Pilates

Balance and strength

Pilates is built on the deep muscles of the trunk, the ones that hold your spine, and that most people only notice once their lower back starts hurting. Momentum does not carry the movement here; control does: slow, precise, attentive.

What kind of class is this?

Sixty minutes on a mat, using your own body weight and small props. The movements are small and exact; the difficulty is not the load but holding the position and the breath at the same time.

This is surprising in your first class: you will not sweat the way you would in a circuit, and yet whatever worked will be shaking. That is normal, everyday movement rarely reaches those muscles.

How do I know if it suits me?

If you sit all day, if your lower back or neck hurts, or if you are coming back after a long break, Pilates is one of the safest ways in. It also suits older participants and new mothers, because every exercise has a gentler version.

If what you actually want is to sweat and move fast, look at Get Fit or Spinning instead.

Progress here is not measured in weeks. It takes patience, and in return it gives you something you feel in ordinary life: sitting upright gets easier, and your back hurts less in the evening.

Why is it worth trying?

• Strengthens the deep stabilisers around the spine
• Improves posture and the quality of your movement
• Increases the range of motion in your joints
• Helps prevent and ease back and lower-back pain
• Builds body awareness: you learn to feel what your body is doing
• The breathing technique alone is calming