Pilates

What is pilates? What should I expect?

Pilates was developed during the First World War by a Joseph Pilates as a system of exercise based on aerobics and yoga postures.

Pilates emphasizes the balanced development of the body through core strength, flexibility, and awareness in order to support efficient, graceful movement. It focuses on the core postural muscles which help keep the body balanced and which are essential to providing support for the spine. In particular, you will be taught awareness of breath and alignment of the spine, with an aim to strengthen the deep torso muscles.

Pilates workouts are based either on the Pilates mat work, which is done on the floor with a minimum of equipment, or on Pilates apparatus   - rather weird looking contraptions. This course like most in NZ is mat work based. While you might like to be anonymous in the class, bear in mind, Pilates is not a one size fits all method. The instructors will from time to time be providing feedback to you individually, ie by walking around the room, not pointing you out from the front.

These classes are “Classical Pilates” (i.e. stay as true to the original pilates as possible with modern advances in exercise safety) and involve moving from your core, strengthening the core, gaining better postural support, correcting posture and using biomechanically friendly movements to correct unhealthy movement habits. You will become more toned, more flexible, stronger, relieve stress and improve posture in this class.

All classes are 45 minutes long and the courses will run for 10 consecutive weeks. The cost will be $80 per course. $15 for casuals (or $10 if you have already booked for another of Averil's courses).

All staff from any CDHB site can attend. Family members are welcome on trial basis for this series of courses but they must be accompanied by a staff member.

Next courses start the week beginning April 19th and will run for 10 consecutive weeks.  Please book by contacting the instructor directly:

• For the Wednesday 4.30pm class, contact Maria (021 1696238)
• For all other classes, contact Averil (027 4810405).

It is unfortunate that these times are unlikely to suit many shift workers. Please contact Hayley Shearer with suitable days/times. If there is sufficient interest, a class will be created.

What should I bring?

Please bring a towel, a water bottle (optional – you probably won’t be guzzling water) your own mat and theraband/dynaband. Both of these latter items can be bought from Para Rubber.

What to wear?

Skirts and heels aside, most work clothes should be fine, as long as they give enough to let you move and stretch fully. Loose is fine, but not too baggy. The instructor would like to be able to see the alignment of your bones and how your muscles are engaging. Pilates is usually done barefoot, so no fancy footwear is needed.

About the Instructors

Averil Drake

I am a certified romanas pilates mat work and Reps qualified instructor with 10 years experience in kung fu and tai chi which involves the study of efficient, ergonomic movement, injury assesment, management and risk, and also how to effectively train the body for maximum benefit. I then went on to study Vinyasa Flow Yoga which I have been teaching for 4 years. In the past three years I have made a natural progression towards pilates in an endeavor to balance out flexibility, gained through yoga, with core support, healthy posture and strength.
I have now been teaching pilates since 2008 and am currently also teaching both pilates and yoga for Christchurch City Council (introductory to level 3 mat pilates), YMCA, Contours and University of Canterbury.

Maria Greene

I have been a yoga practitioner for 30 years and have been teaching for 8years. When we moved back to NZ I did my pilates training & I teach at our studio, “Pilates Personal Fitness” in Madras street, as well as various off site classes. Pilates training from Polestar Pilates Matwork (Auckland 2006), and Iyengar Yoga Teacher Training (UK 2001).

Last updated: 31 August 2010