What people say about us

FROM OUR CLIENTS AND LOCAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Hi there Karen,

I’m so full of admiration for your ‘never say die’ spirit and the huge effort you (particularly) and the team have put in to try to keep Pilates going through this dreadful time. So, although I’ve never been involved in anything like this, I’m prepared to give it a go, and have now got my Zoom account up and running – well, I hope it will be on Monday morning! LE

Just to say I really enjoyed the 6pm online class with Caroline yesterday. Everything seemed to work really well and having spent the week working from a very unsuitable dining room table and chair it was fantastic to be stretched and hopefully rebalanced a bit (note to self: vacuum floor before next session as having a coughing fit half way through class is a really quick way to worry your instructor!) FM

 Thanks once again for arranging everything

 “I had spent my working life sitting or standing for long periods or stooped over books or a computer.  I hoped that walking the dog once a day, eating healthily and rushing around with my growing family would be sufficient to mitigate some of the harmful effects of this lifestyle. Like many others, I was lulled into complacency, too distracted to invest time in a regular programme of physical conditioning and stretching. Little did I know, I had already increased my risk of a back injury.

Then two years ago, at the age of 59, I experienced acute pain in my lower back, left leg and foot with associated compression of the sciatic nerve. It turned out that I had herniated a disc in my lower back.

It was the beginning of a slow journey to recovery, the pain was unrelenting and debilitating for weeks and months. I relied on others to help because I could not do some of the simplest tasks.  

The lack of support and information left me feeling isolated and disempowered. From an initial consultation with my GP, the route to finding the right treatment and rehabilitation was unclear and for a time I felt cut adrift, uncertain as to which way to turn. Fortunately, I was referred to Northants Pilates who work in close association with other back pain specialists and were expert teachers in pilates based exercise to help strengthen the back. Pilates is recognised by medical experts as being extremely beneficial for back health.

The founder of Northants Pilates, Karen Grinter, designed an individual programme which I worked through in the studio and at home. Karen’s extensive knowledge and expertise as well as her support, honesty and compassion were the vital in enabling me to find the determination and discipline to regain my strength.

What made the real difference to the quality of my life during this period was finding the education and knowledge to understand my condition and enable me to help myself. As a result, I now have a deep awareness of my muscles and spine, how to maintain my strength and mobility, but more crucially, a commitment to making time to attend Northants Pilates every week.” TY

I personally have found it a lifeline,  to have a routine to keep to each week and to know that my muscles and torso will be stretched and helped to function on an aging body. Even when we are in lockdown or quarantine,  we know that we have  a group of people we will be connected to once a week and a kind and supportive teacher watching over us, albeit online and not in the flesh!  What's more it makes me hoover my front room, which has got to be a  bonus!

So, I  hope you will be putting your feet up and having your favourite  cocktail/ prosecco/pint and enjoying some rest and tlc.” CM

A good few years ago and prior to attending Pilates (to be honest I'd never heard of it before) I sustained an ankle injury playing basketball. Naively I never anticipated the impact that this would have on other areas of my body (legs, hips, back, shoulders etc...), the best way to describe it was stiffness and discomfort all over my body. Everything I tried never seemed to work effectively and I was getting worse and I was at a lost and confused as to why my own recovery was slow with lots of setbacks.

I remember my thinking at the time was that I would never get back to a stage where I would be just as fast, as powerful and as technical in playing the sports that I loved like football and basketball. Between having regular sports massages and attending Pilates classes it has enabled me to overcome my injury and related stiffness and discomfort in other areas of my body to the extent that I am now pain free before, during and after football.

My speed and power in playing football have returned to an unbelievable level and my recovery after playing is quick. I also started attending the gym in May, something I definitely would not have been able to do before. I've learnt so much from both Caroline and Dorte (including key stretches and useful pieces of equipment to use) which have now become part of my weekly routine.

​So please pass on my thanks to them, I think they are both fantastic at what they do and well respected by the class! I've got to say I am surprised why more men have not taken up the classes, hopefully this will change as I think men are missing a trick here!  BH.

