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Kim Shipton is the founder of Cedar Studio Pilates. She discovered pilates after being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, a painful inflammatory autoimmune condition which affects joints. Through pilates she has found a way to manage her condition and founded Cedar Studio Pilates to share this healing fitness practice with others.
At WholyMe we believe in taking a holistic approach to wellness, we interviewed Kim to share her story, expertise and advice with our community during confinement.
Can you tell me a bit more about yourself, how did you learn pilates and what has been your professional experience with pilates?
I am 37, I am married with three girls all under 5, I am the founder and owner of Cedar Studio Pilates in Hertford. A small dynamic pilates studio that run mat and reformer/Cadillac classes for individuals and groups.
I started out doing pilates when I used to work in the city as a hedge fund broker for Tullett Prebon. I absolutely fell in love with it and would do 5 classes a week at 6am before I started work. When I was about to start my maternity leave I invested in the reformer bed, and retrained to be an instructor and since then have never looked back.
How has pilates helped your Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Pilates has been amazing in strengthening all the smaller muscle groups that support my joints, the minimum you are supporting on the reformer bed is your entire body weight, plus added springs, so its massively strength building. My consultant is amazed at how well my arthritis is controlled and attributes some of that to all my Pilates work.
How have you adapted to the COVID-19 situation? How was it like for you?
Well I was devastated to close the studio, teaching is my life really and I found the transitions from teaching 45 hours a week to nothing quite challenging. Saying that we have a household full of young children who are (mostly) a joy to be around, so we have been thrust into home schooling for my eldest two which keeps us all busy.
What does your routine look like during COVID-19?
I wake up just before 6am every day, I either run, or depending on my weekly schedule teach two virtual one to ones from the studio before the kids start school. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I run live virtual mat classes on Instagram which have been amazing actually, I look forward to them.
At 9am I put my teacher hat on and sit with the girls all morning. There is small break for lunch and by the time we have eaten and cleared up we are back into classes until 3pm.
I try to escape for a quick run or reformer session at 3.30ish when the girls finish so I can feel sane again, and then its preparing supper for everyone, bath and bed. Not very rock and roll I’m afraid!
As a pilates pro, what advice do you have for the pilates beginners who seem to be practicing even more frequently than usual now?
Your technique (form) is so important when you start out in pilates, it’s important to listen to your own body and perhaps take the regression exercises rather than throwing yourself in at the deep end. We talk a lot about a neutral spine when exercising in pilates, so it is imperative you stick to your body’s version of whatever that is.
Aches and pains are part of a regular and intense practice of pilates. How do you prevent them and how do you care for yourself when you are in pain or feel some discomfort?
I find I rarely get bad DOMS anymore from exercise, I do take regular magnesium supplements which is supposed to be helpful for that, and if I am really achy or have heavy legs then an Epsom salt bath always helps. These are great when my arthritis is bad too.
What is your favourite type of pilates and why?
Reformer is definitely my favourite type of pilates practice because you have the springs to really help you get a deeper core connection. In some ways although not as fancy, the mat is harder as you have no support so you have to be very aware of your alignment to make sure you are performing the exercises completely. Saying that a good mat class can have you sweating and abs aching for days afterwards!! So pass – I love them all!
What is your diet like?
I like to live by the 80/20 rule. Generally speaking in the week we try to eat really healthily, fish, veg, rice (my husband is a great cook). Over the weekend, we will get a take away Indian or pizza and stuff our faces with chocolate and red wine on the sofa, I absolutely love my food, and I think if you are working out regularly then a little bit of what you want is not bad for you.
Having said that, this has been much harder to maintain in lockdown. I am snacking a lot more and picking on things throughout the day that I wouldn’t normally…
What are your favourite self-care products?
I’m actually pretty low maintenance. I use Alumier skin care products which I think are amazing, I use coconut oil as a moisturiser, and my WholyMe Relief Drops at night and that’s it.
I get ready faster than my husband in the morning, put it that way!!
Given the current lockdown, what do you miss most?
My family, my friends, my clients. Eating sushi. Can’t wait to have a meal in our favourite Japanese Roka as soon as this is all over!
How do you keep positive and productive?
I am always a million miles an hour, if I have a free window I usually get in the studio and have some me time on the reformer. With three young kids there is always something to do!
Though I admit that we have spent this Sunday laying like broccoli on the sofa watching movies.
My main trick for keeping positive is just to try not to over analyse anything. Go with the flow, be kind do your best, and things will always work themselves out eventually!