About me
Dell McLeod
If I was told three years ago that I was going to be a Pilates Instructor, I would have first asked what Pilates was, and then… laughed.
Mostly bedridden, with an excruciating sore back, severe sciatica and two spinal cysts that made my entire right leg freeze with pain so I was unable to move it for hours,
I definitely didn’t feel like I was able to help anyone else. I didn’t even know how to help myself.
Unable to work I was in so much pain, I would drag myself out of bed to go to a gym that specialised in back pain, push myself through the exercises and then drive
home and collapse from the pain. Throughout the years I felt like I had tried everything, physios, osteopaths, massage … yet I was still in immense pain.
So much so, that it would take me 20 minutes to get my socks and shoes on and get my bag and jacket to go out!
So I had surgery to remove the two spinal cysts that were squishing the nerves in my spinal column.
After healing from surgery I was still in immense pain. The surgeon said “well, it’s not your back, that’s looking fine!”
My sister looked at me and said “Dell, you’re still not right, you need to do something, go to Pilates!”
Feeling like I’d done everything, and it still wasn’t working I reluctantly booked in for a private Pilates session.
Well, the rest is history. I am now pain free, active, strong and for someone who thought I was going to live the rest of my life in pain, I now still feel a sigh of relief when
I realise I am pain free. It still needs maintenance. I start to feel the pain coming back when I lapse in my Pilates sessions for a month or so, but honestly, for a small maintenance schedule, life without pain is so worth it. Plus, Pilates is so much fun, that “move it or lose it” now seems like a pleasure to even be able to move.
From living my whole life not really being into sports very much, I’m now realising how good it feels to move.
In my previous life, I was an actor, enjoyed the community of dance parties in a paddock with fairy lights and worked in and made films and television.
I rather enjoy a laugh and helping people feel at ease.
I am STOTT trained and apply science and training to my classes, as I’m a bit of a science nerd, so people get as much benefit from coming to the classes as humanly possible.
About Pilates
Pilates was invented by a man called Joseph Pilates. He combined a lot of different fitness types and came up with his own style of strengthening the body and strengthening the core.
He worked mainly in rehabilitation; however, he had long term clients that kept coming once they discovered the benefits of Pilates.
STOTT Pilates is a world-renowned contemporary form of Pilates, where Moira Stott worked with physiotherapists and others in the medical industry to create a safer form of Pilates.
About the studio
Our studio at the top of the Kilmog is equipped with four reformer machines and extras.
Only four people can train at a time, so the classes are all semi-private classes and are tailored specifically to you.
We have many props we can use to help you be as comfortable as possible.
The room is warm, it smells great, with an expansive view of fields, trees, horses, sheep and lambs, the sea, the sunrise and the sky.
You’ll see some pics if you follow our Instagram or Facebook page. :)
It’s a thoroughly private and peaceful environment where you can relax and leave the rest of the world behind while you focus on yourself.
Allowing you to breathe out and let go.
About the Reformer
A Reformer is a device that consists of a platform on wheels attached to a frame by springs that make exercises easier and/or more challenging
Yes it sounds weird
It sure looks weird
It’s also lots of fun
It helps you ease into exercise and prevents injury.
It is quite low, if you find it hard to get up and down off chairs please book a private session first