Trueform Physio Pilates

Trueform Physio Pilates Specialist Pilates Clinic. Ali Pickett is a Pilates specialist with a mission. No two treatment plans are the same.

A new way to learn Pilates, a tried and tested technique with outstanding proven results developed over a decade with thousands of members and over 13,000 hands on teaching hours with a highly qualified registered practitioner. Ali has a clear message: we live with our bodies for a long time, and, with the right guidance, we can make that a great time. Whether you're recovering from surgery, manag

ing joint pain or simply want to move with more confidence as you get older, her approach helps you rebuild strength, mobility, and balance. Ali’s style is down-to-earth offering a refreshing, practical way to reconnect with your body and get more out of life. She’s worked in the fitness world for over 30 years and has specialised in Pilates for the last 20. A fully qualified Pilates therapist and practitioner, Ali has trained across four different methodologies and developed a unique Pilates-based system tailored to each person’s needs. Her clients include people in midlife and beyond, and those dealing with lifelong mobility issues or chronic pain, and anyone who wants a safe, intelligent approach to exercise. Over the past decade, Ali has created the Trueform Body Mechanics System, the Pain to Peace access programme, and opened the Trueform Pilates Clinic, a purpose-designed space for 1:1 and small group Pilates in Burley-in-Wharfedale, supported by physiotherapists and MSK doctors. Every client starts with a phone consultation, followed by a physiotherapy assessment and postural assessment, so you can feel confident that the care you receive is truly tailored to you.

03/08/2026

We’ve shared quite a bit about squats. And this short pre-squat activation drill adds more muscle engagement whilst helping placement.
Pressing into the block activates the inner thighs (adductors) before you go into the squat.
When these muscles switch on:
– The knees are less likely to drift forward
– The hips hinge more cleanly
– The chest doesn’t fall forward
And it makes the squat more efficient, giving you a stronger lift.

It’s subtle.
And you’re not just strengthening muscle, you’re improving coordination.
Pressing the feet, controlling the hinge, balancing on one leg…
That layered focus challenges your nervous system in a productive way. Multiple points of attention, working together.

This excerpt is from one of our videos shared with our members if anyone is away or to keep moving at home whenever we’re on a break.

Smarter squats at Trueform Physio Pilates in Burley in Wharfedale.

When people come to us, things on the outside often look very different from how they feel on the inside. It's the same ...
03/08/2026

When people come to us, things on the outside often look very different from how they feel on the inside. It's the same with what we do: what looks like a small movement on the outside can require the most effort, while yielding the biggest results... over time.
And that's because this isn't really about exercise.
It's about attention. Concentration is part of the workout.
From the outside, the movements we do can look slow, subtle, even "easy". There's no jumping, no heavy weights, no obvious strain.
But from the inside, it's demanding in a very different way.
It asks for presence.
Decision-making.
Restraint, knowing when not to push, rush or over-do.
And coordination.
These are exactly the mental skills many of us lose when we're tired, stressed, or spending long stretches sitting down and switching off.
It's something we hear often from members:
* "I'm not exhausted, but I feel like I've worked hard."
* "I didn't expect it to be so mentally tiring."
* 'I notice I'm more aware of how I stand up, walk, or move through the day afterwards.

That combination of thinking and moving is part of a randomised Control Test into dual-task training at The Hong Kong Polytechnic and Metropolitan Universities. Working with 190 older adults with a history of at least one fall, where balance and attention were challenged together, movements requiring focus engaged the brain differently from repetitive, automatic exercise. Tasks that combined posture, balance and control were shown to be linked with improved neural efficiency.

Slower, more intentional movement also increases sensory feedback, your brain gets clearer information about where your body is in space and how it's moving. Over time, this improves coordination and confidence, not just strength.
And it's why it transfers so well to real life.

Because real life isn't about 'max-effort', it's about moving well when you're tired, distracted or doing something else at the same time.
That's the workout.

One thing I’ve learnt over the years is that hearing what someone says and understanding what they mean aren’t always th...
30/07/2026

One thing I’ve learnt over the years is that hearing what someone says and understanding what they mean aren’t always the same thing.

When someone tells us about a problem, our instinct is often to respond immediately. We want to help, offer an answer, explain something, or sometimes even reassure them that things aren’t as bad as they feel. It’s a very human reaction.

But sometimes, without realising it, we start steering the conversation towards what makes sense to us rather than staying with what the other person is trying to tell us.
For me, listening properly means being willing to pause, reflect back what I’ve heard, and allow the other person to tell me whether I’ve understood them correctly.

