Are online Pilates classes any good?

Karen teaching online Pilates class

Don’t want to travel? Got kids/partner working late? No problem, there are so many ways you can get a workout post pandemic that will keep you moving.

BUT IS IT ANY GOOD?

Like any fitness class, it’s as good as your teacher and your commitment.

IS IT EXPENSIVE?

It can be but what do you want from it? Do you just want to move? Are you happy to follow someone else having their workout on the screen? Or do you want some feedback? Our online classes are only £8! A bargain given the quality of the teaching and input you get for your body.

Some of the big names in Pilates have subscription platforms that you can access anytime anywhere. But we think that if all you are doing is following someone else, trying to do what they are doing, head to You Tube, you will find a load of stuff all completely free. Why pay to watch someone having their own workout?

WHAT IF I DO IT WRONG?

You probably will make a few mistakes, but at least you are moving, better than sitting on the sofa with a box of Jaffa cakes! This is where the diffence in online options is paramount and where our small class size and teaching YOU approach wins every time.

WILL I HURT MYSELF?

It depends on your starting point. Are you very deconditioned? If so, start gently. More experienced, then you might want a bit more from a class. This is where your options and choices can be critical. We have different levels of class and even a Pilates HIIT class and Dan is super zoned in on technique, you won't get away with a poor squat even on screen!

Hi Karen and Dan

I just had to let you know that over the last three days I have managed to paint 11 fence panels, five of which were behind my cordon fruit trees so it was very much a squeeze to get under the wire between the trees and the fence. I have gained so much more strength and flexibility through the Pilates classes and that is down to your lessons, thank you. I love the ability to still do the online classes as they for me are time savers.

Enjoy your brief break over half term, once again thank you. Who would have thought I would have benefitted so much from chatting to you when I walked the dog.

NORTHANTS PILATES ONLINE CLASSES

We transitioned to online classes within 9 days of the first Covid lockdown, being clear that we wanted to continue our high standards from our face-to-face classes to online classes. And we have! We still keep our classes small; we TEACH, we don’t instruct. We get to know our amazing clients and what they need. More importantly we get to know where their bodies are likely to struggle with movement and we can give lots of feedback and help them adjust and improve.

WE WORK WITH HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

As we head for nearly 25 years of classes, we’ve been proactive with the local health professional community and experienced so much input from them that has kept us up to date with all the relevant protocols with back pain and more. Because of this we get many referrals from them as they know their patients are in safe hands. We have a great reputation locally for the place to go if you have back problems and many of clients have been with us for years and years. They know that it works and they know their weekly class keeps them doing the stuff they want to do.

WILL ONE CLASS A WEEK BE ENOUGH?

Its better than zero! The way we teach is to give you information and feedback that relates to your daily life. That seems to be the best way for you to get why you are doing a movement/exercise and how that will benefit you. Some exercises are hard to do, but these are the movements that will change your body.

You are not training for the Pilates Olympics, just to be able to enjoy your life and do the stuff that makes you happy. Whether just walking the dog or doing the garden or being a triathlete (and we have all that in our classes) then being relatively pain free is a decent goal. A few minutes a day could make a huge difference. Being more body aware can make a massive difference to everyday life and activities and to be honest thats why most people do fitness classes.

On-line classes really work for me.
The pros: No travelling - no problems with traffic and parking, so I am relaxed and ready to concentrate. I often close my eyes to try and really feel the right movements and eliminate the unnecessary ones, and I don’t feel self-conscious doing this. I have a mirror on the wall in front of me when I’m doing the class - looking in the full-wall mirror at County Ground studio was cringe-making for me. It was hard not to see other people moving better than me, but I really use the mirror to check my position now. It feels like there is more time to get the movements right and there’s no comparison with other class members. I know you are watching me and I appreciate your attention and feedback. Cons: Do miss the social side of classes, meeting people and having a chat beforehand and sharing a few laughs.

DO I NEED ANY EQUIPMENT?

Not really, we’ve made use of household items like rolled up hand towels, tins for weights, broomsticks and more. But we have suggested items that seem to be the most popular and inexpensive.

Hi Dan,

I’m really enjoying the online classes and love that I can do this from home. I love that there is a HIIT option and I definitely get a good workout from them.

I don’t use the website, and barely use the app. Just tend to rock up and do the classes and know even when you are ill there is a contingency in place. The classes are always reliable, professional and well planned.

In terms of preferring online to face to face my biggest motivation is saving time. Travel time for me into town is at least 20 minutes each way so doing it at home is much more preferable.

I’m always impressed how you manage to give feedback online and find this really helpful. I’m sure it must be quite difficult for you but it seems to work well for us!

Thank you for all you and the team do. It is much appreciated.

Pilates class mat equipment, resistance band, OverBall, magic circle, toning disc.

HOW TO JOIN OUR CLASSES

If you think you would benefit from our teaching, great, use the form below to get in touch. We have a good online timetable from Monday to Saturday morning and evenings. We also have a small selection of on demand classes for our members to access between classes. They include specialist classes, stretching and mobilising or working on problem areas. All our teachers will be there to watch you move and give you lots of input to help you improve posture, alighment, joint mobilty and more. As you can see from some of feedback we get, our clients love class, really apprecaite the work we put in to their workout and stay for years. We have some great people in our classes.