It’s been over 200 years since James Parkinson wrote ‘An Essay on the Shaking Palsy’, which is considered the first medical documentation of a condition affecting the brain that we now call Parkinson’s Disease. For most people the cause is unknown (idiopathic Parkinson’s) but it often affects one side of the body first and it’s […]

Plank exercises are a great way to work on your core and glutes and many people love doing them because you can feel these muscles working very hard, very quickly. However, it’s easy to do a plank incorrectly which can cause an injury and at the very least means you won’t get the maximum benefit. […]

With the number of jobs now requiring a substantial amount of computer work, it’s no wonder that so many of us end up feeling ‘chair shaped’ at the end of a working day. Pilates is a great way to improve the flexibility of your muscles and the mobility of your joints. Regular practice not only […]

Your hip flexors are a group of muscles found deep at the front of your hips, attaching your spine to your thigh bones. They work to bend your hips and help lift up your legs when you move around. If you spend a lot of time sitting during your day – commuting to and from […]

Many dance schools and professional dancers recognise the value of Pilates as a training method for developing core strength, technique and connection with their bodies. Practising Pilates builds strong, flexible muscles with the strength to move fast and the endurance to sustain slow moves. It’s also complimentary in style to dance, with a precise and […]

If it’s crossed your mind that you might be the only man in your pilates class, then think again! With the likes of Andy Murray, the All Blacks and Tiger Woods all using pilates as part of their training, there has been a definite rise in the number of men attending pilates classes and the […]

If you listen closely during a Pilates class you might hear a faint ‘pop’ or ‘click’ every now and again. This noise is most likely coming from someone’s hip. It’s very common to find that one of your hips clicks or pops with certain movements, particularly when you are lowering your leg from a raised […]

  Having a ‘scoliosis’ means that part of your spine curves sideways. For most people this is picked up when they are a child and although you might be concerned that you could have prevented it from happening, this isn’t the case. Scoliosis isn’t caused carrying a heavy school bag, slouching or sleeping on your […]

There’s no such thing as the ‘perfect posture’ …  no one set way that we as individuals should all be aiming to stand or sit that’s been scientifically proven to prevent pain. Indeed, we are all different and just like having blue eyes or brown hair, some people are born with tight hamstrings or a […]

It can be a love-hate thing but if you’ve tried self-massage using a foam roller before, you’re probably already convinced of the benefits. Reduced muscle pain, increased flexibility and improved joint mobility can all be achieved using a foam roller and it’s not just for rehab after an injury either. You can foam roll before […]