What is Pilates?
Pilates is an exercise regime that specifically strengthens the trunk stabilising muscles or postural muscles and these include the Transverses (the deep abdominal muscle), the Multifidous (spinal muscles) and the upper body postural muscles.

Pilates floor work focuses specifically on exercises, which are performed lying on the floor, using the body's own resistance.

Why should I be interested? During daily life, whether at home or at work, we place many stresses on our spine. To help cope with these stresses our body recruits certain muscles to stabilise and protect our spine. Often these muscles become weak, particularly after injury or pregnancy. It is important to note that if these muscles do become weak, it is then necessary to retrain them specifically and there is no other way of training them besides stabilisation exercises and Pilates is a form of stabilisation.

The aim of Pilates floor work class- is to train these muscles so that we can use them effectively to support the spine while it is working for us. This class is suitable even if you just want improve posture and overall body conditioning.

It is important to remember:

• You only get out of the exercise what you put in
• It will take time to fully train these muscles
• In order to achieve this you need to do the exercises regularly
  (you can do them at home also, once you feel proficient with the exercises).
• All the exercises need to be done SLOWLY and CONTROLLED only in this way can the muscles be used correctly.