Pilates for Everyone from Your Lounge to the Middle of an Ocean

Pilates or Everyone From Your Lounge to the Middle of an Ocean

Row, row, row your boat

Gently down the stream

Merrily merrily, merrily, merrily

Life is but a dream

As you sing out the nursery rhyme you conjure up an idyllic scene of small children in their little boats paddling their way down a tranquil stream dodging the waterlilies and saying high to the frogs as they paddle past and getting gently splashed by the fishes jumping in and out of the water.

The twist

Well, now imagine one boat, two people, four oars and 3000 mile of ocean in front of them, unaided for around 50 days. It’s possibly not quite the same cute tranquil picture.

It’s a challenge of mental strength, physical stamina and the ability to look after yourself whilst at sea. Rowing night and day, no respite. You are in a boat 9.2m in length and 1.9m across, in the hands of the elements and the weather gods. Nowhere to run, nowhere to escape.

I’d like to introduce you to Sean Geiser, a South African living in the Bahamas and his cousin Darryl from here in the UK. I met them at the New Forest Show back in July. I mean a rowing boat is easy to spot when amongst all the country and horsey activity. Instantaneously I was captivated by their mission, Two-Inna-Row. They are competing in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge 2022. A rowing adventure. A journey that will take them from La Gomera, Canary Islands to English Harbour, Antigua, and their personal goal to raise £50,000 for Children with Cancer UK, The Cancer Society of The Bahamas and the Kid Cancer Foundation along the way.

What has this got to do with Juliet’s Pilates?!

Naturally, as someone passionate about endurance sports, I was then interested in their diet and fitness plan. I wanted to know more. When I found out that there were some lower back complaints, I pulled my Pilates teacher hat firmly onto my head and asked if I could help in my own way to support them. Juliet’s Pilates has offered them my knowledge and experience to try and make their journey as comfortable as I can.

So, I have done some research of my own, and how utterly terrifying and exciting does this sound.

Each team will row in excess of 1.5 million oar strokes during a race.
The fastest 24 hours ever is 107.45 nautical miles covered.
The fastest row across the Atlantic was a four-man team who finished in 29 days, 14 hours and 34 minutes
At its deepest, the Atlantic Ocean is 8.5km / 5.28 miles deep.
The waves that the rowers experience can measure up to 20ft high.
Each rower is expected to use 800 sheets of toilet paper during their crossing.
In the 2016 race, solo rower Daryl Farmer arrived in Antigua after 96 days, rowing without a rudder to steer with for nearly 1200miles/40 days.
The fastest solo across the Atlantic was Mark Slats who completed in 30 days, 7 hours and 49 minutes.
Rowers burn in excess of 5,000 calories per day.
There is no toilet on board – rowers use a bucket!
The average rower loses around 8kg during a crossing.
In the 2018 race, solo rower Kelda Wood (Row 2 Raise) was kept company by a whale for nearly 7 days.

You can join this journey too… and don’t worry you don’t have to row the Atlantic!

This September, which coincidently is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the charities they are raising money for, I have introduced some rowers specific Pilates Classes, targeted at Sean and Darryl needs. After discussions with them, I have devised exercises to help cover core, shoulder, back and leg strength in addition to the necessary stretching and mobility. I am also throwing in some breathing exercises to help towards the mental challenge they face. They will also learn exercises that they will be able to do whilst at sea to help them maintain the bodies in the best possible way they can within the space they have.

What happens next?

On the 12th of December Sean and Darryl will start their challenge. This means they have the next three months to prepare, and the Juliet’s Pilates community is here to help get them into the best possible shape and you can come along for the journey too.

So, whether you are row or not, these classes are for you. Please come and join me, and let’s look at how we can exercise and keep mobile whilst not physically being able to go far!

Members. Already a member? Tune into my 8am class on a Monday morning and keep an eye on the calendar as extra classes will be added.

Non-Members. Looking to join up? Get access to this live class along with all other classes and my online library by subscribing here https://www.julietspilates.com/online-booking

Find out more!

Two-Inna-Row. two-inna-row.com

Talisker Whiskey Challenge. taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com

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By juliet • April 28, 2026

Members news. Week upcoming : Bank Holiday Monday - class running as usual and this coming Wednesday, 2 x 30 min classes. Details in library. As I am away a few days here and there in May/June, I will continue to put in extra classes now and then to keep everyone topped up. It's all about give and take! Following on from requests this week, upcoming we have a Roll over/Control Balance workshop (Thursday 8am), Back care (Thursday 9am) and Body Conditioning, sculpt and tone style (Wed 8am). All updates will always be in your live calendar. We welcome 4 new members this week and can't wait to see you on the screen! We can now add Portugal to our community! That means that currently, we are beaming into the UK from Cornwall to Yorkshire, Spain, Italy, Greece, France, Germany and now Portugal! We are so much more than Pilates and our community continues to support in so many ways. While a couple of our treasured members are going through some hefty challenges, I am so pleased that you use our online connection as a form of support and to use the friendship of your fellow members. Don't forget you can log in 15 mins early for a natter before class and on Thursdays, I will leave the meeting open after we finish the 9.45am class for anyone to stay on and have a chat. Grab a coffee and log back in even if you weren't in the class. If you would like to join our "Friends of JP's" what's app group , let me know - we are slowly growing and it is a friendly place for a chat and check in, (and a grumble about how tough the class was!). Have a lovely weekend, Jx

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By juliet • April 9, 2026

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By juliet • April 8, 2026

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