Body Alliance Pilates Brixton
Body Alliance has evolved from “The Private Pilates Studio Brixton” and as such Pilates remains the cornerstone of our work. We are able to provide Brixton Pilates for all ages, abilities and fitness levels. Pilates is extremely beneficial for anyone seeking an enjoyable, balanced exercise programme.
Benefits of Pilates
We provide an individual and tailored approach for each of our client's needs, such as:
- Pilates referrals from Physios, Osteopaths, Chiropractors and GPs
- Pilates for back, neck or shoulder problems
- Pilates for Stiffness in joints and muscles
- Injury prevention Pilates
- Joints, muscular strength, endurance and flexibility focused Pilates
- Fitness Pilates
- Pre and Post-natal Pilates
- Postural improvement Pilates
- Body awareness Pilates
- Pilates for stress
One-to-one Pilates, two-to-one Pilates and small group Pilates classes are taught by our highly qualified friendly teachers, who are members of Pilates Foundation UK (or equivalent body). Body Alliance is the only Brixton Pilates studio offering machine and matwork and is one of only a handful of South London Pilates studios. Body Alliance is also the only studio to offer Brixton Pilates classes with Pilates Foundation teachers.
Pilates Foundation is widely regarded as one of the very best sources of expertise, providing stringent training programmes and ensuring Foundation teachers attend specialist workshops and training on an ongoing basis in order to maintain membership. For more info please visit www.pilatesfoundation.com
About Pilates
Pilates is an exercise technique carefully developed and refined over a period of more than sixty years of use and observation, and it has been taught for nearly a hundred years. Pilates' goal (beyond slimming and strengthening) is to create a closer connection between mind and body, so that effortlessly you will move with economy, grace, and balance; you will hold yourself correctly; and you will use your body to the greatest advantage, making the most of its strengths, counteracting its weaknesses, and correcting its imbalances.
There are eight basic principals of the Pilates method: Concentration, relaxation, alignment, breathing, centring, precision, flowing movement, coordination. Qualified Pilates practitioners are mindful of these principles at all times, during both the execution of the exercises and the teaching of the movements. They are the foundation of this mind-body system and are what make the Pilates method unique.
"Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness", what Joseph Pilates' opening statement claims is that the mind and body are intricately linked and that the condition of the body influences state of the mind, and vice versa.
Pilates Matwork or Equipment?
We provide both Pilates Equipment (aka Apparatus or Machine work) and Pilates Matwork classes. Both Equipment and Matwork can be used for all of the above bullet-pointed specialised purposes such as Pre- and Post-Natal, or Postural improvement. We always advise any new clients to carry out an initial Postural assessment for a tailored program of Pilates classes to be individually tailored. This can often be given at a reduced rate, dependant on what offers are available.
Pilates Equipment classes
- Our Equipment classes are offered in smaller groups of no more than three, thus allow much greater individual attention to be provided.
- Specialised equipment such as the Reformer, the Cadillac, the Wunda chair and small equipment are used to provide resistance and support.
- An Equipment class usually lasts 60 minutes.
- With the use of Equipment, muscles can be more easily isolated and localised issues more directly targeted.
Before joining the group sessions you will need to do an hour introductory session. This session is necessary for each client to be individually assessed and for a bespoke program to be designed. This is especially important in the case of injuries or a condition history. For clients with no previous Pilates experience we recommend from two to three sessions on a one to one basis, to gain confidence with the method and become more familiar with the equipment. However, the client can decide whether to continue on a one to one basis or to move into group sessions.
Pilates Matwork (Small groups) classes
- Our Matwork classes are taught in groups of no more than 8 but usually as low as 5. Our instructors do their utmost to provide individual care and attention. Larger classes do not allow interaction as is necessary and some very large groups can be little better than a television screen.
- It's your body working against gravity that provides the biggest challenge.
- As there is no large Equipment in Matwork classes, there is less support available, so Matwork classes can be more challenging for beginners.
- For some medical conditions, Equipment classes are more suitable.
Body Alliance Pilates is a great way of learning about your body. We would like you to drop into our Brixton Pilates studio anytime, we want to listen and help you get exactly what you want out of Pilates, please give us a call to let us know you are coming so we can show you around and have a chat. Please don't hesitate to call us to find out more about what Pilates classes could do for your specific requirements. We believe that with the right approach and teaching, Pilates can be transforming in so many ways, and we look forward to helping you on your Pilates journey.