Pilates can be done purely on the floor in what is called a matwork class, or can be done with the use of equipment like a ball and foam roller, or large equipment like a reformer or cadillac. With matwork, your own body provides both resistance and assistance for Pilates exercises, affected only by gravity and your body weight. The large equipment, however, with the use of springs, extend the range much farther, offering either additional resistance or support. Exercises can be easier or more challenging, as desired.

Equipment classes also differ to matwork classes, in that they are usually kept to a maximum of 4 in a class, or is even better when it is one to one. In this way, the instructor can make sure you are always in the right position to be able to target the exact muscles required.

The difference between pilates and yoga is that pilates is based on fluid movements rather than held poses. The breathing in yoga is all through the nose, whereas in pilates, the inhalation is through the nose and the exhalation is through the mouth, which enables a better use and strengthening of the core. And lastly, pilates is not connected to spirituality or meditation, it is just a pure and safe method of exercise. However, yoga and pilates definitely complement each other when done on a regular basis.

Joseph Pilates recommended you train at least 3 times per week, and based on this, he said “In 10 sessions you will feel the difference, in 20 sessions you will see the difference and in 30 sessions you will have a new body.”

He also said “The mind, when housed within a healthful body, possesses a glorious sense of power” and “Before any real benefit can be derived from physical exercises, one must first learn how to breathe properly. Our very life depends on it.”

Yes! Pilates is not only for strengthening your body but is also used to create and maintain flexibility in the spine. It is about precision, control and requires concentration and isolation. Equipment pilates also offers a cardio workout with the use of the Pilates jumpboard on the reformer.

If you have never done pilates before, Ariapilates is the perfect place for you. In a quiet and private environment, you can learn all the techniques at your own pace with your own private instructor. Your instructor will give you an initial consultation during which she will check your posture and then devise a program that will suit you and your needs. She will then guide you through the moves safely until you feel secure enough to join a group.

Everybody is different and everyone learns at a different pace. We highly recommend you do at least 10 sessions on a one to one basis so you can feel confident on all the apparatus, and understand the technique in order to gain the most benefit during your workouts.

If you are pregnant and have done pilates before, then this is one of the most perfect methods of exercise you can do. Your instructor will know which moves are important for you depending on which trimester you are in and will only put you in positions that are safe for you and your baby. Pilates will help ease your back pain, keep you toned and help your pelvic floor remain active which in turn will help during delivery and recovery. And as soon as the baby is 6 – 10 weeks old, you can return to pilates to help get your body back in shape.

Yes, of course, men can do pilates! Men need pilates even more than women! Over time, men develop strong rectis abdominus muscles and their transverse abdominus suffer. These are the muscles necessary to support your back, which is why many men suffer lower back pain as they get older and stop being as active as they used to be in their twenties and thirties. Pilates is also especially good for golfers and tennis players, which are both very one-sided activities. Pilates increases flexibility and increases range-of- movement and helps to prevent injuries, especially in professional athletes like soccer and rugby players.

Machine pilates is very different to pilates on the mat, although there are many moves on the mat that are derived from Joseph Pilates’ original machine moves. We recommend you definitely do a few private sessions to get to know how the machines work, especially the safety of each one.

Pilates is all about strengthening the core which in turn supports the spine. People of any age with scoliosis can definitely benefit from pilates as the stronger the core, the better the body will feel. Pilates is a combination of strength exercises and stretches, so the more one stretches, the less strain the body will feel.

Pilates can benefit people of all ages from teenagers through to 100!

All of Sports Lab's Pilates sessions are led by a qualified physiotherapist and are evidence-based, and as a result are rebateable through  private health insurance.