Against my better judgement I’ve created a new Pilates Workouts Forum. It’s against my better judgement because from past experience moderating and managing a Forum is hard work!

Not only do I have to answer questions posted by interested souls but keeping a Forum spam free is almost a full time job in itself.

Currently the Forum only has one topic but it’s easy enough to add others if people are interested. One of the great things about a Forum is not only the ability to ask questions and get a reply from myself or Bob but the responses from other members that may also have experienced your particular challenge and invaluable.

The sense of community is what a great forum is all about and to that end I’m asking anyone who reads this post and has an interest in Pilates to register and not only ask questions but share your knowledge with the other members.

The challenge for me is to get enough people to register and visit on a regular enough basis to give the forum life. A dead forum is just that dead and of no use to anyone.

To that end I’ve sent an Email to all my Free Pilates Exercises subscribers and I’m hoping get it kick started this month.

So if you have an interest in Pilates, have a Pilates question or wish to share some of your knowledge and experience with Pilates then why not join me.

The Pilates Workouts Forum can be found by clicking the link and I look forward to seeing you on the inside.

Pilates Workouts Forum Now Online is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

People can be strange and it never ceases to amaze me how little they’ll do for themselves sometimes. The number of times a client has told me about a particular problem / injury they have and when I suggest they go visit a doctor / Physiotherapist to get a professional opinion refuse to go.

It often goes something like this – Bob when I do this (rolls shoulders backwards) I hear and feel a grating sound from my shoulders and it hurts what do you think could be wrong? Well I’ve done the shoulder course and have an idea but I’m not qualified to diagnose injuries I’m just a Pilates Instructor.

I therefore strongly suggest that this client go see a Physiotherapist to get a diagnosis before continueing with her Pilates as without knowing what’s wrong with the shoulder it’s possible even Pilates might make the problem worse.

Do you think the client does as I suggest? No she doesn’t and in the end I have to tell that that until she gets it looked at I can’t have her in my class any more as I don’t feel comfortable teaching her without knowing what’s wrong. Sometimes that does the trick but sometimes it doesn’t and I lose a client who could have benefited from Pilates.

I know you’re thinking she maybe couldn’t afford to get treated but I live in the UK and a visit to the doctor is free of charge so what gives?

If you know the answer I’d be pleased to hear it because to this day I can’t understand why someone won’t seek professional help when they obviously need it.

Robert Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Pilates And The Case Of The Strange Clients is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

Woo Hoo Bob has the Pilates For Beginners membership site 100% fixed. What a marathon that was and it wasn’t even our fault!

All the strange error messages that you might have been getting when loging in have gone and the site is functional again.

Thank you all for reporting the problems because without you I may never have noticed it was broken. Who would have thought keeping a free Pilates Exercises resource on-line would take so much time.

Maybe the old adage “No good deed goes unpunished” is true after all

Right I’m off to do some real work now and Bob seems to be in a much better mood now it’s fixed.

Carol Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Pilates Membership Site Update is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

I’m tearing my hair out and my husband is muttering under his breath as I speak!

The Problem

My Web hosting company for some strange reason known only to themselves decided to upgrade PHP to the latest version 5.3.3. Sounds fairly harmless right?

Wrong. My membership site software which is fairly complex (a purchased product) has decided it doesn’t like this new version and is throwing a wobbler at the moment. Odd error messages are appearing every where and subscribers are getting scared

That was yesterday and if you’ve experienced the problem I apologise.

As of today after many phone calls to my Web host an upgrade to the membership site software (another $60 – I never knew giving stuff away was going to cost me so much lol) most of the problems for existing members have been solved

Any new subcribers will get a weird error message that can be ignored when they enter their name and Email address but it still works.

Over the next few days Bob will be working to fix any remaining problems and with a bit of luck that will be that.

In conclusion thank you for your patience normal service will be resumed as soon as possible

Carol & Bob Bartram
(Pilates Instructors)

I Love Pilates and Hate Computers! is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

Finding Free Pilates Exercises on-line can be challenging. There is no shortage of information available on the Internet in the form of articles and videos on Youtube and other video sharing sites.

I soon discovered though that no one is providing the Pilates Beginner a program that is safe, effective and complete.

