FAQs

General

  • A Discovery Session is a short, free session, via phone or Zoom, where you can talk to the trainer about the course/class to see if it’s the right thing for you. You can ask questions and find out how you could could benefit. Sometimes you might get a quick taster of an exercise, or some information to use. You can get to see what the trainer is like before you book up for full sessions.

  • You can book classes and public workshops by going to the booking page on this website or going to https://gemmataylorhealthfitness.as.me/ directly - the app which GTHF uses for all bookings.

    Please get in touch via email, text or phone for 1:1 sessions and courses.

    Corporate bookings are taken directly by contacting GTHF.

  • Classes and workshops are paid for through the booking app online.

    1:1 sessions and courses are paid via an online Stripe payment link.

    All payments go directly through Stripe - GTHF does not handle your money transactions.

    Corporate clients will be invoiced.

    All payments are required in full before a service is provided.

  • You can contact GTHF via the ‘contact’ page on this website.

    Or

    Email : gemma@gemmataylorhealthfitness.co.uk

    Phone: 07904866902

  • Have a look through the ‘Coaching Services’ page on this website to see what courses are offered.

    Get in touch with GTHF to discuss your needs if you are unsure about anything.

    Or book a free discovery session to see what the course is about, how it works, and whether it would be right for you.

  • A classes are held online via Zoom.

    1 to 1 clients may choose whether to have their sessions online via Zoom or in person at the GTHF studio.

    It’s entirely your choice depending on your time, where you are, how you learn best, etc.

  • The following guidelines are appreciated whilst participating in an online session:

    *Ensure you are the only person in your camera shot.

    *Use appropriate language at all times.

    *Ensure you are dressed appropriately.

    *Keep pets and children well out the way.

    *Ensure you have enough space if exercising.

    *Use your correct name when signing in so that GTHF knows who you are to permit you entry to the Zoom session.

    *Ensure your device is charged and working correctly before the session begins.

    *Respect any other people participating in the session.

    *Keep background noise to a minimum.

    *Be ready on time for your session - late arrivals will not be permitted to classes / 1 to 1 sessions must still finish on time.

Meditation

  • A simple meditation technique focusing on the breath.

  • Yes for the majority of people.

    Mindful meditation is a simple no-nonsense technique.

    If you have any health issues (physical or mental), just check with your healthcare professional before you start.

  • Most people will be able to meditate. There is no limit to age or gender. It just takes practice.

    However, if you have epilepsy, low blood pressure, psychosis or psychotic episodes, you should consult your doctor/psychiatrist before attempting any form of meditation, as it may not be suitable for you.

  • A maximum of 20 minutes a day is sufficient.

    Beginners should start with 5 minutes a day and build up gradually.

    Anything between 5 to 20 minutes is fine depending on how you feel and what works for you.

  • There are certain things that might affect your ability to meditate: these can include noise; light; temperature; time; smells; medications; and other things.

    If you find you are struggling, just come back to it at a different time or place or when you’ve altered a few settings in your environment, and have another go. Never force meditation, some sessions will go better than others and we just have to accept this.

  • Ideally a quiet, warm, comfortable, low-lit room.

    However, it is possible to meditate anywhere.

Yoga Breath

  • Yoga Breath is a range of breathing exercises, split into 3 categories of Coffee, Water and Whiskey.

    It is a safe, simple, and science-based method. Anybody can use these exercises to alter the state of their autonomic nervous system.

    Benefits include improved digestion, reduced stress and anxiety, better mood, sleep, and energy levels.

  • Yoga Breath is simple, science-based, and accessible. Therefore it is safe for everybody.

    Use Coffee exercises sparingly.

    Pregnant women should avoid Coffee, but can do the rest.

    People with asthma or anxiety may find the water and whiskey exercises helpful. If you have any health issues you should consult your medical/healthcare professional to check its okay, and then inform your coach so they can adapt any exercises as necessary.

  • 15 minutes a day is the average amount of time for Yoga Breath. 5 minutes morning and evening, and sometime during the day as and when needed.

  • 4 sessions is the ideal amount for you to learn and experience everything you need to benefit long term from YogaBreath. You will then be able to practice by yourself and use the breathing techniques which suit you to get the most benefit for yourself.