And that sounds so simple, but it doesn’t always come naturally. Partly because it means accepting that we might not have got it right.
Hearing someone say, “Actually, that’s not quite what I meant,” can feel uncomfortable.

Nobody particularly enjoys realising they have misunderstood something. We want to help, we want to get it right, and sometimes that means we move too quickly towards an answer instead of staying curious about what the person is telling us.
But that moment of correction is useful. It brings us closer to understanding.
Because your experience matters. The things you want to get back to or move on from, the challenges you are facing, and what feels important to you all help shape the way forward.
And this isn’t just about having better conversations. It’s about what happens when someone feels they have a genuine part to play.

When people are given the space to explain what matters to them, they become more involved in the decisions, the choices and the changes that follow.

If you’d like to talk through what’s going on and find out how Ali may be able to help, call us on 01943 864944 and we can arrange a phone consultation.

27/07/2026

If your hips take a while to get going, or feel uncomfortable after sitting, you’re certainly not alone.

Stiff hips can make everyday movement feel harder than it should. But it isn’t always simply a case of stretching more. The hips may also need greater stability and better support from the surrounding muscles.

In this video, we work through a range of gentle hip mobility exercises and stretches. Some can be done seated, with options to progress to the floor when that feels right for you.

Take your time and allow each stretch the chance to develop. You don’t need to force your body for the movement to be useful.

At Trueform Physio Pilates, we help you understand what your body needs so you can move with more confidence and less discomfort.

If ongoing hip stiffness or discomfort is affecting how you move, you can book a consultation by phone to talk it through. No pressure, just a conversation to understand where you’re at and what might help: 01943 864944

When people arrive here, they’re usually dealing with something that has been bothering them for a while.It might be a b...
23/07/2026

When people arrive here, they’re usually dealing with something that has been bothering them for a while.
It might be a back that flares up on holiday, a knee that makes certain movements feel uncertain, or simply the feeling that their body isn’t as reliable as it used to be.
What I notice most in the early weeks isn’t just the physical limitation. It’s the mindset that has developed around it.

People start planning around the problem.
They move more hesitantly, sometimes without even realising it.
That’s completely natural. When the body has been uncomfortable for long enough, we start protecting it.

But here over time, something else begins to happen.
Members start noticing small changes in everyday life. A movement that used to require a bit of mental preparation just… happens. Someone realises they’ve walked across a car park or climbed the stairs without thinking about their back or their knee. The body starts sharing the work again instead of everything being focused on one vulnerable spot.

Those moments are often more meaningful than any number in a gym.
And that’s because fear changes how we move. If we’re worried that bending, turning, or walking further might cause pain, we naturally start avoiding those things. Over time the body can become more limited simply because it’s not being used.

Pilates builds strength, of course. But just as importantly it gives people the chance to move again in a way that feels controlled, supported and repeatable.

Gradually the body becomes more capable.
And the mindset around movement begins to change with it.
If you’ve realised you’re holding back, or feel stuck wondering how things could change, call 01943 864944 Ali can help you work out your next steps.

20/07/2026

Why does “not good enough” feel so familiar?
There’s a sort of question that often lurks in the back of our minds when we attempt to do something that feels at odds with our sense of ourselves. Questions like, Am I up for this? or Should I even be doing this at all? And many of us recognise this. But recognition doesn’t always help when it comes to the feelings that are conjured up. And the discomfort can be enough to mean, procrastination or stopping completely take over, often disguised as perfectly sensible decisions.

So, What if the feeling isn’t proof you’re failing?

Feeling “not good enough” can seem like evidence that you are getting something wrong. But it may actually be a sign that you are stretching beyond what feels safe, familiar and predictable.
Could discomfort mean you’re growing?

When you reach further, step outside your comfort zone or begin to change a long-held pattern, uncertainty often comes with it. That does not mean you are incapable; it means you are moving beyond the boundaries of what you already know.

Why does progress sometimes feel so scary?

Growth rarely feels completely confident while it is happening. Whether someone is rebuilding strength, learning to trust their body again or trying a movement they have avoided for years, the fear often arrives before the confidence does.

What helps people move beyond this thinking?

At Trueform, we see members progress when they stop treating every wobble, hesitation or difficult session as a verdict on their ability. With the right support, movement becomes less about proving yourself and more about noticing, learning and building confidence gradually.
What could “not good enough” be telling you?

