The transforming powers of pilates
Last updated 09:58, Tuesday, 08 April 2008
WHEN Vic Martin suffered a badly broken leg nearly three years ago, doctors told him he would always walk with a limp.
But with the help of pilates sessions in Carlisle, his leg has not only healed but is stronger than ever.
Optician Vic, 58, and wife Jan, 55, both of Whitehaven, are keen cyclists and regularly go on biking holidays in the Spanish mountains.
But, about three years ago, they both noticed that they were struggling to build their upper body strength.
Jan kept reading about the benefits of pilates – which uses movement and stretching to build strength and flexibility – and they decided to try it.
They contacted Julie Kelly Smith at Border Pilates, in Carlisle’s Warwick Road, and went for a trial session.
The couple, previously of Great Corby, started weekly one-to-one sessions – but shortly after beginning, Vic suffered his break.
“We were on holiday in Spain and I was carrying the bike downstairs when I lost my footing,” he explained.
“It was a key-line fracture, the worst type.
“I was in hospital in Spain for about a week and on crutches for nearly a year afterwards. It was really hard to recover from and the medical opinion was that I would always limp.”
But with a lot of willpower and help from his pilates instructor, Vic has battled back to full health.
His personally-tailored programme involved a combination of mat work and work on the reformer machine – a moving carriage fitted with resistance springs.
At the same time Jan was also having one-to-one pilates sessions and the couple were also attending a weekly bodytone class.
For Vic, instructor Julie concentrated on leg work and building overall fitness.
He says his leg has now fully heeled, he has added two inches to his chest – boosting lung capacity – and back problems are now a thing of the past.
Meanwhile Jan has dropped several dress sizes and seen her fitness and posture improve dramatically.
They both swear by pilates – which tones and lengthens muscles, transforming and improving body shape and boosting general fitness – and have decided to share their story to show others what a difference it can make.
“I believe that if you want to have a decent and healthy old age you have to start looking after yourself.
“I see it as an investment in later life and pilates has helped me to do that,” explained Jan.
“When I fell off my bike the other week I should really have broken a bone but I only sprained my wrist.
“It does so much for your body and your overall health.”
Best of all, the couple say it has transformed them both into fit amateur cyclists – and they can now tackle the Spanish mountains with ease.
Instructor Julie said pilates can cure a whole range of problems, particularly back pain, and is great to do alongside another form of exercise, such as cycling and running.
At Border Pilates she runs a range of different classes and personal training sessions to suit different needs.
Clients range in age from teenagers to pensioners and she says more and more men are now getting into it.
And with a host of celebrities – from film stars to rugby players – now giving pilates their seal of approval, she says demand is on the up.
n To find out more visit www.borderpilates.com or call Julie on 01228 810910.
