Pilates with Lymington Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic

Helen has trained with the Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute (APPI) as a matwork Pilates instructor, and utilises Pilates exercises as part of physiotherapy treatment for many conditions, as well as teaching Pilates classes. 1:1 Pilates sessions are also available in the clinic if you would prefer individual sessions.

What is Pilates?

Pilates is a programme of strength, flexibility and endurance exercises performed on a mat.  It targets our deep postural muscles of the abdomen and spine to recondition the body from the central core.

The founder of Pilates, Joseph Pilates, believed that pain and injuries can occur due to imbalances and abnormalities found in the body, learned from incorrect habitual movement patterns which we all slip into throughout our lives.  Pilates re-educates the body to correct these misalignments in order to treat and prevent injury and chronic pain. 

Many athletes incorporate Pilates into their overall training, with reported benefits including more efficient movement, better endurance, strength and speed, along with reduced risk of injury or back pain.

As well as enhancing sport performance, Pilates is also widely used in the rehabilitation of injuries and low back pain. It is also used for ante natal and post natal women, and for senior citizens.

It is an excellent way to gain an awareness of how your body moves, grow muscle, improve coordination, enhance stability and balance. It can also improve general wellbeing and reduce stress.

What is APPI Pilates?

APPI was established 23 years ago by two Australian Physiotherapists, Eliza and Glenn Withers. The medical world was discovering the benefits of Pilates for the prevention and rehabilitation of injuries, but it was found that the benefits of the exercises were not being optimised due to the high level of strength, control and body awareness initially being asked of clients.  Eliza and Glenn used a research based approach to analyse every traditional Pilates exercise and modify them to be effective for people who have suffered pain or injury.

This ground-breaking approach led to the development of the step-by-step program of APPI. Modifications were made, and a unique exercise-level approach developed to allow a client to be trained correctly from an injured state to a fully fit, functional and efficient state. This allowed Pilates to be used by health and fitness professionals alike to empower clients to be able to embrace Pilates from any fitness level. This step-by-step approach led to the APPI Pilates Method becoming one of the most popular forms of rehabilitation training in the healthcare sector.

Who is it suitable for?

• People of all ages and levels of fitness.
• Men and women
• People with back or neck pain/muscle problems/joint pain/arthritis or as part of rehabilitation following illness, injury or surgery
• Sports people – Pilates is used by professional football and rugby teams, dancers, golfers, athletes
• People seeking to optimise their health, general wellbeing and reduce stress
• During pregnancy and post partum
• People wishing to prevent injury prior to taking up sport e.g. tennis, skiing, sailing

In short, Pilates is suitable for almost everyone!

Why choose a Chartered Physiotherapist as your Pilates instructor?

Correct technique and movement is the key to gaining the benefits of Pilates.  Physiotherapists are already human movement analysis specialists so we are ideally placed to advise on appropriate exercise technique.   This is our big advantage over other Pilates instructors. 

Even if you have no symptoms, the physiotherapist will often identify movement faults which may potentially lead to injuries or pain, and hence pass on injury prevention advice.

We are experienced in dealing with people with varying degrees of pain or disability and therefore can identify how much or little exercise is suitable for you.  We can also offer bespoke rehab programmes to ensure you receive specific training for your individual problem or goal, and tailor the exercises within the classes to your needs.

By utilising the APPI method of Pilates, we are able to provide a graded approach, where exercises are modified or progressed as appropriate, to provide the suitable level of challenge for each individual.

Class sizes are small to ensure that safe and correct exercises are done by all participants.

Join a class

Please contact us to find out details of our current Pilates classes.

Classes are for 1 hour, and run in 6 week blocks.  There is a discount if you pay for all 6 sessions in advance. 

Alternatively, we can provide 1:1 sessions either in the clinic in Milford on Sea, or in your home.

What equipment will I need?

Nothing! Just wear comfortable clothing, including socks and a jumper. You may also wish to bring a bottle of water.

All exercises are performed on a mat, which will be provided. We sometimes incorporate small pieces of equipment into the class, such as a small ball, ‘magic circle’, and exercise bands. These are all provided.

You are welcome to bring your own mat and head pillow if you prefer.

Why do I need an individual assessment?

Prior to joining a class, each client requires individual assessment with me before they can start the first class. This will involve me asking you questions about your medical history, and any current or past injuries you may have. It will also include a basic physical assessment looking at you performing some movement and strength tests.

During this assessment I will teach you the basic principles of Pilates and provide you with an individual exercise programme to get you started.

This assessment is important to help maximise the benefits of you joining the class, and so that I can ensure I select the right exercises for you, and if necessary modify them for you. This assessment is important even if you have done Pilates previously.