Pilates & Multiple Sclerosis – Movement & Strength
Pilates exercises to improve mobility in people with multiple sclerosis (MS)
” I am relatively lucky in that my MS has progressed very slowly over many years and, in my early 70s, I am still comparatively mobile. It started forty years or so ago, probably triggered by hormonal changes during pregnancy. It mainly affects my limbs, particularly my legs where I have lost a fair amount of sensation and muscle tone. Sometimes they feel very heavy and this can affect my stability.
I have been doing Pilates at The Pilates Clinic every week now for about four years. Undoubtedly it has helped me. In particular I feel that my balance has improved. My core and leg muscles are stronger which obviously helps. I also like the holistic approach to all areas of general flexibility and bodily strength, so that overall coordination is improved.
Like everything in life, Pilates is only as good as the Instructors teaching it. I have confidence in the teaching I receive at The Pilates Clinic which, for me, is an essential pre-requisite. My personal philosophy is that a positive, can-do attitude is a major contributor to general wellbeing, and a critical component of managing my MS. I enjoy my sessions at The Pilates Clinic, which are tailored to my condition. Time passes quickly and I feel stretched afterwards. “
Choosing a Pilates studio in London has become strangely difficult. Every corner now promises “dynamic”, “sculpting”, “full-body” something, yet very few places explain what they actually teach or how they keep clients safe. This piece was written to cut through that noise. It looks at the real markers of a good Pilates studio. the sort of details you only notice once you’ve spent years inside education-led spaces and watched clients progress, plateau or give up entirely. If you’ve ever wondered how to judge a Reformer class, a teacher’s training, or whether “all levels” really means all levels, this guide will help you navigate it with a clearer head.
There’s a moment — somewhere around our 40s — when we start noticing the small things. The shoulder that twinges when you reach for the top shelf. The stiffness that greets you before your first coffee. The way sitting too long seems to leave a mark. None of these signals mean decline; they’re simply reminders that movement needs attention, not intensity. And that’s where Pilates quietly works its magic.
There's a peculiar mindset that grips many of us when it comes to exercise: if you can't do it properly—a full hour, perfectly executed, with complete focus—why bother at all? This all-or-nothing thinking keeps studios empty and bodies stuck in patterns of inactivity, particularly among busy professionals commuting through Wimbledon Station or working from home in Raynes Park.
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