A review of the TenPilates class for Get The Gloss at their Notting Hill studio.
Get The Gloss is a health and beauty website currently running Project Bikini – 6 weeks dedicated to health and fitness in the run up to summer.
The TenPilates for Get The Gloss class promised to be an intense and effective workout and would be suitable for people new to Dynamic Pilates. I was the perfect candidate – totally new and oblivious to Pilates, I wasn’t even sure how to pronounce the word properly.
I had some slight reservations about this class. My first thought was: I’m going on holiday in less than a week and need to spend every evening until then smashing it up at the gym in a desperate, unashamed and amateur attempt to get “buff”. I had high doubts that a stretchy-stretchy, bendy-bendy workout (spent mostly lying down) would get rid of my stubborn winter coat of chubbiness.
The second was: When I asked some Pilate goers in my social group whether they would recommend it, I could do no more than frown uncertainly at their response of, “It’s ok, just watch out for people farting in front of you.”
So with some anxiety, a little bit of resentment and my breath held, I went on my first Pilates pilgrimage to the TenPilates studio in Notting Hill.
Luke Meesman is a master trainer and postural expert. He introduced us to the equipment and gave us some serious words of caution before beginning the class:
“I must warn you guys…I’ve been known by some to have some pretty dodgy musical tastes, which you’re going to experience shortly…”
And so the class began. (Cue some cheesy 70’s classic rock music)
The 1 hour Dynamic Pilates class took place on a piece of torture equipment reformer bed. This apparatus creates resistance through the use of different springs (that can be easily unhooked) and your body weight. By changing the combinations of springs (which we were asked to do throughout the class) the intensity of the workout can be adjusted to suit to the exercises.
The majority of the exercises had us on our lying with our backs on the carriage, our feet on the footbars and our heads on the head-rest. The carriage moves between these as you use your feet to push or pull it along the bed.
There are straps at the head of the bed, which can be pulled by the arms or legs and subsequently provided one of the most intense exercises of the session. My legs and obliques felt a pain like no other and I can only hope they didn’t mistake it for reckless, self-abuse.
Before the class, Luke asked us if we had any injuries he should know about. He wasn’t concerned with what our experience of Pilates was as he talked through the exercises slow enough for the slow new people like me, but said he could easily make the routine more challenging for the showoffs regular goers who were probably immune to the burning pain more steady workouts.
I can tell you that after my initial and naïve ‘pooh-poohing’ of the class, my mind was changed with the encouragement of Luke, an energetic, enthusiastic instructor who was probably laughing at my efforts I trusted enough to maneuver me into the right challenging positions. And as my posture was adjusted accordingly to create intense stretches that my muscles never knew existed, I was already convinced that a night off from my usual cardio/weight/all-limbs-a-flailing session at the gym was not a bad thing.
So why is Pilates seen as one of the most effective ways for getting into shape? I’ve learnt of so many benefits and I’m determined to do it regularly (at least once a week) as part of my normal fitness regime. It’s good for posture, back pain, stress relief, muscle strength (sans the bulk), balance, coordination, flexibility and a low impact class can even be good for recovering from injuries.
The intensity of the stretches requires you to know your body quite well. Knowing how to push down or lift up your rib cage, stomach and hips sounds fairly simple, but it’s these little details that help make the movements more efficient. Knowing which muscles control which limbs is something you’ll discover and feeling them with your hands lets you know when they’re working.
Holding stretches at a slow and steady pace caused my legs and general lower body to shake as I desperately tried to hold each position (varying from my legs in the air, to the side, to the back) but I hopefully made the most out of each movement.
Your core strength will be tested and vastly improved. You’ll immediately feel your lower abdomen getting to work as well as your thighs, hips, upper body and the muscles in your face that are responsible for teeth clenching.
When I woke up the next morning there was already a difference in the appearance of my stomach. Whilst there’s more to Pilates than making you look good, I took it as a sign that my body was already getting a bit stronger and immediately wished for the chance to do a class every night till my holiday.
I now seriously recognise the value of stretching. It’s an aim of mine to become more flexible this year and the feeling you get after intensive stretching is both satisfying and liberating.
I would wholeheartedly recommend Pilates to anyone who enjoys routines that will get them in shape and test their strength and stamina. It’s also great for people who need a bit of guidance and discipline for a workout and those who want to unwind but still exercise. People who like lying down may also enjoy this too.
I would like to say a huge thank you to TenPilates and Get The Gloss for putting on a free Dynamic Pilates class. I really feel my venture into this realm should have come a lot earlier in my life, but after one class I am a total pusher for Pilates.
(I’d also like to thank Eliza, who was on holiday whilst this was on and I bravely respectively had to take her place.)
- Please check out Get The Gloss for more information on their Bikini Project as well as great Health and Beauty advice.
- Please also check out TenPilates for more information on their classes.
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