Ema's History with Pilates

I was first introduced to the original Joseph Pilates repertoire when I was 8 years old. I was a ballerina and the original repertoire would help improve my technique and core strength. A lot of ballet dancers are recommended to do Pilates for the many benefits it has for dancers, like helping improve overall performance through flexibility and strength. To this day, I still use some of the original Joseph Pilates moves I learned when I was 8, in my teaching. That was my first taste of Pilates, but not my last. I stopped dancing when I was 16 years old and didn't revisit Pilates until I was 23 years old and living in Los Angeles.

I moved to LA in 2011 to pursue a career in costume design. I lived in West Hollywood where I found a Pilates studio to attend. This was the first time I discovered reformer Pilates. Around this time reformer Pilates had not exploded in Australia but these studios were everywhere in LA. The group classes were intimate with only 6 people and since I moved to LA for work, it was a great way for me to be in the presence of other film industry professionals. At the beginning I attended these Pilates classes more as a way to network and be in the presence of agents and managers (they would all attend classes). But soon I found myself returning because of how much I loved the Reformer Pilates classes, and the intensity of the workout. When I returned to Australia I knew I had to find Reformer Pilates classes again.

But after returning to Australia, I hurt my back in 2015. This led me on the path of discovering Clinical Pilates and I was able work my way through recovery with clinical Pilates. I was so amazed with the progress from clinical Pilates, I wanted to share this with others too. I decided I wanted to help others heal with movement so I pursued my studies in a Certificate IV and Diploma in Clinical Pilates in 2018. I haven’t looked back since!

Nowadays I tend to favour a more dynamic flow over mobility. Keeping fit and exercising daily is a large part of my lifestyle , and Pilates is at the core of that.

When I teach Pilates I try to focus on the journey, the warm-up and cool down are most important to me. It's also about easing into the headspace and hopefully entering a state of zen. The best class for me is one that both challenges and helps you develop strength (but without giving you DOMS for the next 6 days from traditional strength training).

Being creative and the endless options of exercises is what makes Pilates the most exciting form of exercise. I love walking into a class and discovering a new flow, and sharing that with others.

So when I’m asked about how much Pilates ahs impacted my life? Well from 8 years old to 33, I have always found new ways to enjoy this form of exercise. The original Joseph Pilates helped me improve my ballet technique. When I moved to LA, reformer Pilates classes gave me a place where I could network with other professionals in the industry, while enjoying a great workout. In my late 20's I used clinical Pilates to heal my back. And now - Pilates is my go-to for daily exercise and has become my job!

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my Pilates experience. I would love to hear about yours too…

Ema Hewitt