Carol and I (Bob) decided to produce such a program to help the complete beginner get the benefits of Pilates by means of written material, audio and video. This program would take a complete beginner step by step through some of the most beneficial Pilates exercises we know.

This was intended to be a pay-per-month subscription program building month by month to a complete library of exercises you could do at home; but sadly my marketing skills and peoples’ dire financial situation meant there were very few who had the money to pay for it.

Carol and I invested a lot of time and effort in creating the program and it seemed a shame to let it sit on the shelf when it could benefit so many people.

Therefore we’ve decided to giveaway Month one of what was going to be  a 12 month series.

It is a complete program comprising a 73 page book and over 30 videos, showing in detail 7 exercises, including Mobilisation, how to Zip and Hollow, how to find neutral spine in all positions and culminates in a 20 minute Pilates workout video with a separate audio track and 10 minute relaxation track.

Don’t let the fact it’s free put you off

To sign up enter your name and Email address in the boxes below and click the Sign Up button. I’ll then Email you your access details and show you how to log-in.

Then check your Email for details on how to log-in.

I’d be delighted to hear your comments and feedback on how we could improve the course and you can do that by leaving a comment anywhere on this Blog or you can Email me at
support@mypilatesforbeginners.com or you can register at my Pilates Workouts Forum and post any questions you may have there.

Regards,

Carol & Bob Bartram
(Pilates Instructors)

Free Pilates Exercises is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

I’ve just returned from a two day back care course run by a Physiotherapist called Jenny (who really knows her stuff). I already knew something about the back as it was covered in detail (or so I thought) on my Level III Pilates Instructors course.

I knew which exercises to avoid for all the common back conditions but this course took things into a lot more detail with specifics on remedial one to one exercise prescription.

I never knew so much could go wrong with your back – if you don’t look after it that is.

I came away from the course convinced that the only safe way to teach Pilates was to sit class members on a block and don’t let them move! The part about assuming everyone over the age of 50 had osteoporosis blew me away!

Enough rambling and back to the question can Pilates help with an existing back problem? Yes it can but as always prevention than a cure.

Once your back has been damaged Pilates can help strengthen and keep it mobile and flexible but it can’t repair any damage already done nothing can.

The bottom line is look after your back and it’ll last you a lifetime (pain free). Neglect it and you’ll accelerate the spinal degeneration that naturally occurs as you get older and maybe suffer pain as a consequence.

Keeping your back flexible, strong and mobile should be your goal and Pilates can certainly help with that if taught correctly.

Robert Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Can Pilates Help Your Back Problem? is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

I’m weak! After holding out on the Facebook craze for many years I’ve finally decided to embrace it and use it as a platform for delivering Pilates information to my local clients as well as the rest of the world

Face book makes it super easy for me to post videos, pictures, articles and for you to communicate your Pilates questions and concerns. At the moment for my local clients I have uploaded videos on the basics like the Zip & Hollow and how to find Neutral Spine in all positions. I intend to add many more including more exercises and video responses to any questions I regularly get asked.

Before you panic and say you haven’t got a Facebook account that’s not a problem you can view all the videos and content without signing up. However if you wish to post a question you’ll have to sign up.

If you already have an account you’re more than welcome to add me as a friend (you’ll then be informed of any new content I add) and if you like my pages feel free to click the Like button

So why not click on the link below and check it out? See you on the inside

Pilates In Hull Meets Facebook

Carol J Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Pilates Meets Facebook is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

Well after all this is my website so if I want to give myself a shameless plug then I can right?

As well as being a Pilates Instructor I’m also a Personal Trainer.  Now I live in the UK so the likelihood of anyone reading this post and living near enough to me to want my Personal Training services is highly unlikely although I live in hope

But in the event that you require a Personal Trainer Hull then the following link is you.  Even if you don’t live near me you may want to take a look at my site anyway.  My blog posts many weight loss and fitness related articles and frequently asked questions you may be interested in.

In fact if you have a health and fitness related question you’d like answering then I’d be delighted to receive your question and as and when time allows I’ll do my best to answer them.

If I had to choose which I liked best Pilates or Personal Training I’d have to pick Pilates which is why I spent the vast majority of my time writing Pilates and Pilates related articles instead of focusing on my off-line business!

