PILATES FAQs
Location, class times and practicalities
Q - Where are your classes held?
A – Classes are held at Saint Benedict School, Duffield Road, Darley Abbey, Derby, DE22 1JD.
Q - What days and times are your classes?
A – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings – all 6:15-7:15pm
Q - What type of Pilates do you teach?
A – My classes are Mat Pilates. Whilst I am a classically trained Pilates teacher, my Pilates classes are a mix of classical and contemporary Pilates. This means that we don’t rigidly stick to the original 34 exercises designed by Joseph Pilates – we get the best of both worlds adding in modern small equipment and techniques as modern movement science has advanced.
Q – How long are your Pilates classes?
A – Classes are 60 mins long. We tend to do a few minutes breathing and warming up, 45-50 minutes of Pilates exercises and then 5-10 minutes of stretching and relaxation to finish.
Q - What do I need to bring to a class?
A – You will need to bring an exercise mat, and water. If you don’t already have a mat, I recommend you get a mat that is as thick as possible (you can just search for 15mm Pilates mat online and they are mostly very similar options/ prices). I provide you with a Pilates ball (I give this to you to take home and use, and you return this if you decide not to carry on for the next block). Other than for the beginners course, I ask you to get yourself a Pilates ring. I provide other equipment such as resistance bands etc.
Experience levels and injuries/ health conditions
Q – Do I need to have done Pilates before?
A – No, I provide a basic option for an exercise, and then give options for those that are ready to make the exercise more challenging – which allows people of multiple experience and ability levels to participate in the same class.
Q – I’m worried I won’t be able to do the exercises as I am fairly out of shape and haven’t exercised for some time – will this still be suitable for me?
A – Yes absolutely. As I offer lots of different options, and I encourage you to listen to your body and do what is right for you – that might mean doing less repetitions, and/ or reducing the range of motion, taking more breaks - or all of the above. As long as you leave feeling better than when you arrived, I don’t mind what you do during the session!
Q – I have an injury/ health condition – will your classes be suitable for me?
A – I have a health questionnaire that you complete before attending a class to check for any health conditions/ injuries that mean Pilates is unsuitable for you. However, there are a lot of conditions that you can still practice Pilates with – and in fact Pilates is often recommended (and was developed to) help people recover from injuries. Joseph Pilates originally called his method Contrology, and called it “returning to life through Contrology”. I have a lot of experience in working with clients with all manner of health conditions and injuries, and am used to alternatives that work for you.
If you have any concerns about this, drop me an email to discuss.
Q – Can Pilates help with lower back pain?
A – Yes, if your niggly lower back issues are caused by poor posture and muscle imbalances then Pilates will absolutely help. Pilates helps to strengthen the weak muscles and lengthen the shortened and tight muscles to bring your body into a more correct posture/ alignment.
Q – Can you recommend other health professionals for my injury/ health problem?
A – Yes I can. Many of the core Pilates exercises we do are often recommended by Physiotherapists/ other heath professionals as part of your rehabilitation plan, but if you are not seeing any improvement then I do have a Physiotherapist and a Chiropractor that I have personally used that I can refer you to. Sometimes we need to be physically adjusted back into alignment.
Pricing and the block booking system
Q – How does your block booking system work?
A – I work in “blocks” of classes, usually around 10 weeks long – the dates are set dates (for example 2ndJan to 13th March 2025). You pay for the block of classes upfront.
Q – Can I try a class without committing to the whole block of classes?
A – Yes, you can come and try a class and pay cash before deciding whether to commit to the rest of the block of classes.
Q – How much do classes cost?
A – Classes cost the equivalent of £10 per class, so if the block of classes is 10 weeks long, then the block would cost £100.
Q – Can I do a Pay As You Go option?
A – No, after your first class to decide if it is for you, I don’t offer a pay as you go option.
Q – Why don’t you offer Pay As You Go?
A – I want to work with the same clients on a regular and long term basis. It allows me to understand any health challenges/ restrictions people have and I can plan classes knowing what everyone is capable of. With Pay As You Go it is a different set of clients each class which means trying to help people progress is like a stab in the dark! It also helps to provide you with the motivation to keep coming and therefore you will see and feel the benefits that Pilates brings if you commit to a regular practice. It is also nicer for everyone involved as we get to know each other and build a community.
Q – What happens when I can’t make a class?
A – You are able to make that class up on another day/ week (I’m not precious about when it is) - if you’ve paid me for 10 classes, I want you to do 10 classes! I also record one class a week and send that out to everyone so that you can do the class from home following the video as many times as you like. The videos are available for a few weeks.
Q – As I haven’t been able to make it to class, can I have a refund?
A – No, I do not provide refunds as I am very flexible with allowing you to catch classes up without time restrictions and also providing the videos which I don’t know any other instructors that do that. The pricing per class is worked out assuming you will only make 7 or 8 of a 10 week block as life sometimes gets in the way and you can’t fit in catching them up another time. If I were to charge on a class by class basis, my pricing would be £13 per class so £13 x 7 or 8 classes works out at roughly the same as you are paying for the 10 week block anyway.
Q – How do I book on to try a class?
A – Email me on louise@wellness-with-lou.com