The Style Bite

I’ve recently taken up reformer pilates due to the promise of ‘ten sessions to a new body’ and I must say that it really is much more of a challenge than I ever expected it to be. Only four sessions in, I have yet to see even a hint of the promised ‘new body’ but I do spend the next couple of days after each class reduced to shuffling around like a pensioner as my muscles are so sore! Each class lasts an hour and you perform a number of different exercises on a ‘reformer’ machinewhich constitutes a sliding base, five springs, 4 pullies, shoulder posts and, well, I can only say that it has an uncanny resemblance to an medieval torture rack… During the hour long class the teacher leads you through the exercises which can be as simple as tricep dips to more complicated moves such as performing shoulder stands with both feet in a strap and then being asked to perform the splits in the air! It does require concentration but is bags of fun and you use muscles that are ordinarily tucked away in very dark corners of your body. I go to www.beautcamppilates.com.ukin Bayswater, their classes are limited to 10 (so you need to book well in advance) but they have lots of different class times every day and their first class is free so there is no excuse not to give it a go!