FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I’VE NEVER DONE PILATES BEFORE, WHERE DO I START?

Book a 1-on-1 session with me! When you book your class, there is a New Client Questionnaire that I ask you to fill out. In here you have the opportunity to tell me all about you – your medical history, injuries, goals, fitness level and lifestyle. From this I will design a personalised session that will accommodate your physical needs whilst also providing an intensity that is challenging but not overwhelming for you. There is no throwing in at the deep end here, I will talk you through every movement, demonstrating where necessary and showing you the tips and tricks to get the right muscles activated. Pilates is a convenient way to begin exercising, you don’t need fancy equipment and all the moves can be executed at home in a relatively small space.

DO I NEED TO HAVE ANY EQUIPMENT?

I can provide all the equipment necessary for up to 5 clients. This includes your Pilates mat, balls, bands, magic circle and for the meditation I offer eye masks. I recommend that you bring a water bottle and your own sweat towel.

WHAT CLOTHING SHOULD I WEAR?

Choose clothing that you feel comfortable wearing, is breathable and gives you a wide range of movement. You don’t need to have activewear but many clients find it helps to get them in the right mind frame for the workout. As Pilates is a low impact exercise, with many movements being performed on the mat, it is not necessary to wear footwear. Barefoot is great, but you can also wear socks with treads on the bottom, giving you a bit more traction on your mat.

WHAT SPACE DO I NEED TO HAVE?

The minimum amount of floor space required would fit a yoga mat plus a meter to each side. Asides from that, I can quickly adapt our session to fit your space. Just let me know when you book if you think you may have any space issues.

WHAT AM I PAYING FOR?

A 1-on-1 private class with me is $100 for 1 hour for the session itself. I arrive at your Whitsunday location 10 mins before our session to set up, and allow for 10 minutes afterwards to pack up. As well as this I spend time before our Pilates session going through your New Client Questionnaire and personalising your session specifically to your needs and goals.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PILATES?

There are too many to fit in this FAQ section – if you are interested in learning about the benefits of Pilates then please click on the ? above

I’M NOT VERY FIT, CAN I DO PILATES?

Absolutely! Pilates is a very low impact workout with the majority of the exercises being performed down on the mat. Every Pilates exercise can be modified to an easier or more challenging level. When you book your session I send out a New Client Questionnaire in which you will tell me about all of your health/injury/fitness concerns. I will personalise your Pilates workout and ensure it is specifically adapted for your needs. The combination of mobility, Pilates matwork, Deep stretch and meditation is designed to leave you feeling like you have made progress, no matter what level you are starting at.

I HAVE AN INJURY, CAN I DO PILATES?

Many of us have a dodgy knee, or back pain so don’t let this stop you coming to me, Pilates is so versatile with the possible modifications that I can designed a workout to protect your sore areas and even strengthen key areas that could result in reduced pain or quicker recovery.
Depending on the stage that your injury is at, I do ask that you speak to your Physiotherapist or Doctor before attending a session with me and get their confirmation that Pilates is the right path for your injury rehab. My sessions are primarily designed as workouts, however with the right communication from your Doctor/Physiotherapist I am happy to tailor your Pilates session accordingly.
I would like to make it very clear that I am NOT a certified health professional and therefore (as much as I would love to help) I will always recommend that you speak to your Doctor about any injury specific injuries.

CAN I DO PILATES IF I’M PREGNANT?

Yes, yes and YESSS! Pilates and pregnancy are a match made in heaven and even if you are not keen to give up your normal exercise routine, I would recommend having a one-on-one session with me just so you can find out exactly what you should and SHOULDN’T be doing in terms of movements and muscles. The exercises that you are recommended to safely perform change from trimester to trimester and I want all you pregnant ladies to feel confident that you understand what these are. Just remember that what may be good for a friend of yours, might not be good for you.

I can show you how to make sure that the right muscles are activated and which muscles that you don’t want to be activating. Although these sessions are an hour long, I can give you practical advice that continues to help you perform day to day movements in ways that get you prepared for having your babba and for the recovery you need post-natal.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PILATES AND YOGA?

Often Pilates and Yoga get mixed up and thought of to be the same activity. To look at there are many similarities, so I can understand the confusion. The good news is that both are incredibly beneficial to your wellbeing, and you don’t have to pick one or the other – you can always reap the benefits of practicing both.

The origins of Pilates are deeply rooted in injury healing and rehabilitation whereas Yoga was created as a path to spiritual enlightenment through a series of poses.
Generally speaking, Pilates is more about strength and stability compared to flexibility and stability in Yoga.
Pilates requires concentration on the alignment of the body as well as the precision and control of each movement. Yoga emphasizes the spiritual connection, and aims to focus the attention of the practitioner inward whilst aligning the body.
Pilates focuses on the ‘powerhouse’ muscles – deep core, spine, hips, glutes, and outer thighs. Yoga practices often focus on the extremities – the arms and legs
Pilates develops your mind-muscle connection. Yoga develops your mind-soul connection.
In classic Pilates, you do not hold poses or repeat them in sequences. Instead, movements are shorter with continuous repetitions that have a strong focus on control and precision
In Yoga you hold poses for far longer, allowing you to get deeper. Often you will repeat a flow/sequence of moves
In Pilates the breathing techniques are designed to allow for correct muscle activation, whereas the breathing techniques in yoga have more emphasis on stress relief

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 1 ON 1 AND GROUP CLASSES

Both have heaps of upsides, it’s simply a case of different experiences.

In a 1 on 1 session, I will have already gained vital information from your New Client questionnaire that allows me to fully tailor your Pilates workout to your goals, injuries, health concerns and fitness level. You have all of my focus and attention, If I can see there is a piece of equipment or movement that you really enjoy, then we can do more of it! I will be your pillar of support, your driving force and dedicated moral booster. Sometimes, it is the smallest adjustment that makes the biggest different to a pilates exercise and I will be right by your side to ensure your form is 100% enabling you to progress and feel the most satisfying burn!

In a group class I will tailor the workout to accommodate your group needs so everyone gets a great pilates session and you can enjoy the burn, the stretch and the soul searching together. I will be constantly moving between your group members, correcting positioning and showing you what you’re doing right as well! We can conduct these sessions in your house, balcony, backyard, garden, park or beach of your choice to conduct the session. Or we can look at hiring an indoor space for the warmer months. The great thing is that I am flexible so you can book your session at a time that is going to work for your group. When you book your Pilates session you pay a deposit and then you can change your session time as much as you like without losing that deposit.
It costs just $25 per extra group member, so it’s a great way to share the cost, while still getting the benefits of having a personal trainer who has tailored the sessions for your groups’ needs. You can also take advantage of a 15% discount when you book 10 sessions.
This group Pilates option works perfectly for groups of friends, local mums/ mums to be, sports groups, colleagues or family member.

(contact me for groups larger than 5 as we need to discuss spacing requirements)

ANY QUESTIONS?