Ellie’s Story
Back in 2023, whilst at University, I was diagnosed with scoliosis. It was a condition that I knew very little about at the time, and was completely unaware I even had. Despite the bad posture and back pain, I never really considered that there was anything inherently wrong with my body. As a result of this, I was told that in order to manage my condition, I needed to find ways to both strengthen and rebalance my body, and that was how I first came across Pilates. Within the first month of practising Mat Pilates, I felt such a huge difference in my body. Not only did I feel a lot stronger, but my balance and mobility had dramatically improved, and it was the little things that I started to see the biggest difference in, such as just being able to touch my toes.
After leaving University and returning home, I really struggled to find somewhere I could continue to practice Pilates regularly. It was only when I stopped practising it for a while over the summer that I truly realised how much of a positive impact Pilates really had on me, both physically and mentally. Because of this, it was really important to me that I found somewhere that could not only support me and my needs but also somewhere where I felt I had the right guidance to improve.
It was only within a few months of returning home from University that I discovered The Ness Club, and I can safely say that they have exceeded all my expectations and more. They always have a real mix of classes on offer, and this is something that I really enjoy about coming to The Ness Club, as I can always attend a class, no matter how my body is feeling, and that is one of the upsides to Pilates. There is always something for everybody, no matter your ability or age.
Although it wasn’t apparent to me at the beginning, Pilates has dramatically contributed to my fitness regime in general, and has become particularly evident in my tennis playing. Not only has my mobility and strength increased, but it has also allowed me to understand my body in a way that is unique to me. It is because of this, and the continuous progression that I have seen whilst coming to The Ness Club, that I continue to practice both Mat and Reformer Pilates.
I used to think that going to Pilates once a week would offer me the same benefits; however, I quickly learnt that in order to see the results I was looking for, I needed to stay consistent. Pilates, to me, has become such a fun, yet effective way of exercising and maintaining my body, that I will always encourage others to try it, even if it wouldn’t usually be their thing. Whilst Pilates in itself takes your body on an individual journey, it also has a very social side to it, and that is also another reason why I choose to keep coming back to The Ness Club.
