Christmas message from Rachel

It has been a momentous year at Rachel Lawrence Pilates and I wanted to thank you all for your continued support. Whether you read the blog, follow me on twitter or instagram, read my Facebook page or come to class you are all appreciated.

With more and more of you tuning into the benefits of Pilates and a healthy lifestyle the business has gone from strength to strength just as your wellbeing has. It's so rewarding to see and hear how you have created your own healthy lifestyle from what you've learned.

Well done!

There are exciting plans ahead for 2016; more health and wellbeing news, more classes and I will be adding Pilates films for you to view and take part in at home, so stay tuned for a bigger, better, healthier 2016!

Merry Christmas to you all,

Rachel x

Dynamic Pilates Workshop at Lululemon Richmond

I'm delighted to announce I'll be presenting a Dynamic Pilates workshop this saturday for Lululemon Richmond 10:45- 11:45.

This is a complimentary class so a great chance to rock out with fellow fitties, and get to know me too. 

Here's some information about the session:

This is a challenging and energetic class which takes your fitness, flexibility and strength to the next level.

Taught in the way it’s practiced in California, this is a free flow class where you move seamlessly from one exercise into the next, giving you a cardio workout as well as increasing your core strength, stamina, balance, and mind/body awareness of movement. Great for athletes, fitness fiends, dancers, and anyone who has undertaken Pilates before and is looking for a new challenge.

*Only suitable for those with previous Pilates experience.

Are you ready?! Click here to see the invite on Facebook from the lovely Lululemon people.

As they say first come, first mat! See you there!

© Rachel Lawrence. All rights reserved. No reproduction without permission.

Everything you wanted to know about pilates but were afraid to ask!

I am very excited to announce I will be running my first Pilates workshop on Sunday June 1st. This is a new venture for me and the idea is to encourage those people who haven't tried Pilates before, or those who have tried it but wasn't sure it was for them to come and experience the great benefits, and the great workout you can get from a Pilates class.

I teach it California style. What does that mean I hear you ask!

Well, it's a little more dynamic than some of the more traditional Pilates you may have experienced, and a little more challenging. I believe we are all more capable than we think when it comes to fitness and wellbeing, and my teaching style is focused on helping you get the most out of your workout whilst also enjoying it. Exercise doesn't have to be a task after all, it can actually be fun too! Especially when you start to see, and feel the benefits in your body.  Heres what some of my clients have been saying about classes: 

We have been doing Pilates for years and have tried out various classes in Chiswick. Rachel’s classes are by far the best! You definitely work hard but you can see (and feel) the results: The backaches are gone and your body feels so much more toned. We highly recommend giving the classes a try! Anne and Peter

Rachel is a really creative teacher - her positive attitude inspires us to succeed with things we never thought possible! Janet

When I saw Rachel teaching Pilates, I knew straight away that she was a top professional and the teacher I was looking for. She is very clear with her instructions and does all the exercises with us, always checking that we are doing them right and focusing on us breathing correctly and engaging our core muscles throughout the class – all so indispensable for a great Pilates class. Carla

Please email if you'd like to book a place, I look forward to seeing you there!

Pilates and Breathing

Pilates and Breathing

‘Pilates? Isn’t that just breathing and stuff?’

This is often what I get asked when I meet someone who hasn’t tried Pilates. The short answer is NO, it’s not just breathing!

But the technique of breathing we use in Pilates is unique, fundamental to the work, and is used in every exercise you undertake. So a fully trained Pilates professional will always teach you the breathing first before you start the exercises. However that’s not to say you will be lying down breathing for your hour long session, far from it, but if you are to learn the method correctly, concentration and breath control are key, as is the mindset of being open to trying it, and having the patience to learn it. Pilates is an investment in your body not a quick fix so think of it that way.

            For example, I’ve been training a professional singer for two years now who came to me originally looking for the aesthetic benefits of Pilates for their live shows- long, lean and toned muscles, along with increased stamina. Apart from losing just over 10lbs and getting the lean toned appearance they wanted, they also noticed a significant improvement in the ability to hold their notes longer as they had more breath control. In Pilates we teach a particular type of breathing that works the intercostal muscles (those attached to the ribcage) and this seems to have beneficial effects not only for singers but those with asthma, upper body tension or just clients who generally need stress relief along with physical exercise.

The technique of breathing we use takes a few lessons to grasp but once you have it, you can use it anywhere, anytime- I even have clients who use the technique when they are weight training in the gym!  So yes Pilates does involve breathing but that’s just the beginning………

© Rachel Lawrence. All rights reserved. No reproduction without permission.