  • These are the different names given to the types of breath exercises used in Yoga Breath.

    Coffee in the morning to wake you up - this is fast, more than 30 breaths a minute.

    Water during the daytime to keep you balanced, medium paced, 4-6 breaths per minute.

    Whiskey in the evening to wind you down - this is slow, 3 or less breaths a minute.

    They can also be labelled as Sun, Water and Moon, or Fire, Water and Ice.

Sleep

  • You will be asked to complete a number of forms/questionnaires, and a week long diary. These cover all aspects related to your sleep.

    From the responses you give, and the information recorded, your current sleep habits can be assessed against various scales, and we can see what areas need addressing.

  • You will be asked to complete your forms when you sign on to the course. This takes a week, and then the data needs to be assessed.

    You then start the 6 weeks of sessions. Due to having a 5 week personalised plan, to enable changes to be made at the correct stages and right ways, plus breaking down all the sections of information you will receive, followed by another reassessment towards the end, it takes a few weeks longer than some other courses.

  • Sleep is just as important as exercise or nutrition when it comes to health.

    During sleep, the body recovers, repairs and heals itself, we make memories and consolidate information, and the brain cleans out toxins, amongst other things.

    Lack of quality and sufficient time asleep can cause stress, illness, fatigue, poor mental focus, lack of memory, irritability, etc.

Pilates

  • Pilates is a mindful form of exercise focusing on core, strength, toning, mobility, flexibility, balance, coordination, breathing and relaxation.

  • 1 to 1 sessions are personalised to your own needs and goals.

    Having the full attention of the instructor can help you ensure perfect technique, reducing movement errors, further your understanding of each exercise and the Plates method, and challenge you at your own level.

    As with any other Personal Training session you get that extra motivation and support, both during the workout and between sessions to help you practice.

    Rather than just a general class workout these sessions are tailored to what you specifically need.

  • It depends on what you want to achieve:

    If you have long-term goals then you will need quite a few sessions to work through personalised plans, and get to where you want to be.

    If you just want to check your technique or are struggling with one exercise, you may find it beneficial to have a one-off private sessions to get help with this issue.

    GTHF offers 4 session blocks, as this usually enables you to find out if it’s really what you need, get a good understanding of what you are doing, and is an easy number of sessions to commit to initially, and gives you a great start towards your goals. Many clients continue to progress with their Pilates in this way, whilst others may then go into classes, or do a mixture of the two.

    Factors such as time, motivation, cost, goals, etc. all determine how you will decide what is right for you.

  • Centering - Everything in Pilates happens from the central core “the powerhouse”. You will radiate energy from here.

    Breath - we focus on lateral thoracic breathing and matching movement to breath. Each exercise has a breathing pattern.

    Control - is essential to performing each exercise and ensuring awareness of correct alignment, stability and movement.

    Concentration - total focus is required from start to finish to execute movements correctly.

    Precision - precise attention to detail and correct performance throughout every exercise.

    Flow - smooth actions and transitions between all breaths, movements and exercises.

  • Classes are great if you like to workout with other people, who probably are likeminded and enjoy similar exercise to you. There is a social and community social feel.

    They cover all the general exercises and give you a total workout each class. If you want to stay fit and healthy and enjoy all the benefits of Pilates, but don’t really have specific goals these are the cheapest option.

    Online classes mean you can join in from wherever you are, no need for travelling, childcare, gym contracts.

  • Pilates is not a quick fix - it takes time to see the changes. You will feel the difference on the inside and in yourself, before you see the external changes in body shape.

    Joseph Pilates himself quoted: “In 10 sessions you will feel the difference, in 20 you will see the difference, and in 30 you’ll have a whole new body.”

  • At least once a week.

    A little bit a day is really beneficial.

    It depends on how you feel and can fit it into your daily routine.

    Some people like to do 1 or 2 classes/sessions a week. Others prefer to do 20 minutes a day.

  • Comfortable clothing you can move freely in, eg. leggings and tshirt.

    Try to avoid zips, buttons, etc as it can be uncomfortable to lie on these.

    You can be barefoot or wear socks.