Trigger Point Pilates Training

Last weekend I attended a Trigger Point Pilates training course run by Lydia Campbell. Trigger Point Pilates is a system of functional exercises designed specifically to release the spine and body. This is achieved by stimulating trigger points in order to stretch and elongate the connective tissue around our muscles. Trigger Point Pilates helps alleviate many chronic pain conditions and improves body function by making our muscles more flexible and move more freely.

I’ve always loved to continue developing my skills as an instructor, as this keeps me fresh and motivated when teaching my classes, and I take great pleasure in knowing my enhanced skills are directly helping my participants.

I have known Lydia Campbell since I started teaching in the fitness industry 27 years ago, when I worked as a presenter teaching Aqua at her FitCamps. Lydia’s Trigger Point Pilates technique works to apply pressure to and thereby release tension in the ‘myofascia’ which surrounds our muscles. Myofascial release is a therapy which has been around since the 1960s, and was originally used by osteopaths. Lydia developed this form of Pilates initially for her own rehabilitation after knee operations, and now trains instructors all over the country in this method of exercising.

So, what does this mean for you? As well as wanting to correct their posture and stand taller, people often start coming to my classes because they are very tight in their muscles and want to be more flexible. Pilates is a fantastic way of addressing these issues, and I wanted to continue my training to look further into muscle tightness, and how to make this aspect of my classes even more effective for my participants.

The Trigger Point Pilates course I attended used various equipment to assist in body positioning, alignment and trigger point release. This included mats, Trigger Point balls, soft Pilates balls and bands to work the whole body and release all the key trigger point areas. We followed a sequence of moves that opened up the shoulders and lengthened the spine initially, then focused on specific muscle areas where tension is often found, such as the neck, shoulders, lower back, legs and calves. Our own body weight was used to create the pressure on the trigger point balls whilst completing flowing Pilates moves. After each exercise we found tension had released in the muscles and there was a greater range of movement around the joints and muscles, and especially the spine.

It was such a treat to be taught by Lydia with her wealth of experience and knowledge as an instructor and her clinical experience with working with top physicians in London. It is also exciting to know that I am the only qualified Trigger Point Pilates instructor currently teaching in the Folkestone and Hythe areas.

If you would like to benefit personally from Trigger Point Pilates, I am currently offering one to one classes, and will be starting group Trigger Point Pilates classes in Folkestone and Hythe very soon.