My Personal Philosophy for Helping You to Overcome Chronic Pain

For the past 20 years, I've assisted hundreds of people in overcoming their chronic pain through Pilates.  With so many different types of Pilates available from Classical to Modern and everything in between, how does my approach differ? What can you expect if you learn Pilates from me? While the principles of Joseph Pilates Method of movement are always the foundation, each teacher interprets this slightly differently and has their own unique approach. Here are some aspects of my personal Pilates teaching philosophy that make me unique, and how this can ensure your Pilates experience for overcoming pain and aging well is as effective as possible.

A Personalised Approach

When you begin Pilates with me, you start with a virtual 1 hour Initial Assessment. Some people question the need for this session, and I know it's common these days for teachers to allow clients to go straight into group or private sessions without an Initial Assessment.  For me, it's essential as I want to gather as much information about your past medical history and your individual needs as I can. which will help me to get you on your way to pain-free living as quickly as possible. Without this session, it takes much longer to piece together this information, slowing down your progress. It's also highly beneficial for you as I assess your posture and suggest changes if necessary. You also learn the Pilates breathing techniques and how to connect your abdominal muscles. You can ask any questions you may have, and we can discuss what your goals are for Pilates. You should come away from this session with a solid understanding of the basics, homework, and clearly defined goals we can work towards. You have begun your journey towards pain-free living!

Meeting You Where You Are At

When you begin Pilates with me, I will meet you where you are at that point. Some people are concerned that they are in too much pain or won't be able to do what is required of them. There is no required level of skill to begin Pilates. After you have had your Initial Assessment with me, I design a personalised program of exercises that is suitable for you and the challenges you are facing. This can be as basic or advanced as is necessary. It's all based on which exercises are going to help you overcome your pain as quickly and effectively as possible. After the Initial Assessment,  most people begin with a 45 minute virtual session, but if this is too long for you, you can do a 30 minute or 15 minute session. I can change your exercises at each session if necessary, if you are having a pain flare-up or are experiencing low energy levels. Whatever your needs are, I can cater to them in order to help you overcome pain and achieve your goals.

Utilisng the Mind Body Connection of Pilates

When you're dealing with debilitating chronic pain, it can become all-consuming. The mind-body connection of Pilates is about taking control of your body with your mind. This takes time to master, but as you develop this skill, you will be able to calm your nervous system using the Pilates breathing. You will also improve your body awareness, which allows you to rewire your brain by replacing movement patterns that don't serve you with new ones. Being able to take control of your body with your mind and create positive change is very empowering and something I focus on a lot with my clients. The more skills they have to be able to overcome and then manage pain, the more empowered they feel. I also encourage my clients to focus on and celebrate every small "win" they experience on their journey to becoming pain-free. Celebrate your first pain-free day, then your first pain-free week. The first time you can enjoy a 5 minute walk without pain is a wonderful feeling. Celebrating all these small milestones and focusing on them not only feels good, but you are actively training your brain to look for more wins. This keeps you motivated and focused on your goals. I'll be your biggest cheerleader, celebrating with you as you reach these important milestones. It's my mission to help as many people as possible to become pain-free through Pilates, and I genuinely love seeing my clients reach their goals and become pain-free! If you are looking for a Pilates teacher who will be as excited about your progress as you are, then I'm your teacher!

Constantly Improving & Evolving

Even though my approach to Pilates has been working very successfully to help my clients overcome their pain, I'm constantly looking for ways to improve on what I'm already doing. New research is coming through continually, and this can change how I approach teaching my clients and what I teach my clients. It's also what keeps Pilates teaching challenging and interesting both for myself and my clients. I attend courses and workshops to experience new styles of teaching, and I'm open to change. After all, when the pandemic hit, I pivoted from in-person sessions to virtual sessions, and these sessions have been incredibly successful. Pilates teaching is constantly evolving and I'm open and willing to evolve too!

My book MOVE FREE FROM PAIN by Joanne Sutton contains more information about my philosophy for helping you to overcome chronic pain and is available on Amazon worldwide. I  offer 1 on 1 Pilates sessions virtually via Teams, and the personalised nature of these sessions ensures you are following a Pilates program of exercises that are ideal for you.

If you are ready to start Pilates, email me at [email protected] .  Alternatively, you can book an Initial Assessment with me here or  take the free 10 day trial of JS Mind Body Pilates, my online studio which is a library of on-demand videos, and start straight away.  It would be my pleasure to assist you on your Pilates journey to pain-free living!