What Classical Pilates actually is, and why it works
Classical Pilates is where we test our bodies with movement but there is also some chat, laughter and new friends to be made. Moving well asks your body to be challenged, and that is often where the funniest moments come from. It is the time we share when we get to feel a bit silly learning something new, then feel proud once it clicks. And it is the stories, the real ones, of how people’s lives have got better because of the work we have done together.
That is what I love about teaching it.
What Classical Pilates is
It runs on six simple principles: your breath, engaging your core, keeping your body in good alignment, moving in a slow and deliberate way, focusing your mind on what your body is doing, and building up gradually. Nothing is rushed. We work with control and intention rather than speed, and that is why it suits every level. Pilates for every body, whoever you are and wherever you are starting from.
I trained at PI Classical Pilates Studio in Battersea and have taught for more than ten years, as a fully qualified Classical Pilates Teacher in both Matwork and Studio. I teach here in Caterham, Surrey, and sessions are 50 minutes.
What it does for you
You move with a steadier balance and stronger legs. You build deep core stability, the kind that holds you up from the inside, so standing tall and moving well start to feel natural. Your posture improves. Your body awareness grows, so you notice how you are moving, and you move better for it.
You do not have to be fit to start. That is the point. The more you move, the better you feel, and Pilates gives you a way in that meets you where you are. There is no pressure, just encouragement.
What the movement science shows
The research points at the same things I see in the studio every week.
In a 2026 study, Lee and Kim put a group through a twelve-week Pilates programme and measured what changed. Balance got steadier, legs got stronger, and the gains in strength lined up with the gains in balance. Stronger legs, steadier on your feet.
Lim and colleagues, also in 2026, ran an eight-week Pilates programme and found real gains in core strength and in everyday functional strength, the kind you use to carry the shopping or get up off the floor without giving it a thought.
None of this happens overnight, and I would never pretend it does. We build it up, we take time, we have fun, but we get results.
A few questions people ask
What is Classical Pilates?
Classical Pilates is a structured system of controlled, precise movements that build core strength, posture, balance and body awareness. It is low impact and can be done on a mat or on studio apparatus, with movements performed slowly and with control rather than at speed.
Do I need to be fit to start Pilates?
No. You do not have to be fit to start. Classical Pilates is done with control rather than speed and builds up gradually, so it suits complete beginners as well as people who already train.
Is Pilates good for building core strength and balance?
Yes. Classical Pilates is built around deep core strength, and research has found that Pilates programmes improve core strength, functional strength and balance.
Where can I do Classical Pilates near Caterham?
LouMove runs Classical Pilates in Caterham, Surrey, with Matwork classes and Studio sessions taught by a fully qualified Classical Pilates Teacher. Sessions are 50 minutes and can be booked through the Gymcatch app.
References
[1] H.-S. Lee and J.-S. Kim, “Twelve-week Pilates intervention improves dynamic balance by enhancing core and lower limb strength in elite fencers,” Exercise Science, 2026.
[2] K. Lim, Y. Sun, J.-H. Choi, E. Lee, and H.-Y. Park, “Effects of 8-week prop Pilates or apparatus Pilates on core muscle properties and physical fitness in postmenopausal women,” Physical Activity and Nutrition, 2026.
Louise x