Two years to the day (19th September) I elected to have two prolapsed discs removed from my neck (and the three vertebrae in my neck fused). This forced me to take over six months out of sailing but I felt it was my only option if I wanted to continue professional sailing.

Upon returning to sailing my top priority was to bullet proof my spine to prevent any further injury as well as to improve my racing performance. I met Jenny Glover from the Pilates Centre Weymouth on March 23rd. Jenny trained as a dancer at the Legat School of Russian Ballet as well as the London Studio Centre. She trained in pilates in 1985 (so has some 24 years of experience), so I knew I was in safe hands.

http://www.afloatweymouth.co.uk/_images/misc/blogs/jonemmett/jonemmettpilates1.jpg

I worked with Jenny using the Pilates gym equipment throughout the summer whenever I was not away competing, looking towards the future rather than concentrating on that season. It was with great pleasure I officially opened Jenny’s newly refurbished Pilates studio and Dance School on September 1st just a few days before the 10th Anniversary of the School first opening in Weymouth.

http://www.afloatweymouth.co.uk/_images/misc//jonemmettpilates2.jpg

Although the Pilates sessions are extremely difficult I have no doubt how useful they are to me and indeed to anyone. The final National Ranking event takes place in Weymouth on the 1st weekend of October and I hope to remain ranked number one in the UK. After this I am going to take some time off sailing to concentrate on the Pilates (although I shall of course do some sailing!) to put me in the best possible shape for the 2010 season!