Four kinds of class at Kern. Everything in small groups or one to one, and always with a teacher watching.
Group class
Reformer group class
Fifty minutes on the reformer, with no more than five others.
The reformer is a sliding carriage on rails, with springs for resistance. You train lying, sitting and standing, and every exercise asks for control rather than strength alone. Because there are only six machines, the teacher sees every rep and adjusts the springs if that’s better for your body. You choose from three levels: Basic to get to know the machine, Flow for those who know the exercises, and Strong with more pace and longer sequences.
The carriage only glides well when you hold it back.
A private class is for people who want to work on something specific: a sensitive back, a knee after surgery, a posture that’s been off for years, or simply wanting to learn the technique properly. The first class is a 75-minute intake. We look at how you stand, breathe and move, and make a plan. After that you train on the reformer, the chair or the mat, whatever works best. You can also come with a friend or your partner, as a duo class.
The classic exercises, on the mat and with small props.
Mat pilates is the foundation Joseph Pilates started with. No springs to help you: you work against your own body weight, with a ring, a soft ball or a band. It’s calmer than the reformer, but certainly not easier. The mat class is also a good addition to your reformer classes, because here you learn what your core does without a machine doing the thinking.
On the mat nothing helps you. That’s where the strength lies.
Stay strong during your pregnancy, and build up gently afterwards.
In the pregnancy classes you keep your back, pelvis and breathing strong, on the reformer and the mat. All exercises are adapted: not too long on your back, no pressure on your bump. After giving birth you gently rebuild your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles in the postnatal series. We first check whether there’s a gap between your straight abdominal muscles, and tailor the exercises to that. Your baby is welcome at the postnatal mat class.
Your breathing is your first exercise, and your best.
