Charlotte Marsh Launches Pilates Business in Ashbourne for Beginners

Charlotte Marsh has recently set up a new Pilates business teaching in and around Ashbourne after training to teach with Choreographytogo; teaching beginners and introducing them to the benefits that Pilates can bring. Hear her story below:

 

“My first introduction to Pilates was over 12 years ago. When I was expecting my first child, I experienced a prolapsed disc, horrible at the time, as it meant in order to avoid surgery, I had to avoid lifting anything – including my baby – for three months and I had to diligently do my exercise homework. Once over the worst, my physio suggested I take up pilates as a form of rehabilitation exercise. Appropriate exercise is often prescribed now by Doctors and Physio’s as it has been proven to be more effective than medicating. In many ways, pilates is a fantastic way to start exercising if you’re a complete beginner as it really focusses on using correct form & teaches you which muscles you should be using when. This has immediate carry through benefits to improving your posture in general. Fast forward to now and despite a complicated back recovery, I’m definitely a Pilates convert, having done classes two or three times a week near home and faraway.
Beginner pilates is low impact and emphasises a neutral spine, correcting postural imbalances & improving spinal health. Let me introduce you to Pilates and its many benefits…
Joseph Pilates was a German man who was a poorly child and his determination to heal himself led him to invent a physical fitness program which he called Contrology. He was a young man during the war & was interned in England. Using his own experience & vast array of sporting accomplishments, he devised what we now refer to as Pilates; a system to help soldiers rehabilitate from wartime injuries. He adapted hospital beds with springs and pulleys to add resistance to movement to build strength, increase flexibility in the spine and limbs.
Pilates exercises focus on stabilising muscles of the torso, sometimes referred to as the core or powerhouse. We often rely on larger muscles to do this job, which leads to many issues. When we give these overused muscles a break and activate the weaker stabilising muscles, we help to rebalance the body. The core is made up of a multitude of deep stabilising muscles that are designed to anticipate the load that the spine will have placed on it.• Pilates improves posture by rebalancing the body and using the appropriate muscles for movement. This increased body awareness transfers directly into your daily life activities • Pilates helps with backache, in our increasingly sedentary lifestyle – “sitting is the new smoking” – pilates movements will help you to get mobile and to reduce backache associated with a lack of movement • Pilates flattens tummies! By focussing on deep lower abdominal muscles and correct breathing, pilates will help you to understand how to move safely and effectively. This foundation can then easily be built upon, as and when you are ready to add weights or higher intensity for weight loss. If your aim is a flatter tummy, pilates is the perfect place to start • Pilates helps flexibility, a lot of pilates exercises increase flexibility of your spine and as a result, your whole body. Many people say they feel lengthened/taller after an hour of pilates • Pilates helps joint health, pilates enhances your circulation, lubricating your joints as you move • Pilates exercises can help to improve bone mass which becomes more important as we age with risks associated from osteoporosis • Pilates requires concentration and has a strong mind:body connection. A recent university research study found that a simple course of pilates significantly reduced anxiety in sufferers. You may have heard about meditation to calm your mind, many people find starting meditation very challenging, pilates can be considered as “Moving Meditation”. You have to concentrate on breathing well and moving correctly, there’s little space left to let your thoughts wander!
• Pilates teaches body control, we work the body as a whole, there is a rhythm to pilates movements with combined breathing, your pelvic floor health is improved • Relieves stress tension. Do we breathe every second of the day? Yes of course we do, but how many of us breathe as effectively as possible? In group beginners pilates we spend time looking at breathing techniques, in 1:1 pilates sessions we use various hands on techniques to really optimise each breath. Dysfunctional breathing has been found to effect 11% of the general population. Incredibly though, dysfunctional breathing is found in 38% of asthma sufferers and a staggering 83% of anxiety sufferers. Pilates improves your breathing, which relieves neck muscle tension, which can ease symptoms of stress, including headaches Pilates is the perfect introduction to exercise, small & friendly groups, with low impact, gentle movements. If you can start a beginners stream and build a thorough foundation of the fundamentals of pilates, then week by week, pilates will build upon your skills and knowledge and you will soon find yourself experiencing many of the above benefits.We are very lucky around Ashbourne with various pilates teachers and classes happening. I would love to see more people trying Pilates & getting to love it as I do.” 

If you would like to join a beginners stream with Pilates In Derbyshire, new classes near Ashbourne town centre are starting on Tuesdays from June 5th 12.30 and Thursdays June 14th 1.45 and 12.30. All equipment is provided. Health consultation and deposit required in advance so don’t delay, contact Charlotte today to reserve your mat for a block of lessons.

Well done to Charlotte!

Do you want to train to teach in Fitness Pilates or Level 3 Pilates? CLICK HERE to find out more about our training.