So, How Did it Happen?

I was working on an elderly care ward and this one morning I went to see an elderly gentleman who walked with a frame. I did all the usual checks and we went for a walk along the ward. We managed to get right into the middle of the ward when he said he was tired and wanted to have a sit down. “No problem”, I said. “Lets have a turn around and we’ll get you back to your bed”

He then said that he was too tired and started to try to sit down right in the middle of the ward. Oh my goodness!!

I was on my own so all I could do was call for help. Instinct took over, there was no way he was going to fall over, not on my watch!  So, I did what we’re told not to do and put my left knee under his bum and he sat on it.  Now it was probably only a minute or two, maybe not even that long and one the nurses got a chair and we got him back to his bed.

I was just so grateful that he was ok that I didn’t give it much thought. I was a bit sore but nothing major.

The Next day..

I woke up with pain in my back that travelled down into the back of my left thigh. It was manageable but not great. I was so cross with myself. How could I do something so silly, I of all people should know better. But that’s just the thing, it can happen to anyone and beating yourself up don’t help and can even make the situation worse. I ended up having about 3 months off work and on reduced duties.

Looking back I know a massive part of my pain was fear. I was so scared that the pain would be there forever, that I had only just qualified and I couldn’t do the job I loved. I now know that the fear I had was actually making the situation worse but more on that later!

Here Comes Pilates

As part of my Physio I was given an exercise programme and I attended a “Core Rehab Class” It really helped but I had no idea at the time that the exercises I was doing were Pilates exercises!

Fast forward a few years….. I started going to a local Pilates Class to help me manage my back pain but the exercises were really hard and there were some I really struggled with. I had just started working for the Pain Service in Birmingham and I was asked if I wanted to train to teach Pilates. I jumped at the chance, I knew Pilates could be so beneficial and I could wait to learn how to add it into my practise.

I continued to work for the NHS helping people get back into exercise by teaching them strategies to help manage pain, sleep better, manage stress and get moving again with Pilates. I absolutely loved it and seeing the difference it made I peoples lives was exactly what I had hoped for back in the late 1990’s when I first watched that film.

Why I Decided to Leave the NHS

It was one of the hardest decisions that I’ve ever had to make. I was NHS right to my core but things started changing. I’m sad to say that I started to get less and less time with patients and I started to feel that I wasn’t able to make the impact I wanted.

I know from experience, when you’re in pain it’s so important to understand what is going on and the best way to move forwards but I was finding there was less and less time to help.

Pilates Health Online allows me to help even more women get back into exercise and feel stronger and healthier.

I’d love to help you get started too and have fun along the way.