Why Pilates
“physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness”
— Joseph Pilates
“It is the mind itself which builds the body.”
— Joseph Pilates
“Pilates develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong posture, restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit.”
— Joseph Pilates
“concentration, precision, control, centering, breath, flow.”
— The Pilates Principles
Chloe Paterson
I discovered Pilates after 2 difficult C section deliveries and I needed a way to solve back and hip pain and to feel connected to my body again.
My pain had come and gone throughout my life originating from a childhood car accident that fractured my femur and left me unable to move, hospitalised in traction for 3 months.
While I was in hospital I just dreamt of moving , anywhere even just to take a walk down the street!
I then realised how movement was freedom and I needed it.
It had been a very unfortunate year for me I had been in same hospital 6 months previously having had a very dramatic appendix removal and was still traumatised from that experience.
Fast forward to an adult who suffered continually from extreme episodes of back pain and weakness in my leg , it would literally go from under me, I had been given no rehab whatsoever and just found ways to cope through my Art Degree and Theatre and Film Career which I enjoyed immensely but was stressful.
Rewind back to the 2 difficult C sections and the birth of my 2 kids.
It was then my dreams of moving returned, trapped at home and in discomfort without my Art as my back up I looked to movement and found Pilates and there I discovered how movement heals and brings pain relief to both the mind and body from then on I was hooked!
Pilates strengthened my very weakened body while giving me a sense of calm and release from the everyday stresses of family life.
I then discovered how much I enjoyed teaching as well as creating, and got a job as a lecturer and technician at Wimbledon School of Art.
It was very rewarding on so many levels, alongside the excitement of working on many film ventures such as The first Harry Potter Film. But I soon realised my skills lay as teacher and motivator and I put them both together to train as a Pilates Teacher with Body Control Pilates.
My patience, eye for detail, precision, observation and listening skills have helped me immensely along the way as a teacher and now educator for New Body Control Pilates.
I welcome you to the practice, whatever your age or fitness level, I truly believe Pilates is a practice, not perfect and must be non judgemental.
More recently I have been working with clients with significant back pain and injury and my own educational Journey is on going, it helps keep me connected to my Goal of helping you overcome pain and anxiety through movement and to discover the amazing healing potential already within us.
P.S My body is in a much better place now, not perfect but so much better..