I still believe the Internet is one of the best ways of teaching and educating people in the very best ways to look after their bodies.

If I can just motivate a few people to look after themselves better then all my hard work will have been worth it.

Never take good health for granted look after yourself and do a little bit each day to help maintain the only body you’ll ever have.

Carol J Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

A Shameless Plug! is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

Well least it is for me.  Rumour has it that some people are doing Pilates naked. Yup that’s right doing Pilates with no clothes on.  Now call me old-fashioned but I really don’t like the idea very much.  I’ve had some bad experiences whilst people are fully clothed nevermind naked.

Why people insist on coming to a Pilates Class wearing baggy shorts for example is beyond me.  I always instruct new clients to wear close-fitting garments so that I can more easily see what their spine is doing and assess their posture.

It never occurs to me that people would turn up wearing shorts.  It doesn’t take too much imagination to see what might happen in side lying for example.  Particularly with a male client.  I shudder just thinking about it.  Talk about the last turkey in the shop!

Let’s hope this new trend doesn’t take off but I can assure you I for one will always teach Pilates fully clothed.

So do your Pilates instructor a favour think about what you’re going to wear to a Pilates class.  Pilates is all about developing core and structural strength and stability not about how good you look on the mat. Leave your vanity at home wear sensible reasonably tight fitting clothing and as little makeup as you feel comfortable with the next person to use your block will surely appreciate it.

A New And Disturbing Way To Do Pilates. is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

Ever since I saw an advert that claimed pole dancing was the latest fitness trend and that it would release my inner goddess I wanted to train as a pole dancing instructor.  Now you may be wondering what’s strange about that?  Well it wasn’t Carol that wanted to do it it was  me Bob!

I got Carol to ring the training company asking for the course details se and asked her to book me  a place on the next one. All was well until when asked who was attending she gave my name. Silence on the other end of the phone you then did you say Roberta? No Robert I reply. Ahh Robert would that be a man then? Yup says I my husband would like to add Pole Dancing to his skill set along with Exercise To Music and Pilates Matwork.

I’m sorry Madam the course is only for ladies. I explain that the Website says nothing about it being ladies only. It’s implied madam we don’t allow men on the course.

Now this course was being run a good bit away from us so in the end we thought we’d leave it for a later day. My guess is they can’t refuse me a place because that would be sexual discrimination wouldn’t it?

Maybe it was the thought of a pair of hairy legs upside down on a pole that frightened them or maybe they were worried I’d turn up in a leopard skin leotard trust me now that is scary

Robert Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Pilates, Pole Dancing And Me! is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

Most people when they take up a new exercise regime are usually looking for a particular outcome.  Working out, cardio exercise and strength training are usually taken up by people who want to lose weight.  In a lot of cases once they have reached their weight-loss goal they stop or  reduce the amount of exercise they do.

Pilates on the other hand I believe is different.  In my opinion Pilates is a lifetime’s journey after all to continue to get the benefits that Pilates will give you it needs to be done regularly and forever.

I get many people starting Pilates because of an existing complaint or injury usually involving an element of pain.  For example a lower back problem that they’ve had for many years sometimes decades that just won’t go away.  They hear that Pilates is an excellent way to help strengthen and reduce their pain.

So they start with enthusiasm hoping that Pilates will help hand in a lot of cases Pilates will work its magic.  As their core and pelvic stability improve the pain they suffer produces and in some cases disappears completely.

Now you’d think these people would stay in class to ensure they maintain the benefits they have received wouldn’t you?  A few do but most after about nine months to a year stop coming.

Can you guess what happens?  They lose most of the benefits they received and after a period of time the pain comes back.  I know because after six months or so these people come back.

Doing Pilates is a bit like brushing your teeth it’s not something we necessarily want to do but if we want to stop our teeth from rotting we really don’t have a choice

Robert Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Pilates Moves – The Long Run is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

I think of all the “Ates” Yogalates was probably one of the first.  As the name suggests it is a combination of Yoga and Pilates.  I find this one barely strange because if one researches Pilates and how Joseph Pilates created his exercise system it’s obvious that he borrowed exercises from many different disciplines including Yoga.

