Bend It Like Beckham

David Beckham is hoping to stretch his career out until he’s 40 — by doing body-bending Pilates exercises.

The England star, 34 — subject of hit film ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ — says he is in his best shape in years due to an hour-long daily routine.

He is desperate to show Three Lions boss Fabio Capello he is fit enough for next year’s World Cup in South Africa, and play on for years afterwards.

Becks was introduced to Pilates — a stretching and breathing routine particularly popular with women — on loan at AC Milan.

He said: “I do an hour of Pilates a day. The medical set-up at Milan is fantastic and fitness-wise I am the best I have been for a long time.

The Italian giants insist all their players take up Pilates as it helps with balance and suppleness.

The fitness regime has reduced Becks’ body fat from 13.7 per cent to a super-toned 8.5 per cent.

He played the whole of England’s 6-0 thrashing of Andorra at Wembley earlier this month — his first full match for his country in three years. A source said: “David covered every blade of grass.

“He might get a bit of stick from the England lads as Pilates is seen as a bit of a girlie fitness fad — but he won’t care if he gets to South Africa.”

The midfielder returns to LA Galaxy next month. He and wife Victoria, 35, have signed up for Pilates classes at Los Angeles’ exclusive Sports Club.

German Joseph Pilates created the exercises early last century. They are practised by more than ten million, including England’s cricketers and New Zealand’s rugby
team.

About Us

Name:

Nisha Srivastava

Name of my Pilates Studio:

Northwest Pilates & Yoga Centre

Number of years open:
I opened the studio 9 ago after building up an established clientele from Peter Street Community Centre, St.Helens, Appleton Thorn Primary School and Liverpool hope University

Website:
www.pilates4sport.com

My Certifications:

I am fully certified with STOTT PILATES, this qualifies me to teach beginner to advanced levels including injury and specialist populations in Mat,Reformer,Cadillac ,Chair and Barrels. I am also am a certified dance teacher with the ‘Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance’.

Years of teaching:
I started teaching when I was 13, so I have a wealth of experience.

Inspiration for opening my own Pilates studio: I just love helping people meet their goals! And, I love the relationships that are formed thru this energetic, positive field!

Vision/mission for my studio is: for every person to feel accepted in the skin they're in and to feel successful with exercise. Most people either feel intimidated or nervous about exercise but Pilates is for EVERY individual. I love when people tell me over and over "I’ve lost inches” and “my back pain has gone”.

My initial fears: trying to please everyone with the evening timetable, which is impossible?

If I knew then what I know now: I wouldn’t change anything, as everything in life is an experience.

My favourite thing about owning my own studio: being able to create a program based on others needs/wants and having complete control to do so! I feel such a sense of accomplishment when I'm able to fill other people’s desires.

Useful skills of a successful studio owner: The most useful skill is having a great attitude and a pleasant smile. Be willing to LISTEN to other's needs and you can never go wrong. Marketing skills and business 'know-how' come last in this business...the key to retaining clients is the affect you have on them personally.

Services offered at my studio: Pilates, both mat & equipment, private and group training, fusion classes incorporating yoga & personal training w/pilates principles, specialty programmes for cancer, golf and racquets, pregnancy, etc.; spinning, personal training, cardiolates (which is just like urban rebounding, pilates style), sports massage.

What makes my studio unique: A colonial Asian feel environment, friendly instructors and clients; small intimate classes? We cater to individual needs while keeping a personal approach by knowing each and every person by name whether it be in a class environment or privates.

How I initially got clients in the door: our local rag the St.Helens Star

How I retain clients: Personalized approach and a variety of classes to choose from. Our studio is friendly, clean and unique compared to gyms/health clubs that offer Pilates in the area. Because we are a specialized studio, we cater more toward equipment and specialist populations.

Number of employees: I have 3 independent contractors.

What I look for in my instructors: Pleasant personality, good grooming, an articulate/clear teaching manner, training from a respected Pilates/Yoga source, eventually loyalty & a good team attitude.

My greatest challenges as a studio owner/employer: finding qualified instructors!

My inspirations: the clients I meet every day. They keep me going and remind me daily why I love this business so much.

How I maintain my passion: The clients I meet every day! Without the relationships I form at the studio it would be a job like any other. The smiles on their faces, the results and excitement they bring each and every time I see them light the fire within me and remind me why I chose this field to begin with!

Words of wisdom or advice for future Pilates studio owners: Take a deep breath and soak it all in. Try not to let the business side of ownership get in the way of your dream. Sometimes, the behind the scenes 'stuff' that goes on can drain you. Remember the spark within you the day you chose to open the studio and how you felt when your first client walked through the door.

When I’m not running my studio I’m: a keen fair weather golfer in the summer and love to backpack in Asia in the winter.

One question I would ask Joseph Pilates: More of a comment/observation: I am amazed each and every day at the unique movements and the thought process for which he had in order to create such precise, involved & unique movements. I would love to be able to see what he saw and think what he thought as he moulded and formed this amazing form of movement.

My mentors: there are too many too mention, but mainly my American tutors, defiantly Shiva Rae for yoga and Marie-Jose Blom for Pilates.

The History of the Warrior

Virabhadra’s Pose is also known as the Warrior Pose (there are three variation of Warrior, of which this is customarily numbered 1).

It may seem strange to name a yoga pose (Yoga Liverpool) after a warrior; after all, aren’t yogis known for they’re non-violent ways? But remember that one of the most revered of all the yoga texts, the Bhagavad-Gita, is the dialog between two famous and feared warriors, Krishna and Arjuna, set on a battlefield between two great armies spoiling for a fight.

What’s really being commemorated in this pose’s name, and held up as an ideal for all practitioners, is the “spiritual warrior,” who bravely does battle with the universal enemy, self-ignorance (Avidya), the ultimate source of all our suffering.















Warrior 2, Bolero Point, Houston, Texas.

Taking Core To Crow

The ultimate goal and vision of Joseph H. Pilates (Pilates Manchester) is the concepts and understanding of the core. However, it is the new exercise buzz word. Various interpretations of the core are:

- Powerhouse (Pilates)
- Contrology (Pilates) Engaging the core in Crow, Bolero Point, Houston.
- Inner Unit (Physical Therapy)
- Centre Strength (Yoga)
- Muhlabanda (Yoga)
- Local vs. Global control (Physiological definition)

What needs to be understood is that Core is to do with the brain, neuromuscular communication rather than a muscular approach.

Core is deep.
Core is small and precise.
Core is Power.

















Engaging the core in Crow, Bolero Point, Houston.

Sling Systems with Marie-Jose Blom

I was lucky enough to do a workshop with Mari-Jose Blom in the US this Easter. Her workshop, Sling Systems to Core Intelligence, stated the importance of working from the feet upwards. We discovered the true meaning of centering, and the goal of mobility.

Centering lends itself to multiple interpretations.

Category One: The physical interpretation
1. Inner muscle awakening
2. Balanced stability
3. Fundamental movement

Category Two: Physiological interpretation
1. Being grounded
2. Focus
3. Being aware of awareness

Merging the physical and mental categories, we arrive at a Mind and Body Philosophy which incorporates the following criteria:

- Environment
- Posture and alignment (thoughtful organisation)
- Directed focus (no indirected movement)
- Precision
- Breath control (posture control)
- No equipment required to work the body


These criteria compare to the make-up of core intelligence, components of Pilates In Liverpool and all Body-Mind approaches.

The goal is total integrated wellness with no compartmentalisation, and with the intention of incorporating this into your lifestyle.

We used the band to show and feel the Sling Systems working from the feet upwards.