I’m Laura Chandler, a qualified group exercise and Level 3 Pilates instructor on a mission to make Pilates the enjoyable, accessible and welcoming exercise it should be. I live in Wooburn Green, Bucks, with my husband Rob and Labrador Dave.
I discovered Pilates as a means to manage the stress of a pressurised career in Marketing. I found the focus on breathing and the deep mind-body connection of Pilates gave me renewed energy and focus; I felt toned and supple and found I that it brought calm to my busy brain and body. My hobby became my passion and I trained as an instructor to share the Pilates bug with others.
I love how adaptable and accessible Pilates is as a style of exercise; sequences can be flowed together dynamically with an emphasis on strength and mobility to energise, or the tempo can be slowed to a gentle pace with a focus on stretching, lengthening and unfurling.
My own journey has led to an emphasis on two styles of Pilates: Energy Pilates a higher-impact Energy Pilates for people who want to get more blood pumping and endorphins flowing and Zen Pilates for people who want to work holistically with their minds and bodies to restore calm and energy.
What actually is Pilates?
Pilates is an inclusive, intelligent form of exercise: it’s gentle enough for anyone to try it – you don’t have to work up a sweat – but when done correctly it’s incredibly effective, leaving you feeling lengthened, unwound, toned and relaxed in both mind and body, even after just one session. Each week is different from the last targeting a different set of muscles each time. It’s mat based using your own body weight for resistance along with some fun equipment including balls, bands and blocks.
It’s based on deliberate, low-impact movements working on flexibility, muscular strength and endurance – controlled movement for a purpose rather than just pounding away at a treadmill. From slow deep core workouts to small postural muscle exercises, you soon develop a real mind-body connection by deliberately activating individual muscles and understanding what each movement will achieve for your body and mind. As a result, you end up in peak physical and mental condition; with better posture, muscle tone, joint mobility, balance, and a lot less stress.
I offer two styles of Pilates class, find out more here