Many of my Pilates clients who have done Yoga before often say they can recognize many yoga poses in what we do.  Now from what I know about Yoga most poses are held for much longer than we hold Pilates moves.  In fact when people ask me the difference between Yoga and Pilates I find the easiest way to get people to understand is to say that yoga is static and Pilates is movement based.

The emphasis is also different I believe Yoga focuses more on strength and flexibility whereas Pilates focuses on the core strength, postural muscles and stability.

In a perfect world I think people would benefit fantastically from doing both disciplines.  Being biased if I could only do one I would pick Pilates because I believe that as an all round exercise system that prepares you to do your normal daily activities better Pilates wins.

I spent a lot of time in class explaining to people that the main benefit of Pilates is to give them better awareness of their posture outside of class.  After all most people do only one class a week and although that’s good it’s what they use out of class that enables them to progress quickly.

Yogalates – What Is It? is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

Why is it that Pilates Instruction always gets the blame? It’s very odd but I get this a lot. It goes something like this.

At the beginning of all my Pilates classes I ask everyone if they have any injuries I need to know about. I then listen and decide whether they can do the class or I ask them to see a physician and get cleared before they can join in.

Often though the conversation goes something like this. Bob my shoulder hurts when I move it like this.

Ohh says I did you do anything to it? Nooo it’s just started hurting this week. Funny thing is before I started to do Pilates it was OK. I sigh and ask them if they’re sure they haven’t done anything different. They reply no they haven’t.

I ask them what other exercise they’re doing at the moment. They reply I do this class and Body Combat twice a week could this movement have anything to do with it. (she demonstrates a very poor right hook)

I inform her that yes in all probability that’s the class in which she injured her shoulder and that it was highly unlikely she did it in her Pilates Workout.

What interests me though is why she would blame a therapeutic Pilates class as the culprit and not the crash, bang and wallop Body Combat class?

If you have an explanation I’d be pleased to hear it

Robert Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Pilates Instruction Always Gets The Blame! is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

We all do it. I do it but then I know what I’m doing

I’m talking about video sharing sites of course. I use the video sharing sites to get ideas for my Pilates classes. I’m always on the look out for new exercises and more importantly new teaching points to help my clients get the best from my classes.

But do you know what you’re doing? Would you know whether a particular Pilates Workout was safe for you to do? The likelihood is you don’t and that’s a problem. Some of the videos I’ve seen would be perfectly safe for most people but some in my opinion are lethal particularly if you have an existing injury, weak core or postural problem.

In  my classes not only would I have screened you for injuries but I would modify (make safer) any exercise that would be contraindicated for you (risk of injury). But the Pilates you see on the Internet gives no such modifications and in most cases you are not even asked to get cleared for exercise by your health professional.

Call me paranoid but I think it’s a recipe for disaster and I’m sure a lot of people are going to injure themselves trying to do an exercise that isn’t appropriate or safe for their level. What’s worse is that Pilates could get a bad name because of it. After all in the general public’s mind Pilates is therapeutic it’s supposed to make you better not worse isn’t it?

Watch the following video and you’ll see what I mean.

Robert Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Pilates Workouts – What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

A question I get asked frequently is “Why an I not benefiting from Pilates?” Translated this means I’ve been coming to class for six weeks why hasn’t my posture / back pain / strength / flexibility improved.

I sigh inwardly and patiently explain that it’s not possible to correct years (sometimes decades) of Poor Posture in six weeks and that if they stick with Pilates they will get the promised benefits.

In my experience about 10% take my advice and continue on the Pilates journey. That means sadly 90% will give up before Pilates has had a chance to improve their quality of life.

I blame in no small part the media who continue to promise us a quick fix for all that ails us if we just hand over our hard earned money. Everything from fast weight loss to inner calm no hard work necessary just hand over your cash.

Well life isn’t like that and I’m afraid if you don’t do the drills you won’t get the skills (or benefits). Anything worthwhile is always worth persevering with so if you’re thinking of taking up Pilates remember the tortoise will always beat the hare and start with the idea that it will take some time and effort. It’ll be worth it I promise you.

Why is Pilates like brushing your teeth? Take a look at this video and discover more.

Robert Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Pilates Classes – Why Am I Getting No Benefit? is a post from: Pilates For Beginners