Introduction

As autumn approaches we anticipate that many of our classes will be full so it is imperative that you book with the office before taking replacement classes as there may not be room for you. This, of course, then releases places for other clients wishing to swap classes. Additional places to your existing course can also be booked with the office. You are also advised to book well in advance if you wish to retain your place on your chosen course.

The Times – "The core stability myth"

A number of you may have noticed and read an article which appeared in the supplement of The Times on Tuesday 10th August entitled "The core stability myth", flagged up with a banner on the first page in controversial style asking "What's the point of Pilates?" For obvious reasons this caused a considerable amount of consternation within our profession, not least because not only was it based on unfounded opinion and unsubstantiated evidence, but totally excluded any opportunity for the Pilates community to respond. As you are clients of New Direction Pilates we hope that our own defence of Pilates is not necessary since you only attend classes and One-2-Ones because you are already receiving the benefits that Pilates exercise confers. So rather than set out a detailed defence in this newsletter we would like to refer you to a response by Lynne Robinson who heads our own professional association, Body Control Pilates. Simply click here to read what she has to say and we will let you make up your own minds as to the validity of The Times article. Please feel free to discuss any of the issues with our instructors. For those of you who are sufficiently interested we are also including a link here to a response by Glenn Withers who is the founder of the Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute.

Joint Fundraising Event for Help for Heroes and The Breast Cancer Campaign

24th September at Blakes Golf Club

Visit to Cascina Papaveri, Italy – Pilates and Italian Cooking

We have been talking for some time about the possibility of Marcia taking a group of 10 to Cascina Papaveri in May 2011 for a week’s stay.  Earlier this month Marcia and Marilyn, one of our clients, went to Cascina Papaveri for a long weekend.  This is their joint report on their visit.

• Travel
  Easy two-hour Ryanair flight from Stansted to Genoa where we had booked a hire car for the hour’s drive to D’Asti.
• Cascina Papaveri Villa
  Beautifully appointed villa set in the wine-growing hills of the Barbera D’Asti.  Invigorating walks in the countryside. Own organic vineyard producing wine which was in plentiful supply. Lots of home-grown vegetables used in the cooking. Lovely sun terraces with loungers, and dinners are al fresco if the weather is good. By next May there will also be an orangery which will provide even more sitting out/dining options. The owners/hosts make every effort to make guests feel very welcome.
  Bedrooms are slightly on the small side, but very comfortable, with satellite TV and with excellent ensuite bathrooms. The furnishings throughout the villa are of a very high quality. There is a comfortable lounge with a small library. There are internet facilities with good connections. The food at all the meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) is of a very high quality. As this is however a villa, not a hotel, there is no choice of menu at the meals, although special dietary requirements would be accommodated.  Sunday evening is the chef's night off, and dinner is a traditional wood-fired pizza in a local restaurant.
• Pilates and other Facilities
  "I was really impressed with the facilities in the studio and look forward to teaching there." - Marcia
  "Well equipped studio – very comparable to the New Direction Pilates studio.  Alongside is a good sized indoor swimming pool – not heated, but that was not a problem! There is also a sauna and steam room.  There are also some bicycles for those who fancy tackling some of the hills surrounding the villa." - Marilyn
• Cooking
  "The cooking for me was great, albeit one did a lot of prep if you joined in the course.  It was real fun as Gino, the chef has a wicked sense of humour and really makes the experience light-hearted.  It was a real joy to cook with organic vegetables freshly harvested from the gardens.  I learnt a lot of new techniques and recipes, and we got an embroidered apron to wear back home." - Marcia
  "I love Italian food, but do not profess to great culinary skills. I had some prior worries that I would be expected to be cooking my dinner.  In practice those who wished to take part were in effect 'assistants' to the charming and excellent chef, Gino.  One could spend as much or as little time as one wanted assisting in the three hours before dinner, the level of input tailored to one's existing skills.  The resulting dinners were excellent, and the whole experience was great fun.  Breakfast and lunch, in which we had no input, were also good.  We were expected to give a little assistance with clearing away plates after we had eaten – no problem, indeed rather a nice touch." - Marilyn
• Proposed Visit Monday 9 May – Monday 16 May 2011
  In view of the interest already expressed by a number of clients, a provisional booking of Cascina Papaveri has been made for the seven nights commencing Monday 9 May 2011. The cost for the party, excluding travel, would be 1,200 Euros per person (approx £1,000, but subject to the current rate of exchange at the time of invoicing), on the basis that there is a party of 11 people, including Marcia.  This compares with the normal price of 2,150 Euros per person.  A deposit of approx £250 per person would be required at the time of confirmation of the booking, with the balance required 60 days prior to the visit.
  Included in the price are the following:-
  • 1 - 2 daily Pilates classes (12 in total) provided by Marcia
  • Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner), including wine at no additional cost. Constant supply of free tea, coffee, wine and other drinks through the day
  • 5 Italian dinner cooking sessions with the resident chef
  • Visits to Asti, Alba, and a local restaurant
• The accommodation for the party will require the members to share bedrooms.  There are four twin bedrooms and one triple bedroom.  Additional costs will be the air travel and travel from the airport to Cascina Papaveri and back.  It would make sense if the party could fly together and have a minibus transfer at the Italian end.  But this is a detail which can be worked out once we know whether we have a party of 10 people who would like to make this visit with Marcia.
  If you would like to take part, please let Marcia know by 30 September at the latest.

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