Client Journey – Ariane Maurat

People come to Complete Pilates for a variety of reasons. Some are there to enhance their sporting prowess, while others come to improve their fitness or complement their strength training sessions. Many, like long-standing client Ariane Maurat, start Pilates with us to rehab an injury. Here Ariane shares her story.

Q. What first brought you to Complete Pilates?

A. I started Pilates for fitness and to help my back. I had had a bad back for years and wasn’t doing any exercise. I knew I needed to do something to help my back!

Q. Had you tried Pilates before coming to Complete? If so, how does your previous experience compare to your 1-2-1 sessions with Complete?

A. Before Complete I had two-to-one lessons at another studio. They were good but nothing compared to the 1-2-1 sessions at Complete where the instructor helps you throughout your whole session. That’s amazing.

Also, [after my first session with Complete] I realised that I had been doing some exercises wrong and had not been told before.

Q. What do you like best about Pilates with Complete?

A. So many things! The team is really lovely and caring and the exercises are completely tailored for my needs. The studios are also really nice.

Q. What aspects of your sessions do you find the most challenging?

A. After so many years with so little exercise, it has been hard to get going! But all the instructors have been really helpful and have adapted exercises to meet my needs.

Q. How has Pilates with the team improved your health?

A. I have had shoulder and lower back problems for years and Pilates has been a tremendous help for me.
I have a slipped disk in my lower back and through Pilates I have avoided surgery. I also understand much better how my body works and what I should do or not do.

New to Pilates?

If you're new to Pilates, you're not alone. Many of our clients come to us having never tried Pilates before or after taking a long break from exercise.

One of the biggest advantages of starting with a physiotherapist or experienced Clinical Pilates instructor is that every exercise can be adapted to your current ability, fitness level and any injuries or medical conditions you may have. You don't need to be flexible, fit or pain-free to begin.

For most beginners, we recommend starting with one to two sessions per week. This gives your body time to learn new movement patterns while building strength, mobility and confidence. As you become more familiar with the exercises, your programme can be progressed to suit your goals.

Beginners also don't need to master advanced movements. Pilates starts with the fundamentals—learning how to breathe effectively, move your spine, improve hip mobility and develop good movement control. These foundations help you get the most from more challenging exercises later on.

What Our Experts Say

Many people think they need to be fit or flexible before starting Pilates, but the opposite is often true. Pilates meets you where you are. At Complete Pilates, we tailor every programme to the individual, helping beginners build strong foundations, move with confidence and progress safely towards their goals.

Dionne Appiah 

Conclusion

Beginning Pilates doesn't require previous experience or a high level of fitness—it simply requires the willingness to start. As Ariane's story demonstrates, a personalised approach can help you build confidence, improve movement and better understand your body, even if you've been living with pain for many years. Whether your goal is rehabilitation, improving fitness or simply moving more comfortably, Pilates provides a safe and progressive way to get there.

Key Takeaways

• Pilates is suitable for beginners of all ages and abilities. Whether you're recovering from an injury, managing pain or simply looking to become more active, exercises can be tailored to your individual needs.
• Personalised instruction makes a difference. One-to-one sessions allow exercises to be adapted, technique to be refined and movement habits to be corrected, helping you progress safely and effectively.
• Consistency delivers results. Even after years of inactivity, regular Pilates can improve strength, movement confidence and understanding of how your body works.
• Pilates is about more than exercise. Learning how to move well can help manage long-term conditions, reduce pain and improve confidence in everyday activities.
• Starting is often the hardest part. With the right support and guidance, Pilates can be an accessible and enjoyable form of exercise, regardless of your starting point.

Feeling Inspired?

If you want to experience the Complete difference and discover the benefits of one-to-one or small group Pilates, book a session at one of our London or Norfolk studios today. Not able to make it to one of our studios? We've got online options to suit you anywhere, anytime. 

Our physiotherapist-led Chelsea Pilates studio, our Angel Pilates studio, our Pilates studio in London City, and our Norfolk Pilates studio in East Anglia, offer a highly tailored approach to your Pilates training. Whether your goal is to manage a health condition, rehabilitate from an injury or to improve your strength and fitness, Complete Pilates is the studio for you. 

Education is Key

These blogs are designed to give information to everyone, however, it is important to remember that everyone is different! If you have not seen one of our therapists and have any questions about injuries, what you have read or whether this may be useful to you, please just ask. We are more than happy to help anyone and point you in the right direction. Our biggest belief is that education is key. The more you understand about your injury, illness and movement, the more you are likely to improve.

If you are not sure whether this is for you, simply get in touch. We are here to help!

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