IA has joined forces with clinical exercise specialist Sarah Russell and The Ostomy Studio to provide free online core rehabilitation classes for any member with an ileostomy or internal pouch. Thanks to a generous donor, each month we are able to fund up to eight people to participate in core rehabilitation classes with Sarah through her online studio.

Classes are for members of IA who have an ileostomy, internal pouch, have had reversal surgery or are living with a parastomal hernia. They are based on physiotherapy led clinical Pilates principles and are suitable for everyone: you must be able to get down onto the floor easily, be able to lie on your back and be able to kneel on all fours comfortably; you can be 3-4 weeks post-surgery to start Foundations class and you can join a class if you have a hernia.

IA funding is flexible and you can apply for funding through IA to mix and match your time with The Ostomy Studio to suit and to ensure you can get the best from the funding provided. You can choose from any ONE of the following options:

  • EIGHT online classes OR
  • TWO 1:1’s with The Ostomy Studio OR
  • ONE 1:1 with The Ostomy Studio and FOUR online classes OR
  • Access to The Ostomy Studio’s pre-recorded library of exercises* and FOUR online classes OR
  • Access to The Ostomy Studio’s pre-recorded library of exercises* and ONE 1:1 with The Ostomy Studio OR
  • Access to The Ostomy Studio’s pre-recorded library of exercises*

* The pre-recorded video library content is recorded and managed by The Ostomy Studio as part of the funding programme available exclusively through IA.

This is a great opportunity to get back into fitness safely following abdominal surgery. Before deciding, you will be invited to attend a free trial online (group) session to help you decide, which you can book through The Ostomy Studio’s website directly – details will follow where IA funding is agreed. Where demand is high, people will be selected at random from the pool of applicants although access to a free trial session will still be possible. On occasions it may be necessary for IA to hold back funding requests to meet demand or where demand for the services of The Ostomy Studio is high. IA is only able to offer ONE round of funding to successful applicants to ensure funding is available for as many people as possible.

Group online classes are delivered MONTHLY and will be down to you to register your attendance via The Ostomy Studio’s website (all classes are subject to availability) – details will be provided of how to book where funding is agreed. You can choose to attend monthly where The Ostomy Studio will offer guidance, support your technique and answer any questions (there is also a Q&A at the end of the online class) or if you cannot attend at the date/time of the class, why not register for the class anyway and gain access to the recorded session which you can follow through at your leisure, multiple times, for the month. Online attendees who have booked and attend the lesson with The Ostomy Studio will also gain access to the recorded version for the month.

Please ensure that you are able to complete the sessions whether that’s live or recorded to make optimum use of the funding agreed. You may be asked to be involved in research questionnaires before and after the classes.

To apply for a place on the Specialist Core Rehab Program, please complete the application form.

Please note that by entering your contact details you are consenting to IA processing and securely storing your personal data for the purposes of registering with IA’s Specialist Core Rehabilitation Programme. To withdraw your consent at any time, please email [email protected], or write to us at IA National Office, Danehurst Court, 35-37 West Street, Rochford, Essex. SS4 1BE. As part of registering for the Specialist Core Rehab Programme, you understand that your name and email address only, as provided in the registration form, will be shared with Sarah Russell (herein known as ‘The Ostomy Studio’) to enable The Ostomy Studio to administer your booking and attendance of classes as part of the agreement to fund. Please refer to the privacy policy of The Ostomy Studio for further information. For further information on how IA uses your personal information, please refer to our privacy policy at the bottom of the page.