Latest News
Paula is taking a holiday from 23rd to 30th May. So there will be no classes on Friday 23rd, Monday 26th and Friday 30th May. Classes resume on Monday 2nd June.
Apart from that, lessons are happening every Monday and Friday morning at 10.30am.
=====
When, Where, How
All classes are now held on Zoom. They are held every Monday morning at 10.30 am and this is the favoured day for most Watford Park group members. There is also the option to attend on Friday mornings at 10.30 am - useful if you have to miss the Monday class or if you want two lessons a week.
If you are registered as a group member Paula will send you the Zoom invitation each week. If you are not receiving them for any reason then let Paula know.
email Paula Hancock
==========
Booking and paying for classes
Paula's bookings and payments system is on her own website (www.pilatespaula.com).
You can Book and Pay For a Class by clicking on the link. Our course is titled "Pilates for Over 55s".
Pricing:
Currently £40 for five lessons (i.e. £8.00 per lesson), paid in advance on Gymcatch. Those five lessons must be used within a period of 8 weeks. Any unused lessons after the 8th week will be forfeited.
For those not wishing to commit to a five lesson package there is also the option to attend in person on a "drop in" basis and pay one lesson at a time. The charge for this is £9.00 per lesson.
What we do in the regular Monday Pilates class
We have some photos taken back in the lockdown days which will give you an idea what we do. Paula demonstrates the exercises and provides a running commentary. Picture 3 is interesting - nobody in the class has yet managed to get their nose to their knee like this. We are still working on it!
===
How to take part in the Zoom class
Paula emails out the Zoom meeting invitation for each Monday and Friday morning class a few hours in advance.
If you are attending for the first time please join the meeting at 10.15 to allow time to sort out any technical connection difficulties. The class will begin at 10.30 sharp.
If you are new to Zoom then contact Paula during the week to arrange a practice meeting, so that you can get used to what you need to do. Don't delay your practice Zoom connection until Monday morning because Paula will not have time to sort out any problems - she will be busy leading the class!
You might also find the Help for Online Meetings page useful for some hints and tips.
New to the Pilates class ?
There is room in the class for new members and you would be most welcome. Please contact Paula if you would like to join. She will arrange a 1:1 consultation to check on any health issues and to establish your level of pilates experience. If you are a beginner that's no problem. Paula will arrange a Pilates Introduction for you.
==========
What is Pilates?
Pilates is a system of exercises designed to improve physical strength, flexibility and posture, and to enhance mental awareness. Result: Pilates helps you feel better in yourself and makes you better equipped to enjoy life.
Pilates has some similarities to yoga. Exercises are slow and controlled. It is quite hard work but you just do as much as you and your body feel comfortable with.
About our Watford Park Pilates class
Whilst our Monday class is currently attended exclusively by Watford Park u3a members it is essentially a public class run by our teacher Paula. It is quite possible, over time, that members of other u3as will join us or even people who don't belong to a u3a. The only advisory restriction is on suitability in that the class is designed for people aged 55 and over.
The same is true of the Friday class. It too is designed for the 55+ age group and it is predominantly attended by members of Radlett u3a, just for historic reasons. There too the attendance may diversify over time.
Paula Hancock is an excellent Pilates teacher and leads all our classes. She used to live locally but moved north in 2022 and now offers the classes over Zoom. She is not only very knowledgeable and competent but she makes the classes a lot of fun. Paula is there to direct the exercises, teach us the basic techniques, and to make sure we all do it safely.
Comments overheard at the end of a class include “I feel looser / less stiff”; “I feel a bit taller”; "I did the gardening at the week-end and my back isn't aching like it used to do".
The class has run since Sep 2013 and was originally face to face and exclusive to Watford Park u3a members. Some attendees have been coming regularly all that time and others have joined along the way. Our standard is “beginner / improver”. Newcomers to the class have ranged from absolute beginners to people who have done pilates elsewhere before and are already reasonably proficient. A word of reassurance; if you are a beginner and want to give it a try then don't worry, you will fit right in. Paula is there to guide you and you will soon pick things up.
Both women and men are welcome. Participants should be in general good health. There will be floor exercises so you need your own yoga mat (or a bath towel).
Why not come and join us – and feel better for it.
Contact our teacher
If you are tempted but wondering whether the Pilates class is right for you, or whether it is compatible with any pre-existing medical conditions, please feel free to discuss this beforehand with our instructor Paula Hancock (click to email) or phone (07779 756795).
Why Zoom?
After 9 years teaching us face to face at St Lukes our teacher Paula moved home to Oundle in Northamptonshire in November 2022. Since then she and her partner Robin have bought a house in Alconbury Weald near Huntingdon, which is even further away from Watford. It is from here that she delivers the twice weekly lessons via Zoom.
Here is a photo of Paula with some of the class members after her final face to face class at St Lukes (7th Nov 2022).
