Pilates was originally developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s and is a conditioning exercise programme that targets the deep postural muscles of the abdomen and spine to improve overall central core stability, posture, strength, flexibility and muscle tone. It is also designed to stretch and balance the body.
Clinical pilates is an adaption of traditional pilates, developed by physiotherapists/clinicians using a science/evidence based approach. Our practitioners used this method to help with the rehabilitation and prevention of muscular injuries. By retraining the deep abdominal and spinal muscles, pilates can help to prevent the recurrence of problems such as back, neck and joint pain. In recent years, clinical pilates has been found to help those afflicted by Parkinson’s Disease by elongating the muscles and improving coordination and control, which can help relieve symptoms.
“I have just had my weekly one to one Pilates session with Martine. Martine has been helping me both before and after I had my knee replacement two years ago. She is absolutely fantastic and has helped me to really understand my body. She has helped me regain my flexibility and core strength. Every week is different and I would really recommend her for recovery post surgery or just if you want to improve your Pilates technique. Best instructor ever. 👏💪”
Our pilates clinics in Croydon are also popular with injury-free men and women who are simply looking to enhance their fitness levels, achieve honed bodies, and improve their general health and wellbeing. Aside from the physical benefits; pilates can help people reach their full potential in an emotional and spiritual sense too.
All our fully qualified pilates instructors incorporate current scientific principles into safe and effective exercises that help patients condition their bodies to work efficiently with minimal effort and no tension. Many patients, especially those in pain, have difficulty negotiating the floor so we use specialist equipment including reformers, a trapeze table, ladder barrels and a Wunda chair to help patients engage the deep muscles in the trunk that are essential for stability. Often the patient notices an improvement when the superficial muscles – the ones causing the pain, irritation and inflammation - are released. At this stage we then alter our teaching and focus on using the equipment to resist the new found stability in the body, which makes the body stronger.
Osteopathic Clinic founder Paul Morrissey opened his first pilates studio at the Croydon clinic 16 years ago after training in the United States with well known Polestar Pilates. As a pilates educator, he was promptly asked to join the teaching team in Europe where he taught the programme for a number of years. His Croydon pilates studio is housed in an extensively equipped, beautiful glass building and situated in a picturesque landscaped garden, which provides a wonderfully relaxing, stress-free environment.
We use pilates to:.
Treat chronic pain and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s or Multiple Sclerosis, orthopaedic and sports injuries, osteoporosis and scoliosis of the spine.
Improve strength, flexibility and balance
Improve posture and help mothers–to-be with postural alignment (pre/post natal)
Help with athletic conditioning
Aid rehabilitation in sports injury
Provide on-going care / maintenance
Please see our new video and detailed drawing indicating entrance / exit to our studios during Covid 19
Next Steps
Our clinical pilates practitioners provide professional, tailor-made, one-to-one tuition. This personalised approach guarantees that exercises are performed correctly and enables clients to maximise the potential of their session. Call us today to book an appointment.