, what is likely to prevent them from reaching their destination and determine ways that will keep them motivated throughout the journey.  An initial assessment is therefore essential so that all of this information can be collated.  Essentially, the aim of Pilates’ exercise is to improve posture and I believe that the most logical way to start any Pilates’ training is to attend an initial posture assessment.  Posture Assessment enables me to provide each client with an exercise programme that will improve their posture and ultimately help them to achieve their goals.

In my experience, most people attend Pilates’ exercise because it has been recommended to them or they have heard about the benefits.  Other than that, they know very little about Pilates’ exercise.  Many people start Pilates and soon give up because it isn’t what they expected or had in mind.  I therefore suggest to my clients who haven’t done Pilates before that they attend an Introduction to the Pilates’ Technique and Mat Work Exercises lesson after the posture assessment. This provides them with a taster session introducing them to the technique and exercises. It gives me an opportunity to assess any issues that are likely to occur when performing certain exercises, enables me to ascertain an appropriate starting point for their exercise programme and observe their learning style which will enable me to adapt my teaching methods accordingly.

For clients who have done Pilates before or those who already attend some form of Pilates’ exercise, I suggest that they attend a  Pilates’ Technique Reviewlesson instead of the introduction.  This lesson enables me to assess their understanding of the actual technique, the quality of their movement and the way they learn so that, again, I can provide the right starting point for their exercise programme.  At the moment, I only offer one form of Machine Pilates: The Reformer.  I offer an Introduction to the Reformer lesson for anyone who has not used a Reformer before so that they can decide if they wish to proceed with one to one Reformer lessons.  Clients who choose to have Reformer lessons may opt for the Reformer Special Offer – Buy 4 for the price of 3.

Once clients are ready to start their exercise programme, the one to one lessons are either Mat Work or Reformer.  They are 60 minutes long and consist of 3 phases: a preparation phase that includes posture alignment and mobility exercises; a main phase of 8-10 exercises that will meet the client’s needs and goals; a cool down that includes relevant developmental stretches.  Clients may have lessons as often as they wish (subject to availability).  I also offer a 12 week personal training package called ‘Just For You’ for clients who are able to work more intensively.

Clients who practice regularly at home are more likely to achieve success than those who don’t.  Many people think this is going to be easy, which isn’t always the case especially for those in full-time employment.  Those who attend lessons less often will need to be strong-willed and practice diligently between lessons.  If they don’t, they will have to face the reality that they will not progress and that their posture issues or injuries are likely to deteriorate further.  Even those who attend weekly lessons should consider practicing exercises at home at least 3 times a week.  When clients practice regularly their understanding of the technique increases and their movement quality improves as they become more aware of their body.

I provide each client with a personal exercise booklet with instructions, diagrams and watch points to support them as they establish practice in between lessons.  The booklet usually contains different exercises to the ones performed in a lesson that will complement their exercise programme.  The choice of exercise provided takes into account things like where they intend to practice (ie work, gym, home) and I choose exercises that are more likely to be performed with good form whilst practicing alone without any supervision.  Usually, the only equipment that will be required is a chair or low stool and possibly a wooden pole or resistance band.  As clients progress, exercise booklets should be updated.  As there is insufficient time available in a 60 minute lesson to do this, the  Pilates’ Technique Reviewlesson (90 minutes long) should be booked and will provide an opportunity to ensure that clients are practicing at home with good form, to clarify any issues they may have and/or discuss any issues that may be hindering their progress.  I don’t provide new exercise booklets unless a Technique Review lesson is attended. 

Once a client starts an exercise programme it is essential that they attend regular re-assessments to ensure that they are moving ever closer towards their destination.  Clients would benefit from attending posture re-assessments every 4-6 months throughout their exercise programme so that posture improvement can be recorded and exercise programmes can be adjusted depending upon their progress. 

All individual tuition is held at my home address.  There is no individual tuition during holiday periods ie Christmas and Easter or during August.

BARRIERS TO SUCCESS

People often start individual tuition impulsively with initial enthusiasm and hope that one to one lessons will meet their needs.  However, within a short space of time they start to fade and run out of steam as their initial enthusiasm wanes and the reality of personal exercise training sets in.

This can happen for a number of reasons:

  • They under-estimate the level of commitment and dedication required.
  • They have unrealistic expectations and/or timescales.
  • Their motivation is lacking and they are unable to change their mind set.
  • They don’t make appropriate lifestyle changes to accommodate physical fitness into their weekly routine and struggle to practice by themselves.
  • They dislike exercise.
  • They lack some or even all of the 4 key values that Joseph Pilates believed were necessary to achieve any goal in life: determination, diligence, persistence and patience.

So, before embarking on individual tuition, clients should consider whether any of the above areas are likely to cause a stumbling block.  Perhaps now isn’t the right time for you to start an exercise regime as you may need time to ‘clear the decks’ and make necessary lifestyle changes?  Is your motivation based on wishes and desires to be fit and healthy or do you really intend to do something about it this time?  Pilates is not a ‘quick fix’.  Improving posture is a long process that requires patience. Patience is having a good attitude whilst you wait for something. Are you prepared to set aside at least 6-12 months and be diligent for that length of time? You may be determined but are you persistent? Persistence implies activity; doing something persistently. Being determined is linked to thoughts and emotions which may not result in activity. Think of the number of people who are determined to lose weight but lack of persistence means they never actually realise their dreams.

If you would like further information including cost of lessons, venue and how to book, please click on the appropriate sub-menu to the side of this page.  If you would like to book a provisional date and time or discuss any queries you may have, please don’t hesitate to contact me.