“I did Class 45 on YouTube on Monday morning, which I really enjoyed. Later in the day I found myself quite unconsciously sitting weeding in the final floor position from the class, so I tried to do the final move and stand up, which I managed and was pleased with myself! This is a great example of the benefit of Pilates for every day, and “is what it’s all about”, as you say Mandy. I also wanted to thank you for all your efforts keeping our classes going this year during such difficult times. Doing Pilates has been such a bonus, both physically and mentally. Your garden classes were particularly enjoyable! Thank you.” ~ Rita

“Following recent surgery to correct a bunion I was unable to drive or visit the gym for several weeks.  Having always enjoyed Mandy’s Pilates classes over several years I decided to ask her to do some home visits for personal training sessions in order to help me keep fit.  I booked a block of five sessions and from the outset she was very professional in her approach, suggesting new exercises which she had adapted to take account of my surgery which I found particularly useful.  She helped give me the confidence to use my foot again and has really helped my successful recovery.

I have just had my final session and would definitely recommend Mandy to anyone, her personal training sessions are excellent value for money.” ~ Debs

“Mandy’s Pilates class was delivered to me as a gift from the gods, which I discovered when her classes were held at my gym. I loved Calanetics in the 80’s, and I had tried Yoga, but even though it was billed as Yoga for Beginners, I kept ending up at the Chiropractors.

I love Mandy’s class for the way it makes me feel, not only physically, but also mentally. I feel a sense of achievement along with calmness and the knowledge that I have added to my own wellbeing, through stretching and moving joints that will keep me supple for years to come. My posture has improved greatly as has my awareness of how to keep my spine supple. I like the fact that the stretches grow with the class and so we are incrementally increasing our range of motion particularly in areas in which we need long term mobility. I am 54 and I want to be one of those people who are still flexible well into their 80’s!

I sit at a PC all day in my job, and although I always mean to roll my shoulders and move my neck during the day, it hardly ever happens. Because of this I find the shoulders, neck and thoracic spine movements most useful but they demand the most from me. I also love the feeling of the calf stretches.  Some of the stretches are still hard but I find the camaraderie of the classes supportive and encouraging.

One of the things I most appreciate is the way that Mandy has a lesson plan which she builds on and the fact that she always researches new things, such as Bones for Life and Garuda Pilates. I have been to many aerobic type classes where the routines just stay the same year after year. Mandy has taught us to listen to our bodies and to apply tweaks personal to each of us.

Over a weekend in December I moved house and carried (what seemed like) hundreds of boxes down the stairs of my first floor flat and up the stairs into the new house.  I can’t say that I did a squat with every move or that I bent my legs with my back straight, but I can say that my back did not ache for one moment. I am sure that this is directly attributable to the core strength built up in Pilates.  I also, reluctantly, went ice skating in January having only been once before when I was 15. I was praying that the balance work that we do in Pilates would help me stay upright and I didn’t fall over once. I wobbled a lot but was able to correct myself.

I have been coming to the classes for 2 years and over the past few months have started attending two of the classes a week. I confess I am now hooked on the wonderful feeling of the stretches and the inner contentment that I feel as I leave Mandy’s class. I don’t think that all Pilates classes are the same. A few of us have remarked to each other that the teacher is everything and that Mandy is a real find.” ~ Elaine

“I have been attending Mandy’s classes for approximately 2 years now and have found a tremendous improvement in my posture, body alignment and my general feeling of well-being. 

I have been hairdressing all my working life which puts a great strain on the back and shoulders, and I also had a number of riding falls in my 30s and 40s which took their toll on my back.

My GP originally recommended that I tried Pilates and I attended different classes with varying levels of success! I was recommended to Mandy by Val, who gave her glowing references and I have not looked back since.

Mandy’s knowledge and teaching ability make her classes so beneficial and also very enjoyable. The benefits of weekly classes and the occasional one to one are huge. At one time I was having twice weekly visits to the chiropractor, but I no longer find this necessary: my core and my back are so much stronger, and I am out of pain. Thank you Mandy.” ~ Julie

 “I have always played sport. I was told it would keep me healthy. I wasn’t told about the pulled muscles and worn out joints. Until my mid-thirties I played cricket, hockey and squash.  I later took up hill walking, mountain climbing, gym work and running. Too much running probably as I became a frequent visitor to the Chiropractic College for adjustments, usually to my lower back and sacroiliac area. My left hip began to deteriorate in my late-forties and I had it resurfaced in my mid-fifties, though not before I had developed some postural imbalances.  

Post-operatively, after several more adjustments at the Chiropractic College, I was referred to the Rehabilitation Centre where I met Mandy. After 6 months of twice-weekly visits, my posture, flexibility and the strength of my core muscles were much improved. Not wishing to regress after all this hard work, I started to attend Mandy’s Pilates classes. Over the 5 or so years that I’ve been practising Pilates, visits to the Chiropractic College have become infrequent and my back feels much stronger and more flexible.  

In July this year I had my other hip replaced. After 8 weeks the surgeon checked on my progress. He expressed some surprise that I had already discarded my crutch and told me that my recovery from the operation had been remarkably quick. My belief is that the improved posture and core strength I have developed through Pilates have been fundamental to increasing the speed of my recovery. 

I now do Pilates exercises and cardiovascular/endurance work at my local gym as rehabilitation. Mandy has been helping me with one-to-one sessions to help re-build flexibility and strength, particularly in those muscles that were cut during my operation, and to work on improving my technique.  I anticipate returning to regular classes at the end of October and look forward to getting back to biking in the New Forest with my wife and my in-laws’ lively Cocker Spaniel during November.” ~ Hugh 

“Regular, twice weekly sessions via Zoom has been one of the few constants during the pandemic.We have learnt about parts of our bodies unknown to us before.......puffed and panted our way through sessions....and felt the benefit of same. Winter months we started in daylight, and ended in the dark, Summer saw us throw open windows and doors, in an attempt to keep cool.

The hour goes so quickly, the lessons are so well planned, and flow from initial warm-up, to more often a challenging bit, and finishing with either a satisfying cool down, or a euphoric realisation that - you -really -have - just achieved what you thought was unachievable to you - with YOUR body!  It gives you such personal satisfaction.

I would recommend anyone give Pilates a try - and am sad that a lot have not been as fortunate as us, in finding such an encouraging teacher as Mandy. Some get Pilates confused with Yoga, or have joined a session, and have given up after 2 or 3 sessions. I would say invest an hour in your body, give it a try, you owe it to yourself, and I don’t think you will be disappointed, and might even learn something more about yourself.

For us, the Zoom sessions taking place in our home have been perfect - morning sessions set you up for the day, late afternoon sessions glide into a hearty tea afterwards. 

Thanks Mandy for the initial invite, encouragement, and most of all for being the teacher that you are.” ~ Sylvia & Tom