Pilates

[Alan M]

Unless I am mistaken the discussion on this seemed to fizzle out but I continue to be impressed by what I hear about the potential for cycling improvement through Pilates. Bridget's teacher Adam seems Ok so I will probably try some classes with him and if OK explore potential for some club based sessions.

check his page here http://www.pilates-balance.com/Pilates-balance.com.html

cheers

Alan

[Alan M]

This is Adam's reply which seems positive - I will be happy to take names of potential participants to see if we have enough to warrant a class.PM me with your name, contact number and email address.

"It would definitely be of interest for me to teach for a cycling club. I would find it quite satisfying to devise a class 'fit for purpose'. And just last week I bought a bike myself with the intention of doing the London to Brighton ride. Cycling and how it affects the body is in the forefront of my mind right now.

What kind of time slots would you be thinking about.
We will need to discuss a few things, but location and class numbers are important ones. The Pilates Foundation recommend that we don't teach groups of more than 12. I tend to book groups of 15 in Sydenham, as it's usually the case that that there are 2 or 3 absentees in any particular class."

[Snoop Doug]

Alan - you're not mistaken - it did fizzle and that's my fault sorry . I made some initial enquiries and just......never got it off the ground. I remain interested - I'm a real stiffie (leave it finbar) and I'm sure something like this would benefit me enormously particularly in readiness for the longer rides and TTs. The frequency with which I could attend would depend on the preferred day of the week with Mondays and Thursdays usually featuring pretty low for me at least.

Thanks for reviving this and going further with it than I managed.

Snoop

[Andrew G]

I'd be interested Alan, may not be as much of a stiffy as Snoop but being less than statuesque I'm not the most flexible. Could be handy to learn how to bend myself in to new and unusual positions.

Sorry, I can't help myself.

[Ian A4size]

[quote="Andrew G"]I'd be interested Alan, may not be as much of a stiffy as Snoop but being less than statuesque I'm not the most flexible. Could be handy to learn how to bend myself in to new and unusual positions.

Sorry, I can't help myself.

[Will]

Living in Putney I don't think a Sydenham class would be convenient for me but it does sound like a really good idea and it would be excellent to get a course specifically focused on the needs of cyclist - and all the better if you can tap into the teacher's own new-found enthusiasm for cycling.

I've been doing Pilates for a couple of months and did hunt around for a course that would be tailored to cyclists and couldn't find anything so just went with a regular one. Two of us in the class are cyclists so we get a little bit of special treatment so that's good. Plus it helps that the teacher also cycles around town on her bike so has a fairly good awareness of biking position issues. It's funny to notice how us two cyclists are a lot less flexible than the others in the class with both of us having particularly short hamstrings, and poor lower back flexibility.

It does require a level of commitment to get benefit out of Pilates, but it's worth persevering. I've noticed some improvements from doing things like relaxing my shoulders so that they hang naturally rather than having them slightly raised in a tensed-up position. That has helped me with my mountaing biking, and twisty trails that I may previously have found tiring - as I would have wrenched my bars through from side to side round every turn - now seem noticeably easier to ride, and more enjoyable.

[huw williams]

if I was any stiffer we could all go surfing

Seriously though - I have no structural problems as I enter old age and I want to keep it that way, having done some research Pilates comes out as the clear winner so count me in

[Joanna]

If it was a wednesday pm then i would be interested in joining in as well.
not sure if its worth me traveling more than 45 mins though to do a class.
But would be willing to sign up to something if not too far away from sunny Merstham

[Tamar]

I'm up for it.

[Alan M]

So here's the deal

Adam is willing to do a trial session. He has Wednesdays free so I guess the club room is favourite. Timing would be 1 hour from 7.30 ish, cost seems to around £7.50. On this occasion we would need to transport his mats and some other equipment from and to Sydenham. I don't have a car and in any case Wed isn't possible for me so we would need a volunteer. If it proves popular we could buy some stuff and presumably store it at the club room? He can take up to 15 at one go but if it proves popular and it is agreed I guess we could run 2 sessions end on end. I will take the first 15 opting in once I have a firm date, giving priority to those already having expressed an interest and I'll PM each of you.

So, we need a possible date and agreement to use the hall so on this one - who can liaise?

I had my first session with Adam this morning and was joined by 13 young mothers and one other bloke - Adam made it easy and it was beginner level but he had already started to work out what would work for cyclists and had my inflexibility sussed in moments. He has a nice manner and good communication skills.

So all seems good but I need some help to get it off the ground.

Cheers

Alan

[Andrew G]

Alan we don't have access to the hall until 8:30 on a Wednesday, I think there is a brownie (or similar) meeting there before us. Unfortunately I wouldn't be able to help out with a lift either as I would be too short of time getting back from work.

Thanks for looking in to this for us.

[Alan M]

OK Andrew, thanks - I daresay we could begin at 8.30 but we need more suggestions please - need further ideas on venue and help with transport.

thanks

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="Alan M"]On this occasion we would need to transport his mats and some other equipment from and to Sydenham.

[Rob C]

I can ask about the SLH club house. It's a large ex church hall in Coulsdon. Can't help with driving duties, can't people just bring their own mats?

[John the old'un]

[quote="Rob C"]I can ask about the SLH club house. It's a large ex church hall in Coulsdon. Can't help with driving duties, can't people just bring their own mats?