About
AIMS Pilates
Aims pilates is all about a sound, common sense approach to improving, movement through strength, stretch and stability.
I started pilates classes to help recover and heal following a spinal injury. I was so impressed with my recovery from the main injury and the way my other niggles, aches and pains went away that I decided to switch career and retrained as a pilates professional. I passionately believe that sharing my approach to mindful movement combined with a little bit of physical challenge can help everyone to be more pain free, improve confidence and enable us to do amazing things.
I have a strong background in rehabilitation and performance improvement and use a whole body approach to help enhance my clients own natural gait and movement patterns.
This whole body approach is the essence of my interpretation of the pilates method.
Rehabilitation has been a major plank of my continuing professional development working with some of the best professionals in the healthcare field. I have also completed the foundations of the “Madeline Black Method”. These techniques and principles help integrate a comprehensive healing approach into my studio practice.
I am based in Bath, UK but am available to teach online anywhere.
Andy Watson
I am a qualified level 4 specialist instructor (Low Back Pain), level 3 Pilates mat instructor, landscape architect and professional horticulturalist. The holistic and naturalistic path I followed in my landscape career really helps connect me with the pilates method.
Before taking up pilates I always had stiff joints and regularly suffered severe back problems. Doing classes was a revelation and having some ‘me’ time learning a new thing was really satisfying.
After about 2 months doing just one class a week my body started to change. Aches and pains became less. I felt so much stronger and had better endurance to work harder for longer . What was really surprising that as well as being less injury prone i was much less clumsy. I also began to develop muscle tone in places where muscles had not existed. I started to look leaner, move better and best of all began to feel really well.
I love working with people and teaching pilates is a privilege. I believe my pilates is good for the prevention of injury and rehabilitation.
Since taking up pilates i have become a keen half marathon runner. I really believe the pilates has helped keep him injury free for 28 races with little or no stiffness the following days.
I have a very straightforward style, I clearly describe the exercises. My classes are varied with interesting content and an appropriate amount of difficulty.
I initially trained with Body Control Pilates in London. Body Control Pilates is an international organisation with the highest standards of training, great support systems and a shared passion that puts our clients first.
I am passionate about the environment, design and managing biological systems. My landscapes and gardens have included the planting of thousands of trees, I have created nature reserves and formal parkland and public gardens. My home is heated with solar power and an air source heat recovery system. I drive a PHEV which is mostly charged for my journeys to work from our solar panels.
The perfect holiday would be to walk mountain passes and or long range coast paths I also like mechanical systems and am very keen on the teamwork and technology evident in the amazing machines of Formula 1.
About Pilates
Pilates is an amazingly simple approach and I think this is why it is so effective. Our body is like a machine. It is designed to be on the move, not slumping over a desk, sitting driving for hours or watching TV. If we don’t do enough of the right kind of movement our supporting muscles become weaker and we can lose mobility in the joints. If postural issues are not dealt with long term problems can arise. Fortunately the adaptability of our bodies can be used to offset and restore these kind of habitual problems. Pilates focuses on restoring good posture and alignment. It does this in two ways, restoring natural movement patterns and working the deep underlying muscles that support the skeleton.
Over time posture will improve, joints will move more easily and underlying strength and endurance will increase. As these deeper underlying muscles get stronger patterns of movement become smoother and easier building grace and elegance.
Developing the underlying muscles and learning to control precise movement is fantastic for individuals who are hypermobile or even for being a bit more coordinated.
Taking the time now to restore and improve movement is like a pension policy for your body. You will feel younger and better able to enjoy a good life.