As an academic of a certain age I lead quite a sedentary life, but still imagine that when I demand it my body will spring into sporting action!  Pilates has been just wonderful in keeping me mobile and flexible enough to keep playing sport and I can't believe how little back pain I have had since taking the classes.  I would recommend pilates to anyone:  the classes are fun and informative and I always come away from them feeling relaxed yet energised.
Andrew

I joined Karen's class just over a year ago and have not looked back.  She is a bubbly, professional instructor who has great underpinning knowledge of her subject and the understanding as to how each individual person in the class can gain the most benefit from her tuition.  The sessions always fly pass, are fun and varied and at the same time she creates a friendly, special atmosphere amongst the class.  From my own experience I cannot believe she does it just for the money as she falls over backwards to help and is so approachable. Karen has made such a big difference to my well-being both mentally and physically and I get withdrawal symptoms if I can't attend her weekly class!" 

Well all that is left to say Karen, is thank you so much and all the above is true!  See you Tuesday.
Tricia H

I've popped along to the Rushden pilates class for the last few  years and boy has it made a difference. Like most people who are fortunate to reach middle age, I've got a few aches and pains- I couldn't lie on my left shoulder and frequently went for treatment on my lower back and neck before attending Pilates class. 

Pilates has changed all that for me. My posture has improved big time and most of my aches and pains are distant memories. Thank you.   
Chris

Pilates with Karen and now Paula, it is just the best!  Fun and enjoyable, Northants Pilates  provides small classes and expert tuition which together have helped to keep me fit and supple as I enter my sixties and lessen the effects of the lower back pain I tend to experience when gardening etc.

Thanks to Karen and Paula I am now much more aware of posture and movement and try to incorporate Pilates into my everyday fitness regime. 


I have been going to Northants Pilates  for many, many years now - far before it became trendy and celebrity-led! Whilst I thankfully haven't got any back problems, I feel that pilates helps me to avoid stiffening and tense joints. Moreover the class is great fun - we often end up corpsing in a fit of giggles - and so good for mind and body.  It helps to keep me supple, aids my posture and strengthens my core muscles.  It is an oasis in a busy week. See you Wednesday  
Gina

One Sunday in November 1997 I read an article in the Sunday Times extolling the virtues of Pilates - it sounded just what I had been looking for - emphasis on core stability, low impact, strength etc., and perfect for helping with lower back pain.

The following day I called the number given in the article.  I was asked "did I know Rushden".  This was the  beginning of my friendship with Karen and the rest, as they say, is history.

I was Karen's first client and am still attending classes.  Any person who questions the benefits of Pilates please read on,

I had breast cancer and had also as a result of surgery lost lymph glands.  At the time I met Karen I couldn't raise my left arm above shoulder level.  My left arm now has exactly the same flexibility as my right.  Core strengthening from Pilates has also radically reduced my lower back pain.  Just two examples of how Karen and Pilates have, without doubt, improved my quality of life.  Be aware there are no quick fixes but if you are prepared to listen and work you'll never regret it.

Karen is as mad as a box of frogs and her mantras are now part of folk lore viz, after giving instructions says emphatically, "got that, good!"

"Having been a farm worker since the age of 18yrs old, and a regular horse rider for nearly forty years, my lower spine caused terrible pain.  I had become a regular user of Osteopaths and any other form of remedial massage, cheaper the better! Tried evening yoga classes, couldn't bend so most positions were near impossible. 

Have now done pilates for a year, learnt how to release the tension in between my shoulder blades when sitting at a desk and have an ambition of actually sitting cross legged without pain and it is becoming easier.

The classes are just as informative as fun and if I miss any my back soon “tells” me, I even go during the summer holidays! One’s first experience of a class is not comfortable but it gets easier if continued on a regular basis. Must not be put off by the slim and "bendy” people in some classes, I am “The Plank!”
46 yr old farmer’s wife