Online
& ON-DEMAND
ONLINE MAT PILATES
ZOOM MAT CLASSES: EVERY TUESDAY @ 18:30 (45 MINS, ALL LEVELS) & SATURDAY @ 09:00 (30 MINS, INTERMEDIATE+) GMT
ON-DEMAND LIBRARY: CLOSE TO 200 VIDEOS, VARIOUS LENGTHS & THEMES
VIEW ZOOM SCHEDULE & BOOK HERE
WHY MAT PILATES?
Joseph Pilates considered mat Pilates to be the crown jewels of the Pilates system (then called Contrology). What many people don’t realise is that many of the exercises you meet on the apparatus (Reformer, Tower, Chair, Barrel etc) are essentially clever progressions, regressions, or teaching tools for the original mat repertoire.
There’s a misconception that matwork is the ‘easier’ or more accessible option, but when you take away the springs and external feedback, you’re left with pure bodyweight work. Nowhere to hide. It’s honest work, and often far more challenging than people expect.
Joseph Pilates intended for his 1945 guidebook ‘Return to Life Through Contrology' to be used by the general population, so they could maintain a regular Pilates practice at home throughout life. It's strong work when you do it properly, and there's a reason it's stood the test of time. Try it out for yourself in a session with me!
ABOUT MY MAT CLASSES
My twice-weekly* Zoom mat classes are full body sessions that work through all planes of motion. I teach using detailed verbal cueing, with a strong focus on form and precision. I follow BASI technique as per my training.
Tuesday classes are ‘all levels’ flows, with optional progressions for those who fancy a challenge. Saturday classes are for intermediate clients with a solid understanding of the fundamentals, who want to dip their toe into some of the advanced repertoire.
We occasionally incorporate the Magic Circle and Small Pilates Ball in order to improve alignment, find centre, create resistance, deepen stretches, challenge balance and work on proprioception.
If you can’t make it to a live class, all Zoom sessions are recorded and uploaded to the on-demand platform afterwards. The on-demand platform also includes a range of one-off classes.
Class guidelines can be found at the bottom of this page.
JOIN WITH A MOTHLY SUBSCRIPTION
MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION: For £25 per month (with a 7-day free trial), access all live classes and on-demand videos. Works out at less than £2 per Zoom class.
DROP-IN: Zoom sessions £7/9. On-demand videos can be rented for £5.
*48 weeks per year
ON-DEMAND LIBRARY
ZOOM CLASS GUIDELINES
Beginners are welcome to join ‘levels’ classes, however please note that these classes are more challenging than a pure beginner class, as we work with flow, moving swiftly from one exercise to the next. At a minimum, participants should be able to hold a tabletop position comfortably, perform basic spinal flexion/abdominal exercises (chest lift, hundred prep) and bear weight on their wrists. As such, the overall pace might not be suitable for those who are new to exercising, or who have significant contraindications. Intermediate+ level classes are not suitable for beginners.
Total beginners, instead, might want to check out the following online classes and series (included in the online subscription) in advance of joining a live class: Four Week Beginners Course / Intro to Pilates Series / Pre-Pilates Class. These sessions move at a much slower pace, but they will equip you with the tools to practise effectively and safely. I recommend starting with the Beginners Course first, then the Intro series afterwards. Once you’ve completed the Intro course and you feel comfortable with the work, you should be fine to join the all levels classes.
If you’d like to learn the mat foundations in a more focused way before joining a group class, you might consider booking a private (1-1) mat session either in person (Manchester, UK) or online HERE. You can also book regular sessions if this is of interest.
If you have any injuries or contraindications, please get in touch via pilates.ashiya@gmail.com before taking a session so that we can have a chat. It might be that Zoom group classes aren’t the best option for you right now, purely on a safety level, or you might simply need to modify in places. Your safety is my priority!
If you have your camera on, I’ll be able to see and give general form corrections (directed to the group as a whole, rather than singling individuals out) but you’re also welcome to keep the camera off if that feels more comfortable. Either way, Focus Mode will be enabled, which means participants won’t be able to see one another, giving you more privacy.
No music is streamed during live classes, so you can play whatever you feel like listening to in the background. Or nothing at all. Your choice!
