Q & A

Who was Joseph Pilates?

Born in 1883 in Monchengladbach near Dusseldorf, Pilates was a weak and sickly child who was bullied relentlessly.

He started physical training and soon saw modern lifestyles were harming the human body’s natural well-being.

So he created a series of ground breaking exercises to correct common muscular imbalances and improve not only physical strength – but posture, coordination and balance too. 

Everything he taught came back to his core idea: developing the mind, body, and spirit to “function perfectly as a co-ordinated whole”. 

Through these values, Pilates was convinced his students would be “freed from nervous tension” and possess the “ideal shelter for housing a well-balanced mind.” The German movement pioneer’s training saw him become a skilled gymnast and fitness instructor, while he even went on to work as a circus performer and professional boxer in England. And while interned in Lancaster during WWI, Pilates attached springs to bed headboards and footboards, creating resistance exercises for bedridden patients. 

This crude prototype would birth his famous spring-based exercise machines.

How is SW4 different from other Pilates classes?

We believe many students get lost in classes of 20-plus people.

Without real-time feedback from a teacher, it’s often easy to cheat the body by performing exercises incorrectly, leading to poor movement patterns being developed. At SW4, you will use the Reformer/Tower equipment, closely supervised by our classically trained teachers. 

They will see where your unique strengths, weaknesses, and imbalances lie. We can then work on training the smaller, stabilising muscles precisely where you need it most! 

Joseph Pilates knew the real power lay in controlling the muscles and nervous system through motion. 

In fact, he initially named his exercise regime “Controlology” and was very fond of the quote: “It is the mind itself which builds the body”. 

I’m pregnant/ a new mother – is this for me? 

Yes! 

Classical Pilates can be especially beneficial for pregnant women and new mothers. 

The aim is to gently stretch and strengthen the body – in particular the pelvic floor – to help you better cope with the extra weight and size of your growing baby. 

We also focus on toning, restoring, and re-energising the body post-pregnancy, placing a great emphasis on separated stomach muscle (diastasis recti) recovery. Pilates teacher and mother-of-two Chiara has worked successfully with many pregnant women and has completed a comprehensive pre/post-natal specialist Pilates program with the Center for Women’s Fitness. 

I’m injured, can I still train? 

Absolutely. 

Our approach is an effective alternative to physiotherapy or massage sessions, eliminating tightnesses as well as retraining the body to ensure they don’t return.

By focusing our work on the Reformer/Tower, we can isolate different areas and build up your strength safely and effectively.

Be sure to share any injury concerns you have before class starts so we can target the best areas for you. Chiara has a degree in Sports Therapy, and has spent countless hours working with injured athletes. You’re in good hands.