Pilates a valley over from Slaithwaite
Root is a small movement studio in New Mill, over the tops from the Colne Valley. Classes are kept deliberately small, the teaching is precise, and there is a cafe in the same building for afterwards.
Worth the drive over.
Coming over from Slaithwaite
Root is in New Mill, in the Holme Valley — the next valley south from Slaithwaite, over the tops. It is about 21 minutes by car.
That is far enough to be a decision and close enough to be a habit, which is roughly the right distance for a class you want to keep going to.
Four ways in
Reformer Pilates, mat Pilates, yoga, somatics and private sessions. If you have not used a reformer before, the beginners sessions are the place to start — they cover the machine itself before anything else.
Why people drive over
Classes are small on purpose. Mavra would rather teach eight people properly than sixteen adequately, and that is the whole reason the drive is worth making: you get watched, corrected and spoken to by name.
A larger class closer to home is a genuine alternative. This is the other option.
Make a morning of it
Cafe Root is in the same building — breakfast, lunch, homemade cakes and Dark Woods Coffee. Most people who travel in book a class and stay afterwards, which is a better use of a 21-minute drive than turning straight round.
Before you arrive
- Allow a little longer than the map says if the tops are misty.
- Wear clothes you can move and stretch in.
- Arrive five minutes early so you are not starting out of breath.
Common questions
How long does it take to get to Root from Slaithwaite?
About 21 minutes by car. Root is in New Mill, in the Holme Valley, over the tops from the Colne Valley.
Is it worth travelling for a Pilates class?
That depends what you want. If a large class near home suits you, it is not. If you want to be seen and corrected properly, a smaller class a short drive away is a different thing entirely.
I have never used a reformer. Where do I start?
Start with the beginners sessions. You do not need any previous Pilates experience, and the first session covers how the machine works before anything else.
Where is Root?
Root is at Unit 1 & 2, Sude Hill Mill, Penistone Road, New Mill, Holmfirth, HD9 7DU.