Baringa Studio

Pilates, pioneered by the late Joseph Pilates, is a mind-body exercise system designed to strengthen the weak and challenge the strong.  Pilates has many benefits from strengthening and lengthening the spine to toning and strengthening the complete body.  The best core workout you will ever get.  You will be sure to feel amazing after our pilates sessions, leaving you feeling completely refreshed and energised for your day. 

Pilates is a low impact exercise programme where we can use springs to both challenge and help with the exercises.  No matter what your pilates history, age or ability you will find that you will fall in Love with the pilates method from the very first session.  

Joseph Pilates was born near Düsseldorf, Germany, in 1883. Though little is known about his early life, he was a frail child who suffered from asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever. His determination to overcome these ailments drove him to become an accomplished gymnast.

In 1912, Pilates moved to England, where he worked as a circus performer, boxer, and self-defense instructor. During World War I, he was interned with other German nationals, which provided him the opportunity to develop his physical fitness technique further by teaching his fellow internees. Later, he served as an orderly in a hospital on the Isle of Man, working with patients who were unable to walk. To assist these patients, he ingeniously attached bed springs to the hospital beds, which led to the creation of his famous piece of equipment known as the "Cadillac." Much of his equipment, albeit slightly adapted, is still in use today in many Pilates studios.

In the early 1920s, Pilates emigrated to the USA with his wife, Clara. Together, they developed and taught the method in their "body-conditioning gym" in New York, which opened in 1926. The studio featured much of the apparatus designed to enhance his rehabilitation work and quickly gained popularity, especially among the dance community, as it offered a way to improve technique and recover from injuries. Word of the studio spread rapidly, attracting many celebrities of the day, including dance legends such as Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn, Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, and Martha Graham, as well as actor Jose Ferrer and author Christopher Isherwood. Remarkably, 60% of the clientele were men.

In 1932, Pilates published a booklet titled "Your Health," followed by "Return to Life Through Contrology" in 1945. Through these writings and the teachings of his students, his method continued to thrive even after his death in 1967 at the age of 83. Initially, this exercise method was known as Contrology, but it was only after his passing that it became widely recognised as the Pilates Method.

Reformer Pilates is a traditional, apparatus-based Pilates format. The reformer itself is a narrow bed, complete with a sliding carriage, straps and pulleys that are made more or less resistant by adding or removing loaded springs.

Feedback from the apparatus reinforces technique and challenges stability, while the manipulation of resistance creates work in big and small muscle groups alike, culminating in powerful, whole-body conditioning. Similarly to Matwork, all exercises on the Reformer are scalable, making this a truly versatile format.

The benefits of Reformer Pilates are many, including: improved mobility and flexibility; postural correction; development of long, lean muscle tone; and strengthening, from the inside-out. Reformer can also accelerate performance results as part of a cross-training regimen and can be effectively incorporated into rehabilitation programs, most commonly in a one to one session.

The Stretch and Flow Reformer class is a wonderful experience that allows the reformer to guide you safely into deeper stretches. This class offers deep relaxation, rejuvenation, and relief for tired, stressed, and achy minds and bodies. Embrace the flow and discover the soothing benefits for both your body and mind!

Join us every Thursday evening at 6:30 pm for a rejuvenating FREE relaxation class. In this session, you'll learn the art of relaxation and meditation through beautiful guided words and breathing techniques that will transform you into a complete state of calmness. This class is a must for everyone, and you’ll leave feeling significantly less stressed and more at peace.