Pilates in London

[Earlybird]

I need some advice please. I used to do Pilates regularly in New York, but have not done it in London since the birth of dd. It is now time for emergency exercise measures......especially as I saw an acquaintance earlier this week who said I looked "matronly"! Don't think he intended it as an insult, but needless to say, that is not the look I'm going for!!

I need recommendations/suggestions for Pilates teachers and/or studios in London. I want to do work on the equipment, so am not interested in mat classes. Can anyone help?

Here is a list of instructors.

I've used the studio in King's Cross and they were very good, serious Pilates rather than the Pilates-lite on offer in gyms.

hth

Thank you for the information frogs. You have certainly given me a good starting point. Did you do private sessions? Is there a specific teacher you suggest in King's Cross?

I agree completely about not wanting to do Pilates-lite. Prior to birth of dd, I'd done Pilates for almost 10 years, and loved it. I've gotten out of the Pilates routine since birth of dd, and don't know where to go now as my previous instructor closed her studio and moved to Australia! I find the mat work classes which are so prevalent don't work well for me. Also, many of the studios I've visited seem to be oriented toward beginners, or people with back injuries who are looking for gentle rehab rather than serious exercise.

Personal recommendations of good instructors would be much appreciated from any of you Pilates devotees. It's time for serious work, so I need a hard core instructor. Private instruction with 1:1 is preferred, or failing that, a small group. I'm ready to feel good about my body again so I can stop wearing loose fitting clothes! Your help is desperately needed, and much appreciated!

Where exactly are you? There is a pilates place in Crouch End. They do one on one and small groups. I checked it out, but decided it would be better for me to loose the weight I want to and then do pilates to tone(another story!) But I know someone who goes there and really likes it it is called The Pilates Place and it's website(very very basic) is here

Thanks august24. I'll check out the site and let you know what I think. Anyone else with suggestions?

I used to go to Chris Hocking's classes, although they are matwork, she is very good and may do private classes, worth asking.
www.pilatesbodyawareness.co.uk/

my husband used to go to a private tutor in chiswick/acton for years, she had full equipment and he thought she was great. if that is at all convenient for you I'll get her details from him this evening

There is Pilates Art in NW3 if that is convenient. I'm not an expert, but it seemed v good to me (both classes and equipment). I can find the number if you are interested.

The Laban Centre in New Cross does them too.

I do classes but they're mat work, and I've only been doing them a year. Don't think they're overly lite, though.

Some new friends are a good idea, too. Matronly, harrumph.

The Body Control Pilates studio in King's Cross (it's at the London Studio Centre, which is a ballet/dance college) do one-to-one in fact they insist you start with a one-to-one so they can assess you and train you up to join the appropriate class if that's what you want. I did one-to-one for ages as I couldn't make the times for the classes (childcare reasons) and it's great but obviously more expensive than classes.

Their mat classes are fairly serious, particularly the intermediate one, and the still more serious people do machines in addition to mat. They have even more seious advanced sessions for an inner circle of devotees -- I never made it that far! There is a small group of people who run the sessions, you'd need to meet them and see whose style you got on with.

But you've reminded me I must get back into it -- I know what you mean about the loose-fitting clothes! Maybe I'll bump into you there and never know it...

Hi everyone - thanks for the feedback. I'm in SW1, so some of the locations suggested wouldn't work for me.

However, I would appreciate any details of teachers/studios that you have personal experience of (no matter where they are....Acton/Chiswick, Crouch End, NW3, etc) as I can contact them to ask for recommendations nearer to me. I'm looking for studios in central London, or would also stretch to any place easily accessible to the Victoria Line.

Frogs, will definitely check out King's Cross studio. Thanks for the tip.

Earlybird my dh goes to a woman called Murielle Carasco in Barnes. She may be able to recommend someone but he does mat work

Tel: 020 8696 0704
Mob: 07941 674931
Email: [email protected]

Just to update - I found a new Pilates studio in Islington last week that has only just opened. I visited yesterday, and it's quite lovely. All new equipment, bright/airy room, new carpet, fresh paint etc. It's a new location/second branch for a long established studio, so hopefully teachers/technique will be good. I have a session booked next Monday, so will let you know what I think.

Frogs - I visited the studio you suggested in King's Cross. It was closed (presumably for Augusts holidays), but the girl on the front desk was helpful. I called/emailed, but have had no response to date. Thanks anyway for the tip.

I'm determined to get fit!!