Perhaps it is not telling you to stop. Perhaps it is telling you that you are reaching a little further than before, and that may be exactly where change begins.

A back problem that starts at 17 doesn’t really stay “a teenage injury”.It becomes something you learn to live around.So...
16/07/2026

A back problem that starts at 17 doesn’t really stay “a teenage injury”.

It becomes something you learn to live around.
Something you adjust your work, your movement, and your expectations for.

That was the case for one of our members.

Rest was the original advice. That’s what you were given back then. But over time, the problem doesn’t disappear, it spreads into how you move as a whole system.

Like many people we see, he tried everything over the years. Different approaches, different methods, always looking for something that would actually make a lasting difference.
That’s where Pilates became the turning point.
Opening up an understanding that the back isn’t the only issue.

Our LifeSkill system isn't just exercise, it gives you more of an understanding as to how you move.
Building control, activating the right areas, staying switched on to the detail.

In the past, it was easy to stop when things felt better. But the return of symptoms always showed the same thing, consistency and commitment matters takes you beyond that short-term relief.

And now for him and for our other members it’s part of maintenance. Part of staying able.

And that’s what allows us to keep living actively for the long term.

If you have a long term issue that you need to address, arrange a consultation call with Ali and she'll guide you through our process: 01943 864944

13/07/2026

Your tight shoulders may need stretching, but how you prepare for that stretch matters.
When the chest and shoulders feel tight or restricted, it can be tempting to go straight into a strong stretch. But healthy shoulder movement depends on more than the shoulder itself.

The pelvis, ribs, collarbones and shoulder blades all need to work together. So before opening through the chest, we begin by finding better alignment and gently mobilising the shoulders.

From there, chest-opening stretches can be introduced more effectively, using movement, gravity and the weight of the arms to help release restriction across the front of the chest and shoulders.

This is also something I manage personally, having rotator cuff damage in both shoulders. The aim is not to avoid stretching, but to stretch with enough support, control and awareness that the shoulder can move more freely.

A good stretch is not just about going further. It is about creating the right conditions for the movement.

If tightness or restriction keeps returning, a physiotherapy-led Pilates assessment can help identify what may be contributing to it and which exercises are appropriate for you.

You may have seen several healthcare professionals over the years. You've probably been given exercises, advice and expl...
09/07/2026

You may have seen several healthcare professionals over the years. You've probably been given exercises, advice and explanations, some of which helped, some of which didn't.
That isn't unusual.
The difference isn't always in the exercise itself. Often, it's in how well someone understands the person standing in front of them.
No one else knows what it's like to live in your body.

You're the only person who knows where you feel stiff first thing in the morning. The movements you've quietly stopped doing. The activities you miss. The moments when something feels different, even if you can't quite explain why.
Those experiences matter.
They help us understand not just what's happening, but how it's affecting your life.
Our role isn't simply to tell you what to do.

Our role is to listen carefully, combine what you tell us with years of experience in movement, rehabilitation and pain management, and build a plan that makes sense for you.
Ali has spent decades helping people move with greater confidence and less pain. That experience means she can recognise patterns, understand how the body compensates and know which approaches are most likely to help.
But experience is only part of the picture.

The best decisions are made when your knowledge of your own experience is combined with our understanding of how the body works.
That's why we ask questions. Why we watch how you move. Why we encourage feedback throughout your sessions.
Because rehabilitation isn't something that's done to you.
It's something we work on together.

When you're listened to, you begin to understand your body with greater confidence. You become better at recognising what helps, what doesn't and how to keep moving well long after you've left the studio.
That's the goal.
Not simply helping you feel better today, but giving you the confidence and understanding to look after your body for years to come.

Most people think balance is something you test in a clinic, standing on one leg, trying not to wobble.But what really m...
06/07/2026

Most people think balance is something you test in a clinic, standing on one leg, trying not to wobble.
But what really matters is the rest of it, life beyond that moment.

Getting up from a chair without thinking about it.
Turning quickly without that split-second hesitation.
Carrying shopping, walking on uneven pavements, going up or down stairs without gripping the rail.

That’s where balance shows itself, not in a static position, but in the small, repeated demands of everyday movement.

And when it’s not quite right, people usually don’t notice at first. They just start adapting. Shorter steps. More caution. Less ease.

We look at balance as part of the whole system: strength, control, confidence in movement, not just a test on one leg in a clinic.

Because the goal isn’t to hold a position perfectly.
It’s to move through life without needing to think about how you’re moving.

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120 Main Street
Burley In Wharfedale
LS297JX

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