Grounded, which opens in early June, will teach Pilates, an exercise technique designed to improve strength, flexibility and balance.
Jordan Wilkie, owner and founder of Grounded Oldham, started the business after inheriting his father’s chiropractic business.
His father, Adam, ran a chiropractic business for 35 years but retired last year and a half.
When Jordan took over, requests for Pilates classes started coming in and she began running very small sessions with a maximum of six students.
“I realised people were asking all the time and there was nothing in Oldham that I knew of that offered Pilates, yoga and particularly reformer Pilates for anyone,” she said.
Reformer Pilates is one of two disciplines of exercise methods that use reformer machines to add resistance and variety to traditional Pilates workouts.
Pilates typically includes exercises such as leg lifts, bicycle crunches, and hip dips.
“It’s good to come in for chiropractic care and we encourage you to do that, but we also encourage you to take the time to work on your own health and posture,” Jordan said.
Jordan has a master’s degree in health and neuropsychology and says his research in the field has shown that community is a key aspect of health.
“Someone looking to live a healthier life might focus on diet and exercise, but one of the things that was really clear to me was that community is so important to it all,” he said.
“I think one of the things we’ve lost since Covid, particularly in Oldham, has been community and community spaces.
“What’s been really great for me is having this idea that we need to create a space where people can make healthy choices and learn about exercise and nutrition and things like that, but ultimately, they become part of a broader community where they can meet friends and get to know the instructors.”
“The best thing was coming here and seeing people getting along and just hearing people laugh.”
Unlike the chiropractic clinic classes, the new studio has four reformers and 12 mat spaces, allowing up to 16 people to attend at one time.
Jordan clarified that while there is room for more people, he limits the number of students on the mat to 12 to ensure instructors have enough time.
Jordan said he hopes to eradicate the stigma surrounding men learning Pilates and make the exercise more accessible to more people.
“I really want more men to do Pilates,” he said. “Ninety percent of people who do Pilates and yoga are women, but Pilates was invented by a man.”
“Yoga is very effective for back pain and stress. I want to eliminate the stigma against yoga and encourage more men to take up yoga, so I plan to hold more classes for men in the future.”
