Lowestoft Pilates Haven expands with larger studio in Beccles

With a drive for people to stay fit and healthy post the Covid 19 pandemic, a successful studio has gone from strength to strength.

A client being instructed with a Pilates Chair by Jean Wilcox. Picture: Lilly Wilcox (Image: Lilly Wilcox)

Owner of Suffolk-based Pilates Haven, Jean Wilcox, launched a pilates teaching academy to develop new teachers to help her meet client demand.

Pilates Haven now has two extra pilates teachers running their own classes and the studio based in Pakefield, Lowestoft has relocated to a larger studio in Beccles so that the timetable can be expanded.

Jean Wilcox with students Lilly Wilcox and Carol Wood. Picture: Lilly Wilcox (Image: Lilly Wilcox)

Pilates is a form of exercise which is designed to improve physical strength, flexibility, posture and enhance mental awareness.

Having taught pilates since 2010, Mrs Wilcox, from Lowestoft, said: "Some clients are seeking to improve their overall strength and fitness or to help them improve their ability to compete in sport, whilst others have taken it up as a therapy to help recover from illness or injury or to alleviate the symptoms of a long-term condition.

A client being instructed with Pilates Chair by Jean Wilcox. Picture: Lilly Wilcox (Image: Lilly Wilcox)

"Pilates is also extremely good for mental health and wellbeing."

A client having posture adjusted by Jean Wilcox. Picture: Lilly Wilcox (Image: Lilly Wilcox)

Clinical pilates is offered in one-to-one consultations and classes by Mrs Wilcox.

A mat class with Jean Wilcox standing correcting a client's posture. Picture: Lilly Wilcox (Image: Lilly Wilcox)

With an increase in demand for the business, opening a teaching academy was a logical next step to expand the studio - ensuring clients will be taught a full range of mat and apparatus in classes by fully qualified instructors.

Mrs Wilcox already has two teacher trainees who are turning pilates from a hobby into a job as they now teach pilates mat classes for beginners.

The Pilates Haven studio in Beccles. L-R: Students Carol Wood and Lilly Wilcox with Pilates Teacher Trainer and studio owner Jean Wilcox. Picture: Lilly Wilcox (Image: Lilly Wilcox)

Student Carol Wood has passed her pilates mat exam and is now progressing with a view to graduating as a fully qualified teacher - a complete change from her previous role working in the NHS.

A Pilates Reformer class in action. Picture: Lilly Wilcox (Image: Lilly Wilcox)

The new studio offers traditional pilates mat classes and chair pilates for people with mobility issues as well as offering a range of apparatus including pilates reformer.