I was lucky enough to be invited to Wahanda's Wellness Club and got the chance to sample this express form of pilates! This definitely isn't for the faint hearted, but if you're looking for a way to get fit quick and you're not keen on the gym, this class will make a very refreshing change!
It's definitely a work-out with a difference.. moving plates, adjustable springs, stirrups, wooden poles, weights and lots more. Puts you in positions you'd probably rather not be in, but afterwards you feel absolutely fantastic. I was lucky enough to win the prize draw at the end of the session, of 5 more FREE classes woohoo! Thank you Wahanda :) Although I'll be donating half of them to a friend who seemed to get the knack of it a tad better than me! Excited to have found a new way to exercise.
I must admit that session at Beautcamp Pilates was great surprise and very interesting experience. I was quite sceptic about it. When I got in the studio and I had a chance to see the equipment I wasn’t sure if this is what I may like. It really looked quite complicated at first glimpse, but as I found out later it wasn’t so bad!
I have never tried Pilates before but I heard that it is very relaxing, isn’t it? Not being sure what to expect I was even thinking that at some point it can be even boring. Now I know - I was so wrong! It was very energetic excesses. Due to the fact that it was beginners’ class I had a chance to learn everything. The trainer was really nice and with great patience was explaining us what to do and how, making sure we were doing it correctly.
The scary machine wasn’t so scary at all. After a while I can say it was quite easy. All the moving platforms, strings, sticks etc give the opportunity to do a lot of various types of exercise for all kinds of mussels; even those which you have never felt before. It makes this exercise very lively experience.
There was only one think which could be better. The changing room did not have any lockers, shelves of hangers to keep the clothes on. Besides this all was fine.
I won the chance to have a free class at Beautcamp. I went expecting to roll out a mat and do a series of yoga like exercises. Instead I was presented with an exercise machine unlike any I'd seen before and a work out that didn't give me any time to get bored.
What at first looked faintly terrifying turned out to be great fun. Hard work, but good fun. Using the ropes, sticks and springs we were given a sweat and, it has to be said, pain inducing work out. We did a variety of exercises, which stopped everything from getting simply impossible and too dull.
The instructor was attentive and forgiving, he didn't make you feel bad for not being superwoman - though stick with these exercises and you might well see yourself transform...
I'd recommend it if your pockets are deep enough. It's an interesting and rewarding work out and I'm still saying that with an aching bum.
Wow was this ever an interesting experience. Armed with my yoga pants I headed down to Bayswater expecting your traditional class of ladies lying on their backs in elegant poses. Not so at Beautcamp Pilates. Not a yoga mat in sight. Instead I was a faced with a room full of curious mechanical contraptions with added props of dumb bells, elastic bands and poles. Huh????
Luckily our trainer stepped up to reassure us the machines wouldn’t bite and he quickly put us through our paces. Lying on my back with my legs in the air straining against a couple of elastic bands slung round my feet gave me the giggles but after the hour was up I’d probably had the most strenuous workout outside of having a personal trainer.
I would recommend Beautcamp Pilates as a serious all over work out for the body, which you will definitely never, ever find dull,
A friend and I were lucky enough to get a place with Wahanda's Wellness Club for an event at Beautcamp Pilates, where we got a free hour long session. The studio was fairly easy to find even though I didn't know the area. Once up some stairs the studio opens out into a reception area with lip-shaped couches and rave reviews from the magazines and papers pinned onto the walls, so you knew it was a popular class!
After filling out a short form, we were told to get changed in the changing room - which is unfortunately small, and directly off of the studio where a class was taking place - so don't get changed by the door if you want privacy! I was surprised that it had such a small, communal changing area, but with the good sized waiting area you could wait your turn if it was too cramped.
All we needed was a top and leggings or jogging bottoms as it is done without trainers on. The instructor, Aaron, showed us the basics of the machines which were easy to understand, and chose someone to take the front machine as the person he would use to demonstrate each move.
The machine is a little like a rowing machine, with a moving plate and various weights to attach (the instructor tells you which ones to put on for which exercise) as well as straps to use for the arm and leg exercises, and a pole for later on! We did inner and outer thigh exercises, squats, arm exercises using free weights and the plate, and a lot of crunches. Aaron was really helpful and came round for each position to make sure we were doing it correctly. I wasn't expecting it to be such a good workout as I thought it would be more about stretching than cardio, but it was a good measure of both and I felt thoroughly worked out afterwards!
At the end of the free session Aaron pulled a name out at random and one girl won 5 free classes which was really nice! He said that most of his clients go 3, even 5 times a week, which is understandable as it's a great form of exercise which would see you toned up after about 20 sessions.
I would definitely do Beautcamp again, my only issues are the prices which are a bit much for me at £23 in off peak times. If there was a venue closer to where I lived I would do the early-bird classes as they are only £12! But all in all a brilliant class, it left me with good aches the next day and I will definitely be signing up for more Wellness Club events in the future!