Core Restore Testimonials

Below are testimonials from some of my happy Pilates clients [divider]

Click name to open

Back Related

[toggle_content title=”Hayley (Video)”]

Hayley first started with Denise after sustaining a back injury. She had a weak core as a result and suffered from terrible back pain. She’d seen different specialists but still wasn’t free of pain until she started with Denise.
[/toggle_content]

[toggle_content title=”Irma Dally”]

I am a new person. I walk tall. I smile. My pain is so much better. My body has sculpted and I even have the start of tiny biceps 🙂 who knew that it was even possible to enjoy life again.

When I limped into Denise’s Pilates studio a year ago, I was bent over, in agony with my back and felt like an old lady. I was in constant pain and could not sleep because the hip and back pain was excruciating. My whole demeanour was of a person battling with constant pain.

The physiotherapists had given up and the only thing that helped were cortisone injections – but of course one can’t live on those for too long.

In my first lesson, I could hardly bend. I also could not ‘find’ the muscles that I was supposed to pull in/contract or work on. Slowly Denise nursed me back to health. Eventually I was strong enough to join a class and then classes twice a week.

I am a new person. I walk tall. I smile. My pain is so much better. My body has sculpted and I even have the start of tiny biceps 🙂 who knew that it was even possible to enjoy life again.
My family did a hike up Devils Peak and I was amazed how easy I found it. My thighs are stronger and my balance is so much better.

Denise watches each of her students like a hawk. A nice hawk. She will tweak and change the exercise for you so that you don’t hurt yourself. In the entire period I’ve been with her from the time that I had an incredibly weak body, I have never got hurt and hence no need to take time off to recuperate or miss classes.

I’m still emotionally scarred from living with pain for so long and really scared of hurting my body. Denise often has to encourage me to stretch just a little further as I’m really scared to get hurt. And then I smile like a Cheshire cat when I realise how strong I’ve become and how easy it is.

She always has a bright smile and is keenly interested in each individual.

I also enjoy her scientific knowledge of the body. Her appreciation for how wonderfully we are made and how the body can heal itself with the right therapy.

Thank you darling Denise. (no vested interest)
[/toggle_content]

[toggle_content title=” Theresa Boshoff”]

Denise sets goals and challenges us so that eventually all of sudden you can do something which you thought you would never be able to do

“I sustained a back injury when I turned 50 years and herniated a disc. This was the beginning of 18 months of physiotherapy, visits to the chiropractor, in the beginning at least three times a week and eventually consultation with a spinal orthopaedic surgeon who gave me the option of surgery or trying to let my body heal itself. I opted for the latter. Eventually I was seeing the chiropractor once or twice a month for routine maintenance appointments. Someone who suffered with lower back pain as well as problems with her neck because of her job, told me about Denise. I joined Pilates classes with Denise about a year and a half ago, at first going once a week and now twice a week. After a few months, at a routine maintenance appointment with my Chiropractor he was amazed at how my back had improved and noticed how few and far between my visits had become. Emphasis is on strengthening the core and pelvic floor Denise is highly qualified and professional in what she does. Each class is varied which makes it interesting but yet still getting a fully body work out. Denise sets goals and challenges us so that eventually all of sudden you can do something which you thought you would never be able to do. Although you may be in a class with someone more advanced or not so advanced, the atmosphere is amazing – fun and friendly – no one judges you but rather encourages you. I highly recommend Denise as a Pilates instructor – she is amazing, knowledgeable and caring and knows her stuff”.
[/toggle_content]

[toggle_content title=”Tina Shield”]

I have developed strength, flexibility, balance and confidence.

