You will often hear pilates teachers referring to the ‘centre’ or the ‘core’. In reality this consists of three postural muscles that should work together to form a natural girdle of support around the low back, abdomen and pelvic floor. If this system is failing then we are more prone to low back pain.

Research […]

Many of us do not use our full lung capacity and deny ourselves the benefits of correct breathing. The aim in Pilates is to improve the mechanics and the depth of breathing, which is essential to oxygenate the blood and remove waste products. When we inhale the lower rib cage should expand upwards and outwards […]

The Pilates method is recently being used more and more in the rehabilitation setting. Traditional exercises can be broken down and made suitable for those who are recovering from injuries, and then can be progressed until full fitness and healthy movement is achieved. There is increasing evidence that rehabilitation using pilates can increase the stability […]

Ellie West is now offering one to one Pilates sessions at the Monkton Farleigh Osteopathic Practice. Ellie is a fully trained and registered Osteopath, who has chosen to specialise in Pilates so that she can help her patients further with prevention and rehabilitation from musculoskeletal injuries.

Pilates is a great way of strengthening your body, […]

For all those who got new iPads/tablets/kindle fires for christmas be warned they can effect the time and quality of your sleep.

In the health and science section of ‘ The Week ‘dated 10th January 2015 , it reported on a study from Harvard Medical School where 12 people were given either an iPad or […]

Ellie and I would like to wish you all a very happy new year. May 2015 bring health, fitness and fun. We look forward to helping you achieve these goals.

We have had the good fortune to have Ellena West join us at the Monkton Farleigh Osteopathic Practice. Ellena qualified from the British School of Osteopathy with a distinction in 2009. She has recently relocated from London where she has had treated a wide range of patients, including children, expectant mothers and the elderly. Most recently […]

I am often asked by my patients what mattress to buy. It is also something that I discuss when my patients complain of chronic , non specific lower back pain with stiffness in the mornings. Here are my top tips :

1) Everyone is different – weight, gender, back issues, all make a difference. Where […]

How important is our sleep? Can we get by without it? Do we all need the same amount of sleep? These were just some of the questions discussed at our recent Western Counties Continual Professional Development meeting, led by Dr. Neil Stanley (P.H.D in sleep).

Sleep, Dr. Stanley believes, is the foundation of health. So […]