In this new series of “Pilates Stories”, I’ll be sharing some of my students’ experiences, to give you an idea of what might happen in your first three classes. Read on to see how Pilates relieved Nicole’s neck and shoulder pain.

 

At One Pilates, we ask all students to start with 3 one-to-one classes, so that we can assess your body and posture, but also so that you better understand where we’re going with your Pilates journey. We take the time to listen to your needs, understand your goals and introduce you to the principles of Pilates, so that you have the fundamentals to get you on the right track.

 

Nicole (not her real name) came to me with neck and shoulder pain. She works in watch production and spends 8 hours a day bent over her workstation, so her aches and pains were not surprising!

 

We had a long discussion about how to make ergonomic suggestions at her workplace, and she brought photos of her workstation and the surrounding space. In this way, we can intelligently integrate Pilates into our daily working lives.

The first class was designed to teach her to stand with her pelvis and spine, and to give her body the optimum chance to sit up straight. Nicole has also discovered what its core is!

 

Over the next two classes, we worked on how she could stabilize her shoulder girdle and consciously connect her arms to her center. It was a total revelation for her, and really made her think about how she functioned at work. This was a key change in introducing conscious movement into her daily life.

 

Of course, during these first 3 classes Nicole opened up her back, and also moved and stretched her whole body in every possible direction! She felt so good that since then, Nicole has continued with a mix of private and group lessons every week, so she has the best chance of helping herself.

 

She found it very useful to have learned a few simple basics that greatly helped her improve her neck and shoulder problems. We give her homework assignments during her private classes that allow her to “reset” her posture consistently during her workday; she recently told me that these “adjustments” have become automatic and that Pilates has greatly helped her get out of all that pain and tension!

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