I have been attending Pilates classes with Denise of Core Restore for almost 4 years. I have developed strength, flexibility, balance and confidence. My posture has improved, and my previous lower back problems are almost non-existent. I highly recommend Denise of Core Restore. Her classes are fun, yet her professionalism is never compromised
[/toggle_content]

Shoulder Related

[toggle_content title=”Cornelle Le Roux”]

My shoulder is well on its way to full rotation

Denise is an excellent and caring instructor, as well as motivator. She is also an amazing example herself of her believe in pilates. I was referred to her after a shoulder operation. I never feel awkward or out of place and she tailors sessions for individual needs. My shoulder is well on its way to full rotation – dankie Denise!
[/toggle_content]

Umbilical Hernia

[toggle_content title=”Kelly Cook”]
It wasn’t until my medical specialist mentioned that I no longer required a surgical procedure to fix my abdominal hernia, that I realised the additional benefits of doing pilates under specific instruction from Denise. I’ve continued up to my current pregnancy and throughout, and definitely feel it’s preventing the more severe diastasis recti issues which were likely to re-occur. Thanks Denise for your effort, energy and expertise.
[/toggle_content]

Pelvic Floor/Bladder Related

[toggle_content title=”Michelle Koenig”]

I have firmed up & am now aware of how important the strength of the core muscles and good posture are.

I started with Denise at Core Restore in August 2015. At my first assessment session my posture was incorrect, in fact I was skew & leaning towards one side. I was excited to learn that all this could be corrected & so started my journey. I initially started with private lessons to get into the swing of things. Denise is an excellent teacher & very receptive to your individual body needs & requirements. I also asked if there was any type of exercise that could assist with the situation where I constantly felt & needed to go to the toilet to urinate as well as getting up numerous times in the evening. Denise explained that pelvic floor exercises could assist in strengthening the pelvic muscles to assist with this. We then added these exercises. The wonder about these exercises is that they can be done anywhere & any time of the day. After a few sessions the change was noticeable & amazing. I rarely get up anymore in the evenings to go to the loo. Seven months down the line, my posture has improved dramatically. I have firmed up & am now aware of how important the strength of the core muscles and good posture are. As I am computer & desk bound most of the time, I have incorporated core exercises into my daily lifestyle & what a difference it has made to my general well being. I would highly recommend Denise. She is a brilliant teacher, caring & fun & WOW what a personal achievement to see our hard work together showing positive benefits! I just LOVE the Core Restore programme & it now a vital part of my life.
[/toggle_content]

[toggle_content title=”Hannelie”]

She put me back in control of my body

By the time I found Denise I’d been on a sad slide into a greater and greater sense of physical frailty. My gynaecologist referred me to Denise after he diagnosed that I was in stage 3 bladder prolapse. This was in 2015, three years after I had a hysterectomy for a prolapsed uterus. I wanted him to just magically fix the problem of my growing incontinence, but he was reluctant to do further surgery as he said he no longer believed that cutting was always the answer. I had misgivings, but Denise quickly took charge of these. She has a warm, easy, knowledgeable style that immediately changed the problem into a challenge – one that could be worked on. She explained the anatomy of the pelvic floor in a way that helped me to understand which exercises are crucial for me to do. She helped me with my posture and general attitude to my body. She advised me around diet and sleep. She worked with all of me. Pretty soon I could go through most nights getting better sleep as I was waking only once to go to the loo. I learnt to relax my pelvic floor when I was in a panic to get to the loo, so that I would not leak. She put me back in control of my body. I still have to be careful, but I know that my core is functioning better than in years.
[/toggle_content]

core and mobility

[toggle_content title=”Shirley Baillie”]

Denise Louw has proven to be a godsend.

Denise Louw has proven to be a godsend. In January 2017 I joined with injuries and chronic
conditions which resulted in me walking very badly, having no balance, not being able to stand
for more than a few minutes, my posture was bad, and I did not take any cardio exercise
because of my issues. A year later, all that has changed.
She thrives on challenging situations. Denise has no problem working alongside another
health worker to meet the needs of her patient. My physiotherapist is so impressed with my
progress that he now refers all his “hardcore cases “to her.
Although Denise plans all her classes, she readily adapts to accommodate what my capability is
on a particular day. This is most gratifying, as no lesson is ever wasted.
I recommend her highly – whether you are “normal” and fit into a class or are unique and need
special attention.
[/toggle_content]