Class Schedule

Includes a detailed introduction to the essentials of the technique, the principles of pilates – see below – and good posture, and series of beginner movements to complement these at a necessary level. These movements are taught slowly, and in detail, but you will nevertheless feel the muscle action deeply, and become aware of the benefits. Each beginner course is taught by Anne-Marie with different exercises, so no two consecutive courses are exactly alike. She advises to do two beginner courses in order to achieve a solid understanding of the principles of good posture, in theory and in practice, and also build your bank of movements. This is a great way to prepare for intermediate level. (people often choose to do more than two beginner courses, that is up to you – it is the most important level). Small equipment is sometimes used to assist learning, e.g. Stott Pilates stability cushions, fit-circles, flex-bands.

You will gain an understanding of the support muscles of the body and learn how to use these to support and stabilize the spine in particular, and joints of the body. You will learn how to use the deep pelvic floor, deep and outer abdominals, and the muscles of the pelvis to support and correct posture and muscle imbalance. You will gain an understanding of the breath pattern, and also correct shoulder girdle placement, neck and head. Core strengthening is included, plus all over body strengthening and toning, which is developed further at the later levels along with these details. This is the main focus of the pilates training that is given by Anne-Marie at beginner level. At the end of the course, you will have a bank of essential floor-based movements to apply these principles of good posture and muscle-balance development to.

If you have done Pilates before, and feel that you have a sound understanding of the basic principles of pilates, then intermediate level is an option for you. Anne-Marie ensures that clients at intermediate level already have a sound understanding of these principles, and of where they will continue from and what the focus will be in order to progress safely and enjoy the course. Clients at intermediate level also begin at intermediate with a bank of beginner exercises.

Currently for Pilates clients only: The following is a description of how Anne-Marie does her best to help her clients make up classes missed: Please be aware that if you miss a class, Anne-Marie cannot give a guarantee regarding offering you an alternate class, but she does her very best to help you do so with what is available to her to offer. There are twelve people maximum per class. If someone else cancels, and Anne-Marie is notified beforehand, then she can offer that place to someone who has missed a class. So if you miss a class, Anne-Marie will do her best to help you make up a class at your level (or at a lower level) within the same six week course period of that missed, but it may not run consecutively with that missed, e.g. class no.3 / class no.4. It is a good opportunity to catch up regardless, and also learn new things. This arrangement also depends on your schedule and flexibility, as you may be offered a class on a different day and/or time, and at short notice. If you miss more than two classes on a course, it is much more unlikely that Anne-Marie can help you make these up. Please notify Anne-Marie with minimum 24 hours notice if you will miss a class so that she can offer your place to someone else, and so that this system can run as effectively as possible. Please be aware that Anne-Marie can only offer you an alternative class should another option exist at your level or lower on a different day of the week during the timespan of your course. This is often the case but not always.