Hi Jess, just to let you know that your style of teaching is everything. You are so easy to listen to and follow that it sounds like a very one to one personal lesson... You so genuinely love what you are teaching and want your pupils to enjoy and benefit from your classes too. You are very motivational, a lot of fun and laugh at yourself and don’t expect any of us to perform like Joseph Pilates, you are very inspirational, and I think that is just down to you being you.
Suzanne
When I see teenagers arriving for sessions at Lytham Pilates, I feel somewhat envious, as I wish I had known about Pilates half a century ago! However, even somewhat late to the party, I feel I have benefited so much from developing a Pilates habit. I initially came to Pilates as a way of keeping aches and pains at bay, but it has been a great enabler for me - giving me the confidence to take up running in my 60s and to go to gym classes feeling that I now know how to move in a way that prevents injury.
Jess has created a lovely light-filled studio that is a very happy place. She is highly knowledgeable and so supportive and relentlessly positive. Her understanding of her clients means that 1:1 sessions are tailored to individual needs, so represent great value for money - it’s an investment in your own well-being. Jess has a great knack of finding the right cue to unlock an exercise and make it accessible. She has a contagious passion for Pilates and is simply the best teacher on the Fylde Coast (if not Lancashire, the UK….).
Donna
I started Pilates a few years ago because from what I’d read it looked like it would strengthen my core and that would help my running. And it certainly has done that but the benefits of Pilates for me have gone way beyond my expectations. In the last two years I’ve had two bouts of serious illness and after each one Pilates has been instrumental in my recovery. I’m building back stronger and not just in my core. I’m building whole body strength. And I’m feeling so much better for it. I have Type 1 diabetes and nothing is better for my blood sugar levels than an hour of Pilates - even better than running.
Jess’s teaching style is wonderful. As a novice, I never feel left behind. She regularly takes us ‘back to basics’ and I always benefit from being reminded of the basic principles behind a particular exercise. Her themed classes are hugely enlightening and challenging (though we’re always encouraged to only take it as far as we can and not beyond that). Jess gives great cues and different cues for the same exercise can help you make a breakthrough when you’ve been wrangling with a particular exercise like Rolling Like a Ball or Spine Stretch Forward. Rather than being a practice that you start at the beginning and work at until you completely master it, my impression is that the practice of Pilates is on a continuum. And that is the way Jess teaches. She and the class are all on that continuum together. Jess is a fantastic teacher and has been instrumental in helping me continue my Pilates journey! And for that I’m enormously grateful.
Paula
After a number of years coping with knee, hip and pelvic injuries, my body finally said enough and turned the pain and discomfort level up to unbearable. Not being one to usually bother the doctor, or look for quick fixes in a bottle of painkillers, I’d heard that Pilates ‘might’ be able to help me deal with some of the root causes of my pain by building strength and improving mobility; all I can say is I wished I’d realised that much earlier and made Pilates part of my regular exercise, injured or not.
I’d initially allowed work to dictate how many sessions I did when I first started and probably didn’t do as many classes as I should have to realise the benefit, but at the start of the COVID lockdown, and working from home, I signed up for the virtual classes and incorporated the classes into my day. I’ve mostly attended Jess’ classes; her enthusiasm is addictive and no class is ever the same (which is impressive given that the classical moves are quite prescriptive), but she always manages to focus on different areas to help you build up to the moves with a strong foundation, as well as making the classes enjoyable. I’ve also appreciated her offering me alternative moves with consideration to my movement restrictions, but still get the maximum benefit from it.
However, it's not just the physical benefits, but the mental as well. The classes force you to leave your day at the door and truly focus on yourself. It's a fantastic decompression that leaves you mentally relaxed and allows for a renewed perspective.
After 9 months in lockdown and doing 5-6 classes a week, I can honestly say that more is more when it comes to Pilates, and this is about continuity and maintenance. This isn’t a quick fix but a gradual road to recovery coupled with a lifestyle change – it needs commitment. For me, I’ve found the perfect mix of regular Pilates, 3 weekly Thai massage sessions, and quarterly Sports Physio sessions, and I can happily declare I am pretty much pain free!
Nat
All I can say is that I wish I had started Pilates a long time ago. Past exercise regimes pale into insignificance in comparison to Pilates. For me it is about whole body fitness .one of the key areas has been improving my posture and through focusing on core strength and proper alignment I really feel that has improved.
I think Pilates creates a mind body connection and through it you learn to understand your body more and encourages you to focus on what is actually happening to it . For me this has helped me to learn how to reduce tension in my body and thereby stress . It is important to have something that means you have to use your brain as well as your body . Feeling physically fitter makes me feel happier . One of the great aspects of your teaching is that you encourage that mind, body connection and how to concentrate on that. I’ve also learned how important breathing is and the benefits of doing this correctly.
Pilates has also helped with my flexibility , one very noticeable area is my feet. When I started I couldn’t lay my feet down on the floor when lying on my tummy without getting horrendous cramp and I had to do everything with bent toes and my ankles cracked like mad.
I enjoy the fact that its an ongoing process and you are learning and improving all the time , one day I might feel I’ve done something better and next day same thing doesn’t quite work as well and through your classes Jess I now start to analyse why and what was going on in my body at those particular times that affected it.
I just really enjoy it , keeps me sane and helps me keep fit. Those little things like when you are stood in a queue somewhere and you start correcting your posture or practising raising up on the balls of your toes or even just pulling your ribs in !!!!
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Jess just keep doing what you are doing, you add variety, keep it interesting and dare I say fun ! And you are clearly quite innovative with your ideas which keeps us all onboard.