Louise Papas is the owner of Studio Pilates, Mt Gravatt.
As a Mother of 2 young children Louise understands the value and importance of pre and postnatal Pilates and the benefits it has for both the body and mind.
“I started my Studio Pilates journey after the birth of my first child, 12 years ago. I was told about the importance of looking after your body, especially your pelvic floor after pregnancy, and fell in love with it from there!”
Pilates focuses on stability and the strengthening of muscles. It has a particular focus on abdominal and pelvic floor muscles, which is extremely important in postpartum. Pelvic floor dysfunction is common after pregnancy - so it is a core focus to re-activate those muscles as soon as your doctor has confirmed it is safe to do so.
Louise worked for the Government for 16 years, and then decided to open her own Studio to share her passion for Pilates with our local community.
“The best part of owning my own Studio is that I get to share Reformer Pilates with my clients and watch them fall in love with it. I also adore watching their journey as they become a stronger version of themselves, achieving their goals.”
Pilates is a great way to retrain the pelvic floor and core muscles. Reformer Pilates Instructors at Studio Pilates have experience and training in pregnancy and through postnatal rehabilitation, ensuring mothers return to exercise safely at a time that is right for them and their body. Each Mother will require medical clearance prior to attending.
What is Reformer Pilates?
Reformer Pilates differs to floor mat pilates in the way that it is performed on a reformer machine.
It is a total body exercise, with particular focus on the core.
It helps with joint stability, balance and strengthening the abdominals, glutes & hamstrings. These support the spine & lengthen hip flexors, which increase flexibility and improve posture.
It is a great way to home in on isolation work for individual muscle groups. It is low impact, so a great option for a postpartum Mother as her body recovers, heals and strengthens after child birth.
There are many benefits to exercise postpartum, here are a few:
Restore muscle strength & assist you to tone and tighten.
Exercising actually boosts your energy levels.
It enhances your mood, releasing good chemicals & it assists to reduce the potential of postpartum depression.
It’s a great stress reliever.
It promotes better sleep.
It improves your sense of well being.
It’s great to do something for yourself… as Mothers we often prioritise everyone else…it will feel great to invest in your own physical and emotional well being.
Mums and Bubs Reformer Group
Together, Mothers Connected and Studio Pilates, Upper Mt Gravatt have collaborated to combine a group that has the benefits of both a workout for Mum with baby in tow & a great catch up with new Mum friends afterwards.
As new Mums we often prioritise everyone but ourselves, leaving us exhausted, isolated and burnt out.
Returning to exercise safely, under instruction that can be specifically tailored to each Mums individual needs, as well as getting an opportunity to meet and connect with other Mums and their babies is so important. It makes all the difference to how you feel both physically and mentally.
Each group comprises of 6 weeks at a cost of $150, which includes a 40 minute Reformer Pilates session at the beautiful Studio Pilates, Upper Mt Gravatt. To be followed by a Mums catch up.
Babies can attend and can stay close by Mum in their pram.
There will be assistance in the class to watch over Bubs. Whether they need to be held, rocked or carried while Mum gets in her workout. Of course Mums can do absolutely what works best for them and Bub, so taking a break to tend to baby is fine.
A Mums catch up including coffee will take place afterwards at Cafe Boulevard, a pram friendly space will be reserved big enough to accommodate the group.