Client Journey: Jess's Clinical Pilates Story
When I first started Pilates, I thought it was simply about getting stronger, improving flexibility and doing a few exercises on a reformer.
I’d tried other Pilates studios before and enjoyed the movement, but after going through two miscarriages and having two babies, I realised my body needed something a little different.
The way I moved had changed. My body felt different. And, if I’m being completely honest, I wasn’t always sure what it needed.
That’s where clinical Pilates at MPF made such a difference.
So, what is the difference between clinical Pilates and regular Pilates?
While both use Pilates principles and exercises, clinical Pilates takes a much more individual approach.
A regular Pilates class is generally designed for a group, with everyone working through a series of exercises together. Clinical Pilates considers your body, how you move, where you need support, your individual goals and how exercises can be modified to suit you.
For me, that individual guidance was exactly what I was looking for.
Rather than feeling like I had to make my body fit the exercise, the exercise could be adapted to work with my body.
And after pregnancy and everything my body had been through, that felt incredibly important.
The MPF Initial Consultation
One of the things I really love about MPF is that you don't have to walk straight into a class and hope for the best.
MPF offers an initial consultation, which gives you a 45 minute one on one session with a clinically trained instructor.
You get to work through the reformer and the equipment together, with someone there to explain what everything does, how to use it and how to approach the exercises in a way that suits your body.
And honestly, that takes away so much of the stress of starting something new.
Because let's be honest, walking into a new Pilates class can be intimidating.
Am I going to know what I'm doing?
Am I going to be the least experienced person there?
What if everyone else knows how to use the reformer and I don't?
Am I going to look completely ridiculous?
The initial consultation helps take those worries away before you even step into your first class.
By the time you join a class, you've already had someone show you the ropes. You have a better understanding of the reformer and, perhaps most importantly, you have someone who understands your body and where you're starting from.
The reformer isn't one size fits all
One of the biggest things I've learnt is that the reformer isn't something you simply need to figure out.
The instructors at MPF know how to work with the equipment, but more importantly, they know how to work with you.
They can adjust exercises, resistance, positioning and movement depending on what your body needs.
That means you're not expected to push through something just because everyone else in the room is doing it.
You can work at your level, with your body, and still get an incredibly effective workout.
You don't need to be "good" at Pilates
I think this is probably one of the biggest misconceptions about starting Pilates.
You don't need to be flexible.
You don't need to be strong.
You don't need to have done Pilates before.
And you definitely don't need to know what you're doing when you walk through the door.
That's what the instructors are there for.
The initial consultation at MPF makes that first step even easier because you get the opportunity to ask questions, get familiar with the equipment and understand how the exercises can work for you.
Instead of walking into your first class thinking, "I hope I don't look stupid," you can walk in thinking, "Okay, I've got this."
And that confidence makes such a difference.
For me, clinical Pilates isn't about trying to force my body back to the way it was before.
It's about understanding where my body is now and learning how to move well from there.
Whether you're returning to exercise after pregnancy, recovering from an injury, feeling like your body isn't moving the way it used to, or you're simply looking for a more personalised approach to Pilates, clinical Pilates can be a wonderful place to start.
And having a studio like MPF, where you're welcomed, supported and guided from the very beginning, makes taking that first step feel a whole lot less daunting.
See you in the studio!
Jessica K