Services
Live and Online Classes
Keep Fit
Join Lynne every Tuesday and Thursday for an hour of fun and fitness.
There are a great variety of benefits from taking part in fitness classes, these include a strengthening of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, improved self-esteem, an assistance with maintaining bone and muscle strength, as well as helping to manage your weight, easing depression and helping to manage stress, and helping people to sleep better.
Lynne Shepherdson
Keep Fit: Tuesdays, 9.15am and 10.30am
Thursdays, 1.30pm
Chair Aerobics: Thursdays, 2.30pm
(Lynne carries out 1-2-1 sessions on Thursday afternoons also - please ask at reception)
Lynne was diagnosed with MS in 2005. Because of this she chose to do a personal training course and various other courses specialising in disability from 2007 onwards.
Prior to this Lynne joined the Centre as a counselling practitioner in 2006.
Pilates
Pilates is a well-proven body conditioning and balancing method that works from the inside out.
Low impact, yet thoroughly effective, exercises and stretches target the deep postural muscles and help to re-balance the body with mindful movement in harmony with the breath. It promotes strength, tone, flexibility and relaxation and helps deal with postural pain.
As you achieve better alignment and posture, extend your range of movement and release tension and stress, the result is a happier body and mind. The gentle weight-bearing exercises in Pilates are also beneficial in maintaining, and even improving, bone density. Pilates is suitable for almost anyone, whatever age or level of fitness; whatever challenge is right for you.
The mat work, or seated exercises, tone and stretch the body, increasing strength and flexibility in all muscles and joints, resulting in ease of movement.
Pilates focuses on correct breathing and strengthens the deep core stabilizing muscles of the lower back and abdomen. Pilates exercises are low impact and work to balance the body through slow, controlled exercises that work on quality not quantity. Pilates methods are suitable for all ages and abilities providing an energising workout.
Kay Foster
Chair Pilates: Thursdays at 10.15am
Kay has been teaching Pilates since 2012 and prior to that she worked in the fitness industry as a Personal Trainer. Due to a back injury Kay was encouraged to take up Pilates to enable her to continue with sports (hockey and running are her favourites). She then decided to become a Pilates instructor so that she could help others. She realised that it was really important to stay mobile and that balance and flexibility are important in everyday life.
Kay loves teaching Pilates and enjoys the holistic approach. She appreciates the rehabilitation aspect of Pilates and the opportunity to help people to be the best they can. Kay wants Pilates to be accessible to everyone and wishes to ensure that during any of her sessions people are having fun as well as working hard. She will use equipment to create more challenge with the exercises but won't push you beyond your limitations!
Kay is also qualified in Pilates for common Orthopaedic conditions and Pilates for Pregnancy. She has an RSPH Level 2 Award in Understanding Mental Health and and is qualified to instruct people in spinning and kettlebells.
James Powell
Pilates: Mondays at 10am and Wednesday at 12pm
Stretch and Relaxation: Mondays at 11.15am
James has taught at the Centre for over ten years. His class is loved by many.
He also offers filmed Youtube Pilates sessions - ask him for more details.
Come and join the fun while becoming more supple and gaining more core strength. A perfect way to start your week!
Miki Floyd
Fridays online, 3pm to 3.40pm
Micaela, known to all as Miki, has a Doctorate in Chemistry (Sardinia, Italy) and a MSc at Cambridge University but found her true vocation in helping people recover from injury and postural deficiencies through exercise.
Having had a successful sporting background herself, a third dan black belt in judo, she has qualifications in Pilates, Yoga, Activation and more recently massage. Miki has been teaching Pilates since 2003 and is a recognised Level 4 Instructor.
Miki was one of our first class leaders to teach by Zoom over lockdown in 2020 and has continued since but is no longer teaching live classes as she has moved back to Italy!
To join the class go each time to https://tinyurl.com/yc5ts3yz NB there is no password
Yoga
Yoga is an applied science of the mind and body.
The practice and study of yoga helps to bring about a natural balance of body and mind in which the state of health can manifest itself. Yoga creates an internal environment that allows the individual to come to his or her own state of dynamic balance, or health.
There are many benefits to yoga including, reduction in anxiety, more resistance to stress, lower blood pressure, more efficient heart function, better respiratory function, and improved physical fitness.
Louise Windsor
Mat Yoga: Wednesdays at 10.30am
Louise has been studying and practicing Yoga and Meditation for over 12 years.
She took her first teacher training in India in 2012 and has since taken further courses in Yoga for Post Traumatic Stress, Yoga as a therapy, Yin Yoga and Pregnancy Yoga. Her passion is the slow mindful aspect of the practice, helping to ease the busy mind into the moment to create space to feel calm and balanced. Through her studies in Yin Yoga she is also fascinated by the energetic benefits of the practice related to Traditional Chinese Medicine and the meridian (energy) lines that run through the body.
The yoga classes are adapted using props so that anyone with a mobility impairment can participate safely and accurately in them. This way the benefits of yoga: more space; flexibility; strength; balance and calm can be felt and enjoyed.
The sessions always include breathing and relaxation and the more physical aspects of yoga are approached in a fun and mindful way. Everyone is welcome to drop in and see if this is something they may enjoy and feel healthier from.
Chair yoga offers simple warm-up stretches, breathing exercises, yoga postures, and a relaxation exercise, all done sitting down.
All sitting yoga poses bring elasticity to the knees, hips, ankles, and muscles of the groin. Seated yoga removes tension and hardness in the diaphragm and throat, which makes breathing smoother and easier. It keeps the spine steady, pacifies the mind, and stretches the muscles of the heart. It also causes blood circulation to increase to all parts of the body.
Louise Windsor
Chair Yoga: Thursdays at 11.45am (Live)
Online Chair Yoga Class: Tuesdays at 11.30am (ring us for details)
Louise has been studying and practicing Yoga and Meditation for over 12 years.
She took her first teacher training in India in 2012 and has since taken further courses in Yoga for Post Traumatic Stress, Yoga as a therapy, Yin Yoga and Pregnancy Yoga. Her passion is the slow mindful aspect of the practice, helping to ease the busy mind into the moment to create space to feel calm and balanced. Through her studies in Yin Yoga she is also fascinated by the energetic benefits of the practice related to Traditional Chinese Medicine and the meridian (energy) lines that run through the body.
Her chair yoga class is gentle and mindful. There will be some movement with the breath to get the joints moving and encourage the energy, Qi, to flow easily, some held poses and always a guided relaxation meditation. All levels are welcome.