"The motivating force behind my work are those people I have had the pleasure to work with and care for over the years"
- Bridgette

 

 

On your initial visit Bridgette will analyse your posture, and assess how your posture is influencing the way you move, which may be exacerbating any problems you are experiencing. Specific tests will be used to highlight those areas of restricted flexibility, instability and loss of normal movement patterns. Tests will look for both low and high load motor control problems, relating to stability and performance. Referral notes from other health professionals involved with the rehabilitation process will also be discussed where appropriate.

 

You will book a series of sessions with Bridgette that will last one hour each, and your rehabilitation programme will be designed for you over the course of these visits. You will practice specific exercises tailored to your own needs, on a one-to-one basis with Bridgette. Sessions will allow you to proceed at your own pace in a relaxed learning environment. She will teach you how to become more body-aware and learn the skills required to help you maintain your health and well being through your Pilates practice.

 

 

The Clinical Reformer will be used when appropriate in your recovery. Working with specialised equipment such as the reformer allows the spine to be supported whilst exercising against a spring resistance, helping you to co-activate the pelvic floor and deep abdominal muscles. This in turn helps to develop a strong core to help support the spine. Working against the springs builds strength in the body whilst creating length and space in the joints. It provides a repertoire of exercises to help with the rehabilitation of foot, ankle, knee and hip injuries, and encourages stability of the pelvis and lumbar spine. It can help improve Scoliosis, lateral and rotational imbalances in the body, and re-educate poor upper-body mechanics leading to a more integrated and balanced body.

 

 

You will learn a proactive approach to your condition, and realise that through intelligent, gentle exercise you can learn to move with confidence again. Your body will be encouraged to un-learn bad habits of movement and to learn, through sensory awareness and exercises, how to move with fluidity from a strong centre.

 

 

Through gentle exercises that encourage co-activation of the local and global muscles responsible for stability and functional movement patterns, you will learn how to improve your posture, kinaesthetic awareness (movement sense) and improve normal every day functioning, and sport performance. This will help to reduce the risk of injury and re-gain correct movement patterns.

 

All too often I see postural problems related to lack of flexibility, reducing range of movement. Through encouraging core stabilisation and by working in all three planes of motion, function can be restored. Traditional exercise regimes often neglect the re-education of the sensory motor system. Our bodies are three dimensional and crave fluidity and balance in all planes.

 

 

 

A wide variety of equipment and props will be used, such as the stability balls, resistance bands, balance air discs, the fitness circle and the foam roller, to enhance proprioception skills, helping to finely tune posture and body position.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You may have a specific injury, be recovering from an illness or have a condition that means you need extra care and attention to detail. Some movements may be contra-indicated for your condition, and this can be taken into consideration when working with you as an individual. Once you have learned the necessary skills to manage your injury or condition, then you are more able to cope in a class situation, and know which movements may not be good for your body. You can then adapt your Pilates practice accordingly.

 

Bridgette will design your own personalised recovery programme that brings both your mind and body into balance. Over the period of your course you will be asked to practice your programme at home, between Pilates sessions. Your practice will be tailored to your lifestyle and Bridgette will attempt to provide you with exercises that fit into your daily life/work pattern. Your programme will be progressed as your movement patterns improve and you begin to get stronger. This is a unique service and there is no extra cost.

 

Initial consultation is for approximately 1¼ hours and includes health screening, postural analysis, and Pilates first stage exercises designed to help you with your postural problems.

Courses are for 6, or 10 sessions and last for 1 hour each.

Session times are flexible and run from Monday through to Friday.

Bookings can be made for the individual, but shared sessions with a friend or partner are also available.

Bookings are by appointment only please.

All sessions are strictly private and confidential and conducted in a light and airy studio in Allestree, Derby.

 

Please wear loose and comfortable clothing. Bring socks with you as we normally practice in bare feet. If you wear orthotics then please bring these with you to wear in your shoes if necessary.

 

Please bring any medication you may need, for example, an inhaler if you are Asthmatic, Insulin for Diabetics, or Epi-pen if you need this in case of an allergic reaction.