Chair Based Pilates

With conventional Pilates, being able to get down on to the floor can be a major limitation to accessing a Pilates class.

You might be part of a group that meets in a room where all the activities are chair based or standing and a mat class is not practical.

We would never want to be in a situation where people cannot do exercise and experience all of its benefits, just because they cannot get onto the floor. We all need to move more – and move differently – and move better!

The answer to some of these issues is of course Chair Based Pilates. I teach Chair Based Pilates, sometimes blended with a hint of Chair Based Exercise, a format that I taught every week for years, until the start of the first Covid pandemic.

How might I benefit from Chair Based Pilates?

Well, you will:

  • have the opportunity to get stiff achy joints working a bit more freely – in the hands, feet, shoulders for instance
  • get your spine moving a bit more
  • have the chance to gently work on some strength work for your legs and arms
  • if it is possible, work chair assisted and standing to improve leg/bottom strength and balance
  • work on improving the stamina and function of the pelvic floor, in other words address issues around incontinence
  • work on posture and body alignment

This may all seem a bit new and different.   If you have any questions about the Chair Based Pilates you can get in touch.  If you click here it takes you to a page where you can send me an email or get my phone number.

Are you part a group of Older Adults that might like to do Chair Based Pilates?

I can deliver sessions in Retirement Apartments and Sheltered Housing, and for Day Centres/Lunch Clubs. If you work in a setting like this or you and a group of friends are interested, please do get in touch. You can phone or contact me via email.

Here is a YouTube clip from my channel with a Chair Based sequence for the fingers, hands and wrists 

ARVE Error: Mode: lazyload not available (ARVE Pro not active?), switching to normal mode




Here is a YouTube clip from my channel with a Chair Based sequence for the shoulders and arms 

ARVE Error: Mode: lazyload not available (ARVE Pro not active?), switching to normal mode




Read my blog post, published in 2015 about Chair Based Pilates called Chair Based Exercise – There’s More to it than Meets the Floor.

This year I returned to the same subject Chair Based Pilates; How? Why? Is It Really Pilates?

Chair based pilates group in a community centre
This is me teaching a Community Group in Leeds in Spring 2022