Mels Pilates

General information

PILATES
Instructed by Mel Ashley
Level 3 (included on REPS)
Register of exercise professionals

In 2005, I started working in the fitness industry. I soon decided that Pilates was the road I wanted to take and qualified at Level 2 in 2006. To further improve my knowledge, I went on to study Pilates Progressions in 2007 followed by Pilates small equipment.

Because of the nature of Pilates and the fact that it tends to attract people with a history of back or joint problems or people with a general lack of mobility, the rules have recently changed in the fitness industry,

Due to this, I took the decision to take my knowledge further and have now become an Advanced Pilates Instructor.

At Level 3 this is an Oxford and Cambridge recognised qualification.

I have a great passion for Pilates and over the last decade of teaching I have seen my clients improve not only their own “Body Awareness” but reduce stress levels, increase mobility and strength, help to eliminate lower back pain, reduce sciatic pain, correct bad shoulder movement, and also increase concentration levels.

Pilates is not a high impact sport but an activity that can be performed by anyone, even those who have never embarked on an exercise routine before. Its movements are slow and controlled.

Joseph Herbertus Pilates was the creator of this phenomenon; born in Düsseldorf in 1880 he was a frail and sickly child suffering from rickets, asthma and rheumatic fever. In his determination to overcome this. He knew he had to focus on his physical fitness, but felt the need to experiment with different approaches, these included yoga, self defence, gymnastics, skiing, dance, circus training and weight training.

He later developed his own mind, body experience which took his name ‘Pilates’.

Tried and tested on his frail body he proved its worth, and he began to teach these techniques to others, starting with training detectives at Scotland Yard.

Because of his nationality when the First World War broke he was interned in Lancaster followed by The Isle of Man, where he then started training in the camp infirmary, instructing his fellow internees which proved invaluable.

Joseph helped recuperate many soldiers suffering from amputations where much of his knowledge was used.
Later in life he had his own studio in New York which attracted top Ballet Dancers, athletes and gymnasts as news of his findings started to spread.

Joseph wrote many books on this discipline, exercises in these books are very advanced reflecting his clientele.

There are many versions of Pilates, many of these are extremely advanced, making the journey to this level somewhat blurred as there needs to be complete understanding of the principles to fully experience the benefits.

Whether the reason for joining a class or taking personal one to one sessions are clinical or enforcing relaxation, reducing tension or simply for the fitness benefits - I concentrate on helping people embrace the founding principles, so they can take the journey to the outcome which they individually require.