About - Total Precision Pilates
Total Precision Pilates was founded by Jo Hatherley, in 2010.
Jo was introduced to Pilates as an eleven year old dancer, she was extremely fortunate that her teacher was Alan Herdman, the man who brought Pilates to the UK in 1970. She then went on to train with one of his teachers at one of the first studios outside of London at the Yorkshire Dance Centre.
Jo completed her vocational training at Northern Ballet School and went on to work as a professional dancer in theatre, film, television and on cruise ships.
Throughout her training and career she incorporated Pilates based exercises into her training programme, but after suffering a neck injury on her final dance contract she was treated by a physio using a Pilates based rehabilitation programme and following this she decided to enrol in a teacher training programme.
Jo initially trained with Body Control Pilates and upon qualifying in 2011 was invited to teach at their studio in London where she teaches group classes and 1:1 sessions. She was a regional coordinator and supervising teacher, mentoring student teachers through the qualification process and beyond.
Jo went on to complete her comprehensive certificate with Alan Herdman Pilates, something she’d wanted to do since she was a child. Upon graduating she was invited to teach at his London studios.
In 2014 Jo was diagnosed with the degenerative lung condition Bronchiectasis, Due to this diagnosis she has first hand experience of how breathing affects our movement potential and quality of life. Already an Asthma sufferer this personal journey inspired her to specialise in respiratory conditions and breathing pattern disorders.
Her qualifications include Exercise Specialist in Chronic Respiratory Disease, Buteyko Breathing Method teacher and Functional Breath Coach.
She has shared her expertise in this area through classes, workshops, and content creation for organisations such as Asthma & Lung UK, PoTs UK, the Bank of England, Body Control Pilates, and The Pilates Platform.
Jo has developed a workshop for Pilates and movement teachers, ‘The Vital Breath Workshop’. This workshop is designed to help movement teachers improve their clients breathing, recognise breathing pattern disorders and teach them how to work with clients suffering from Asthma and other respiratory conditions.
Pilates is highly beneficial for individuals with lung conditions, as it offers a holistic approach that strengthens the body and improves posture which can lead to improved endurance and reduced fatigue during activities of daily living. The method emphasises breath control and mindfulness, which can positively impact respiratory health helping to reduce the perception of breathlessness, promoting relaxation and lowering anxiety.
Another passion in Jo's life is running. She has found the breath control, co-ordination and core stability training of Pilates to be very beneficial to running. Another reason why she is such a fan of Pilates!
Jo is continually fascinated by the transformative power of Pilates. She is passionate about working with diverse populations, from individuals managing chronic conditions to athletes and dancers striving to enhance their performance.
Whether your classes with Total Precision Pilates involve Pilates or breath training, Jo looks forward to helping you improve your movement potential and regain the quality of life that comes from building a strong, mobile body.
Qualifications
Graduate of the Alan Herdman Pilates Comprehensive Teacher Training Course
Body Control Pilates - Certified Matwork teacher
Body Control Pilates - Certified Reformer teacher
Exercise Specialist in Chronic Respiratory Disease
Buteyko Clinic International - Certified Buteyko Instructor (CertBBM)
FitPro - Respiratory Conditions for Fitness Professionals
Burrell Education - Breathe Better
Active IQ - Level 3 Diploma in Exercise Referral
Level 3 Designing Pre and Postnatal Pilates Programmes
Level 3 Designing Pilates Programmes for Bone Health (Osteopenia & Osteporosis)
Fellow of CIMSPA (The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity)
Member of the Body Control Pilates Association & Academy
Further Education:
Matwork - Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Matwork, Level 4 Pilates - Movement & Adaptations
Studio Equipment - Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, Ladder Barrel, Spine Corrector, Ped-i-Pul
Small Equipment/Other - Balls, Band, Foam Roller, Toning Circle, Baby Arc, MOTR, Control & Balance, Standing, HIP - High Intensity Power Pilates
Special Populations - Pilates for the Older Person, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinsons, Scoliosis, Pre & Post Hip Replacement, Optimal Shoulder Function, Psoas: Clever Guy of the Pelvis
Performance - Dancers, Runners, Golfers
Other:
Dance teaching qualifications from the R.A.D and the I.S.T.D
Prime First Aid - Basic Life Support
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate (DBS)
Total Precision Pilates is committed to continued professional development, regularly attending classes, workshops and courses with both UK and international teachers.
About - Pilates
Pilates is a method of mind and body conditioning developed by Joseph Pilates.
Pilates was born in Germany around 1880. He suffered from several childhood illnesses and was given a short life expectancy. He experimented with martial arts, yoga, gymnastics, self-defence, circus training and weight training to build his strength and he drew on these sports and arts to develop his own method – which he named ‘Contrology’. It was after his death that the method became known as ‘Pilates’.
Joe Pilates moved to England in 1912 and taught fitness and self-defence to the police. After the First World War he returned to Germany where he taught the German police and army. In 1926, he emigrated to the U.S.A, where he set up a studio in New York. His first clients were boxers and dancers - many from the New York City Ballet, some of these dancers became his assistants who influenced the further development of the method.
The original exercises that Pilates created were mat-based, but in New York he designed equipment to challenge the strength and flexibility of his clients. This is the equipment such as the Reformer and Cadillac and Wunda Chair that we see in Pilates studios today.
Pilates intuitively taught the importance of core strength and teaching the individual, but it wasn't until many years after his death the importance of the ‘core’ was recognised in research studies.
The Pilates principles used in class separate Pilates from other exercise methods. These principles are inter-linked and have to be used together to obtain the full benefit of the programme:
Concentration: We are encouraged to completely concentrate on the body during the class
Relaxation: We aim to release areas of unwanted tension in the body
Alignment: Alignment is the 'precision' of Pilates. By aiming for good alignment throughout the skeleton the muscles rest in their most natural or 'neutral' position, this encourages the muscles to be recruited correctly.
Breathing: How we breathe affects the quality of our movement. Breathing is unconscious but can also be controlled consciously. Respiration affects all the systems of the body so by considering and improving the breath, we can influence the whole body including our nervous system.
Centring: Also known as 'core stability'. We are constantly controlling the body as we move. We do this by recruiting the small, deep stabilising muscles in the body. They can be weak, due to the larger muscles taking over their role - this can lead to faulty muscle recruitment and potential injury if not corrected. We also consider the degree of muscle recruitment required, aiming to use the least amount of recruitment possible to perform the task at hand.
Co-ordination: We not only aim to improve co-ordination of movement within the body, but also brain/body coordination and movement/breath coordination.
Flowing Movements: We are aiming to create flowing movement within each exercise and as we advance we aim to create flow within the class - moving from one exercises to another seamlessly.
Stamina: By performing the movements correctly with low repetitions, strength and endurance increases and our stamina improves.
Pilates is extremely beneficial to everyone. Doing Pilates regularly may lead to a stronger, leaner, more toned body. You will become less prone to injury and gradually discover increased flexibility, those everyday aches and pains may begin to disappear. Your spine will be more supported, your abdominals will strengthen and the joints you rely on most - the shoulders, hips, knees and ankles will develop improved alignment and strength, making them more stable and less prone to injury and pain.
No matter what your career or hobby is, you will find that by doing Pilates your body awareness and movement quality increases and therefore life is improved!