Pilates has been hailed as the best overall exercise for toning your body and freeing your mind. KATE THOMPSON visits Marie-Claire Le Garrec's studio in Bedford Place, Southampton, to give it a go...

NOW I have to admit I'm more of a thrashing around, building up a sweat type of girl.

I like going for the burn and feeling like I've had a good old workout.

So Pilates was something of a learning curve for me.

I'm sure Marie-Claire won't mind me admitting that I was a little unimpressed by the first class or two.

For a start it was sooooo slow - and there was never any question of working up a sweat. The only time my heart rate went up was when I got stressed-out crossing the city to Marie-Claire's studio through rush-hour traffic.

But you just have to stick with it through those early lessons - and I can promise you, it really does pay off.

To begin with we concentrated on mat work. Pilates really is a workout for the mind as well as well as the body. You have to concentrate and focus if you want to make a difference to your shape.

There have been times when I've arrived in such a frazzled state at MC's studio, I feared I just couldn't calm down and concentrate.

But after a few minutes of breathing properly and stretching my body, my mind cleared. By the end of the class I always feel totally chilled and revitalised.

Having mastered the basics on the mat, it was time to use the reformer machine.

It looks like a thing of torture - and sometimes it feels like that, too. I've no idea what a mediaeval rack looks like but I'm sure Mr Pilates used it as the basis for his reformer.

Having said all that, exercising on the equipment is great fun. Marie-Claire explained you are working with your body weight and the resistance of the reformer.

After an hour-long class, you do feel as though you have worked your muscles.

I feel more toned, and when I do crunches at the gym, I feel like I am doing them properly.

As part of an overall exercise programme, Pilates can change your shape and encourage a great feeling of well-being.

One-to-one classes on the reformer cost £115 for six. Matwork classes with up to six people are £10 per class. More details from Marie-Claire on 0791 928 6419.