When I last did a pilates class it involved a mat, some stretches, and a chance to have a gossip. Nowadays, pilates has gone up a gear thanks to the introduction of a modern incarnation of a medieval torture device... or so it felt at times.
The Pilates Reformer machine seeks to do just that - reform. It works to rein in unruly love handles, put a stopper on flabby arms and thighs and generally turn couch potatoes into taut gym bunnies.
Studios offering Pilates Reformer classes have taken off in 2010, with incarnations from yogalates (combined with yoga) and spinlates (combined with cycle spinning class) to Beautcamp’s Pilates on the Piste.
The after-work Pilates on the Piste session with personal fitness trainer Barry Jung is no snow plough. Straight after the warm up, it’s into core, upper arm or leg exercises, and in between, squat thrusts; just to keep you on your toes. The Reformer machine adds resistance to exercises like sit-ups, squats and lunges, plus there are hand weights, balance poles and resistance rings to play with. Whether it’s the toys and kit that are distracting, or Barry’s jolly, but firm, instruction, the hour flies by. Deep stretches finish it off.
With muscles quivering during the class, and a not-too-gentle reminder when walking up steps or tying shoes laces, for the days following, I’m left in no doubt that these classes would benefit skiers, whatever their level. Now, if I can just get up to find my pen, where do I sign?
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What: Pilates on the Piste at Beautcamp Pilates
Duration: 1 hour, Wednesdays at 6.30pm
Cost: one class £24; five classes £110; 10 classes £190
Where: Beautcamp West, The Colonnades, 34 Porchester Road, South Suite, First Floor, Bayswater, London W2 6ES
More ski fitness classes in the UK
What: Ski-fit at Good Vibes, London. This intensive course focuses on the whole body in the first two weeks, then focuses on the legs and core in the last four weeks.
Duration: Three 25-minute sessions a week for six weeks.
Cost: £325 for the course
Where: Good Vibes at Covent Garden, Liverpool Street and Fitzrovia
What: Yoga for skiers, London. Instructor Graham Burns will work you through standing postures to strengthen thighs and lower back, improve knee alignment, and give you exercises to try at home.
Duration: Two hours on Sunday 24 January at 5.15pm
Cost: £20
Where: Triyoga, Erskine Rd, Primrose Hill, London
What: Hypoxic 5 at The Third Space, London. The gym’s Hypoxic altitude chamber offers treadmills, bikes, a x-trainer, and a rower in a lower-oxygen environment. It will prepare for the thin mountain air. Third Space claims that by forcing your cardio-respiratory systems to work harder to deliver sufficient oxygen to your muscles, you’ll get fitness results faster.
Duration: 30 minutes
Cost: Free with membership
Where: The Third Space, Soho, London
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What: Ski Fitness Training, Thrive Fitness, London. A mixture of home and park sessions offering a personal fitness programme that promises ski specific exercises and stretches, development of muscular strength and endurance, improved balance and coordination, improved core stability and overall fitness, and even an offer to join you on your ski trip as personal ski trainer.
Duration: 1 hour
Cost: Single sessions £35 per hour; 10 pre-paid sessions £31.50 per hour; 15+ pre-paid sessions £29.75 per hour
Where: East London & the City (surcharge of £5 per session if taking place outside of 5-mile radius of Forest Gate, E7).
What: Ski-conditioning pilates at Palecek Principles. Exercises aimed at fitness improvement, muscle strengthening and improved hip-knee-foot alignment, plus work on spinal mobility, core strength, flexibility, awareness, balance, control and co-ordination.
Duration: 1 hour on Mondays 7.45pm in SW3
Cost: £15 for one class, £130 for 10 classes
Where: Various locations in Chelsea, or personal training at London homes
What: Sno Camp at Virgin Active, nationwide. Sessions for a maximum of six people hosted by a Personal Trainer. Expect Power Plate exercises, squats, circuits and even advice on how to fall with minimum pain.
Duration: One 45-minute session a week for six weeks.
Cost: £15-£20 per session
Where: 37 Virgin Active clubs across the UK
What: Skit Fit at David Lloyd , nationwide. Personal trainers “will teach you the techniques used by the world’s best skiers to reach and maintain peak fitness for skiing”. Techniques work on balance and coordination, flexibility, strength and endurance.
Duration: varies
Cost: Free for members
Where: David Lloyd has 78 clubs in the UK, including 15 in Greater London
What: Janette Cardy Fitness, Oxfordshire. Her Ski Package offers 10 personal training sessions, two massages, fitness assessment, weekly contact with trainer and a sensible eating guide.
Duration: tailored
Cost: £400 for Ski Package
Where: various locations, Oxfordshire
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What: Ski fitness classes, Leicestershire. The Grange’s trainer, Matt Craven, is a qualified ski instructor, race coach and a personal trainer. His programme will be tailored to improving balance, co-ordination, flexibility, core strength, ski specific fitness, aerobic fitness and strength, speed and agility.
Duration: 12 week package
Cost: Tailored package – determines cost
Where: The Grange (garden centre, ski shop, bar and restaurant), Asfordby Hill, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 3QU
What: Get Me Ski Fitter, Shropshire . Personal trainer Paul Jones offers ski-specific circuit training at your home for individuals, groups and families. His training aims to reduce the risk of injuries by improving fitness and strengthening weak areas, plus strength training and core stability work.
Duration: varies
Cost: depends on package. Get 10-20% off with Ski Club Great Britain membership
Where: Shropshire
What: Ski Fit at RJS Fitness, Bath. Offers bare-foot training with minimum equipment. Expect to work on lower body strength, endurance, balance and cardiovascular fitness in a group fo no more than 10 people.
Duration: 1 hour on Sundays 8.45am; six sessions from Feb 7 – Mar 21
Cost: £59 for the six-week course. Get 10% off with Ski Club Great Britain membership
Where: Studio 1, 8a Bartlett Street, Bath City Centre, BA1 2QZ
Don’t want to don your tracksuit in public? Try these online ski fitness programmes:
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Times Online video: how to get fit for skiing
Research by Sarah Alexandra Beard