What you have to say about PilatesPeople courses!
We believe that the best recommendation for our courses comes from people who have actually done them! So this page is set aside to post some of our clients' comments.
I did the beginner course of Pilates at the Portobello swim centre. I thought Maria was an excellent teacher and would recommend the classes to anyone.
Jennifer Denham
The course has been excellent. It has gone along at just the right pace with detailed instruction so that you know exactly what you are supposed to be doing. I feel much better after the class - it doesn't leave you feeling exhausted or sore - it's quite relaxing as well as being therapeutic. It gives you the 'feel good factor' and a sense of well being.
Jo Peffers and Alice Smith
Pilates had been recommended to me as a way of regaining good back power which I felt I was losing. As one of the older participants,
I have gained increased flexibility, and greater muscle strength - most useful when digging my vegetable plot. Most important has been feeling more in control of how I
move and use my back and leg muscles.
Maria is a most patient teacher, which is important, since I suspect, due to the age and fitness range in the class, we all found different exercises difficult.
Jean Bechhofer - Barnton
I started Pilates to strengthen my back and tone up muscles after having two children in my late 30's. I also wanted to get rid of that slouch that inevitably results from carrying a small child on one hip. I had no expectation to get back my stomach muscles. 18 months on, I have strength and a new awareness of my posture ... and a flat stomach!
TE, Portobello
I have found Pilates extremely enjoyable and helpful in dealing with a serious long-term sciatica problem. I am now completely pain free - and Pilates has been a
significant part in getting to where I am! I had dome some Pilates before with physiotherapists, but your thorough approach was really what I needed,
and I have gone from having to grit my teeth to hold in my abdominals, to being able to do most of the exercises at level 2, and being able to do
press-ups for the first time in my life! Although I still have some work to do on my posture, Pilates has been very helpful in working towards better
use of my body.
Your teaching is fantastic, in particular you seem to be able to be positive and supportive, at the same time as working us quite hard - a great
combination of skills and one I have not often found.
Sarah - Newington
After years of neck and back pain, primarily due to bad posture sitting at a desk day after day, my Osteopath recommended that I take up Pilates as a way of improving
my general flexibility. I have been attending classes with Maria for the past 18 months, and the benefits have been fantastic. Prior to taking up Pilates, I was visiting
an Osteopath on average once or twice a month, with chronic neck and back pain, this has been reduced drastically to around once every 4 or 5 months.
The other improvements I have noticed are greatly improved posture, the rediscovery of my pelvic floor (an area long since neglected since the birth of my child
7 years ago!), and a greater sense of calm. Pilates helps me to switch off mentally and focus only on myself a real bonus when you are a busy working mother!
I have been an exercise-phobe for most of my life I've tried step classes (kept falling off), aerobics (too energetic), yoga (too unco-ordinated) and Boxercise
(couldnt punch and skip at the same time!) I was very sceptical about trying Pilates and how enjoyable and effective it would be. Maria has proven to be a fantastic
teacher, with endless patience, who can tailor a class to suit the different needs of everyone attending. She helped me work on a rehabilitation programme which has
greatly improved my flexibility. I now really look forward to my weekly class and always leave exhausted but invigorated!
I can't recommend Pilates enough, I only wish I had discovered it years ago!
Shona, Morningside
I found your classes fun and truly beneficial. I have a congenital spine disorder and, with the emphasis of Pilates on muscle strengthening exercises, the pain diminished without recourse to the normal pain killers. The only fault I have with your set up is that it is so hard to re-enrol - they are all full up! I wonder why!