Body Perfect Pilates

07/11/2026

Dolphin on the Trapeze Table

This has to be one of my favourite exercises!

It requires considerable hamstring and gluteal strength, while also asking for beautifully fluid—almost buttery—movement through the spine.

The spring length and attachment height can be adjusted, allowing the exercise to be tailored to each client’s ability and progressed as their strength and confidence develop.

What often surprises clients is how much upper-body strength and stability are required to support and control the rest of the sequence.

Dolphin brings everything together: upper- and lower-body strength, spinal mobility, coordination and control.

The client in these photographs worked incredibly hard to refine this exercise—and now makes it look deceptively easy! 🙌🏻🏆😁

PilatesBasingstoke Annie C

03/11/2026

The Ladder Barrel

The Ladder Barrel is an unassuming piece of Pilates apparatus. With no springs, it can appear less challenging than some of the other equipment in the studio—but don’t be fooled! 😜

Instead of relying on spring resistance, the Ladder Barrel asks you to control your own body weight as you move over, around and away from its curved surface. This can be surprisingly challenging!

The barrel can support the body while exploring movement, but it can also add a fresh challenge to familiar exercises.

Once you’re confident with exercises such as Roll Up, Roll Over, Swan, Teaser or Climb a Tree, the curve of the Ladder Barrel provides a wonderful way to test your balance and control while challenging your mobility and core strength.

It’s a superb addition to the studio, and I love introducing clients to it and helping them discover what it can do 😊

Annie C

20/10/2026

Why do we keep our class sizes small?

I have worked in several Pilates studios and taught a range of class sizes over the years.

When I first qualified in 2000, the studio where I worked could have ten clients exercising at once. In an apparatus studio, where clients followed individual programmes rather than performing the same exercises together, that was a lot!

At Body Perfect Pilates, our small-group Semi-Private sessions are limited to a maximum of three clients.

This allows me to spend time with each person without anyone feeling rushed. Clients have time to ask questions, while I can observe their movement, offer feedback and make adjustments when needed.

Although everyone has an individual programme designed around their needs and goals, it remains flexible and can change on the spot.

If someone has worked longer hours and spent more time sitting, we might adapt their programme to address how their body feels that day. If they’re feeling stiff after a weekend of gardening, we might adjust it. If they’ve stubbed a toe and find weight-bearing uncomfortable, we can work around that too!

These are just a few examples of why individual attention and flexibility matter—and why we keep our groups small 😊

Annie C

14/10/2026

What does an initial assessment involve?

An initial assessment involves looking and listening.

From the moment you arrive, I begin to notice how you naturally move—how you walk, stand and hold yourself, and even the footwear you’re wearing. This isn’t about judging your posture; it helps me see your everyday, relaxed movement before any instruction is given.

Most importantly, I listen to you. We’ll talk about why you want to do Pilates, your relevant history and what you would like to achieve.

I usually begin with you lying on your back—known as a supine position—and talk you through a pelvic tilt. I observe how you breathe, how your pelvis and lower back move, and how your body coordinates the movement.

Is your weight distributed evenly? Do you shift towards one side? Can your pelvis move comfortably?

What we do next depends entirely on what I’ve observed, as well as your previous Pilates experience and whether you have used the apparatus before.

If you’re new to studio Pilates, it can take a little time for your body to understand the movements and learn how to use the equipment—and that’s absolutely fine. Everything is introduced at your pace.

Many clients leave their session feeling taller, more mobile and relaxed 😊

Annie C

06/10/2026

Could a small-group Pilates session suit you?

At Body Perfect Pilates, we focus on the individual. We all move differently and have different goals—so why should everyone perform the same exercises at the same time?

Everyone begins with at least two 1:1 sessions before joining a Semi-Private session. These sessions currently have no more than three clients working in the studio at the same time.

Although you share the studio, you follow your own individual programme. This gives you the opportunity to take each exercise at your own pace, ask questions and tell me how the movements feel.

As your strength, mobility and confidence develop, your exercises are adjusted and progressed to continue meeting your individual needs.

If you’d like to find out whether a Semi-Private session could suit you, please get in touch 😊

Annie C

29/09/2026

The Oov is a smaller piece of apparatus that arrived at the studio last year—and it’s fab! 🤩

Here, I’ve taken a standard exercise on the Combo Chair and incorporated the Oov to give it an additional focus.

The hamstrings are still working to control the movement of the pedal, while balancing on the Oov adds a challenge for the abdominals and requires deep spinal flexion. The abdominals are definitely working the hardest in this variation!

Using props alongside the larger Pilates apparatus can bring greater focus and intention to a familiar exercise.

PilatesBasingstoke

18/09/2026

“I’ve got a bad back—can Pilates help me?”

If you’ve had your back assessed by an appropriate healthcare professional and have been given the go-ahead to exercise, Pilates may be a helpful option 🙌🏻

Pilates can be gentle, low impact and carefully adapted to suit the individual. At Body Perfect Pilates, everyone begins with two 1:1 sessions before joining one of our small-group sessions. This gives us time to understand how you move and choose exercises appropriate for you.

Ongoing individual assessment and carefully selected exercises are fundamental to the way we teach. We can also provide suitable exercises to practise at home if you feel confident taking these on.

Our studio contains a variety of Pilates apparatus—not just reformers—which gives us a huge range of exercise options. Several pieces are raised off the floor, so if getting up and down is difficult, we can work around this too.

Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss whether our approach might suit you 😁

Annie C

08/09/2026

The Pilates Reformer gets a lot of love—but let’s not forget the other superb apparatus in the Pilates world!

Let me introduce you to the CoreAlign® 🤩

Although it isn’t a traditional piece of Pilates apparatus, it’s an incredibly versatile piece of equipment that can be adapted for many different people.

Instead of springs, the CoreAlign uses rubber resistance cords of varying strengths. The ladder provides support when needed, and exercises can be performed standing in different positions, kneeling or lying down. We can even incorporate smaller pieces of Pilates equipment.

It’s fantastic for exploring proprioception, balance, control, posture, gait, flexibility and endurance ❤️

23/06/2026

We have an air conditioning unit! 🙌🏻 If you’re worried about being too sweaty this week, this beauty arrived on Friday and I can’t tell you how much cooler it is in the studio. Whilst we are blessed with lots of windows, it has been known to be like a greenhouse at times in the summer months. Not any more, it feels so much nicer 🥳☺️🤩 🙌🏻🙌🏻

05/05/2026

You should be able to find your Pilates Instructor on a database. If they don’t list on their website where they have trained chances are they aren’t. If you can’t find them on this website chances are they haven’t completed the training.

Reformer Pilates businesses in the UK rose nearly ten-fold between 2024 and 2025.