Stability over Strain - Women's Fitness’s Pilates Doctor

This column was published in the February 2025 issue of Women's Fitness, as part of my regular Pilates Doctor feature.

Cold weather affects joints more than most people realise. As temperatures drop, the body prioritises keeping your core organs warm — which means less circulation to your hands, feet and joints. For anyone living with arthritis or a chronic joint condition, this can mean increased stiffness, pain and reluctance to move. But staying still makes it worse.

Pilates is not about pushing through. It is about learning how your body moves, where it holds unnecessary tension, and how to build the kind of deep stability that actually supports your joints rather than straining them. The approach I write about here — breath, alignment, core connection — is the same foundation I use with clients at Beyond Move every day, whether they are managing osteoarthritis, recovering from injury, or simply noticing the effects of age and cold on their body.

The five Swiss Ball exercises in this feature are a good starting point. They are low-impact, adaptable, and work precisely the areas that tend to suffer most in winter: lower back, shoulders, hips and the smaller joints of the hands and feet. Five minutes a day of focused, intentional movement is enough to make a difference over time.

If you are unsure where to begin, please speak to your GP or physiotherapist first — and when you are ready, seek out a qualified teacher who understands your condition, not just a general fitness class.

The full article is featured in Women's Fitness, February 2025.