How Carolyn bounced back Despite being a sports development officer, Carolyn Greenwood suffered such severe back pain that she couldn't do any exercise herself. Her condition was so bad that she spent a month in a back pain clinic and it was here that she learned about the benefits of pilates. "I then met Melanie because our sons are at school together and I started going to her class three years ago," says Carolyn who lives in Mayals. She now goes to Melanie's classes twice a week and believes that pilates has changed her body shape as well as helping her back. "You don't sweat doing pilates but you feel as if you're sweating on the inside it's so intense. It really strengthens the back and I think it has toned me. I can't do aerobics because of my back but I'm still getting exercise and it's doing me some good." Melanie is starting to run remedial pilates classes especially for back sufferers in the new year. "If you strengthen your core muscles then you help to support the spine," she says. "The remedial classes are for people who are a bit nervous about doing any exercise, but this form of gentle strengthening excercise will be good for them." Melanie's general classes cost £22.80 for a six week course or £25 an hour for personal training. Her back care clinic will be held at the Natural Health Service in Killay, from January, and will open to just seven people at a time at a cost of £7.50 per session (minimum five sessions).