The Pilates Method is a movement system built on principles of breath, control, precision, concentration, flow, and functional movement. 
At its core, it aims to develop deep postural strength, functional mobility, and balanced muscle recruitment.
Whether performed on a mat or using specialised equipment, Pilates movements are designed to restore natural alignment, improve core stability, and integrate the body as a whole.
Each exercise is guided by the breath, inviting awareness into every movement, and creating lasting postural change rather than temporary effort.

What sets Pilates apart is its innovative use of apparatus-based training, designed by Joseph Pilates to both challenge and support the body in motion. These pieces of equipment use springs to provide variable resistance, helping to build strength without strain, while guiding alignment and improving proprioception.

The Cadillac (or Trapeze Table) offers a stable platform with overhead bars, springs, and straps. It supports both gentle and advanced movement, allowing clients to work in multiple planes with the body fully or partially supported.  The Cadillac is especially valuable in rehabilitation , providing assistance for mobility and stability while challenging body awareness and control.

The Stability Chair (or Wunda Chair)  is compact but powerful. It allows for seated, standing, and inverted work, building strength and stability, particularly through the lower limbs and pelvic girdle. It’s ideal for targeted functional movement training and for translating Pilates strength into everyday life activities like climbing, bending, and standing with ease.

The Ladder Barrel, Spine Corrector and Arc Barrel are used to support the natural curves of the spine during stretching, mobility, and extension work. These tools help counteract the effects of prolonged sitting and forward-flexed posture, making them highly effective for spinal health, postural correction, and breath-based movement exploration.

The Reformer is perhaps the most well-known Pilates apparatus. Featuring a sliding carriage attached to adjustable springs and retractable roped straps, it allows for controlled resistance and a wide range of movement patterns. The Reformer is highly adaptable, making it suitable for beginners, athletes, prenatal clients, and those recovering from injury. Exercises on the Reformer enhance core control, spinal articulation, joint stability, and functional strength.

The Mat (fav here at the Grey Heron), while sometimes overlooked in favour of equipment, is the foundation of the Pilates system. It requires full body control using only gravity, body weight, and breath. Mat Pilates develops intrinsic strength, proprioception, and stability without external support, offering a pure expression of the Method’s core principles.

At The Grey Heron, we use each piece of equipment intentionally, tailoring its application to meet individual needs - whether that’s recovery, strength building, prenatal care, or athletic development. Our goal is not just to build strong bodies, but intelligent ones - bodies that move with ease, awareness, and adaptability through every stage of life.