My journey to Pilates
From avoiding exercise to finding movement I love
If you had told my younger self that one day I would become a Pilates teacher, I probably wouldn't have believed you! At school, I was rubbish at pretty much every kind of sport. I had a natural ability to be truly uncoordinated and could even manage to trip myself up while running.
So throughout my childhood and young adult life, it's fair to say I gave exercise a very wide berth. Then, at the age of 25, I went to my first yoga class — and loved it. Five years later, I discovered Pilates, although I had no idea at the time just how important it would eventually become to me.
Finding my happy place
Some twenty-odd years later, at the age of 53, I decided to make a complete career change and train to become a Pilates teacher. It may sound like a cliché, but Pilates really had become my happy place.
Having spent most of my career working in adult learning and development, I had spent years helping other people to learn, develop and grow. Eventually, I realised it was time to develop myself and pursue something I genuinely loved. And so, my Pilates teaching journey began.
Pilates for women as we age
When I started my Pilates teacher training, I was at least 20 years older than many of the other candidates. Rather than seeing that as a disadvantage, it gave me an idea. I wanted to create Pilates classes specifically designed to support women as we get older.
Having previously trained as a Menopause Champion for the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development), I was particularly interested in combining movement with my knowledge of menopause. I understood some of the changes women can experience during this stage of life and wanted to create a welcoming environment where women could move their bodies, build strength and maintain their mobility without feeling intimidated or judged.
Developing my Pilates specialisms
Support for different stages of women's lives
Over the years, I have continued to develop my knowledge and qualifications so I can support women through different stages of their lives.
My specialist training includes:
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Pilates for Menopause
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Pilates for Bone Health
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Postnatal Pilates
These specialisms allow me to adapt and structure my teaching around the needs of the women attending my classes.
Come and join me
Friendly, women-only Pilates in Carshalton Beeches
If you've always thought exercise wasn't really for you, perhaps Pilates could change your mind — just as it changed mine. My women-only Pilates classes in Carshalton Beeches provide a friendly, supportive environment where you can work at your own level and enjoy moving your body without pressure or judgement.
Whether you're navigating menopause, looking to maintain strength and bone health as you get older, returning to movement after pregnancy or simply looking for an enjoyable Pilates class, I'd love to welcome you.
You don't have to be "good at exercise"
This is something I feel particularly strongly about. My aim has always been to help women who don't naturally gravitate towards exercise discover a form of movement they can genuinely enjoy.
You don't need to be sporty. You don't need to be particularly flexible. You don't need to be coordinated. And you certainly don't need to already be fit before joining a Pilates class. I want you to leave a class feeling good about yourself while supporting your strength, flexibility, mobility, balance and overall well-being.
Building confidence through movement
One of the things that makes me happiest about teaching Pilates is seeing what happens beyond the class itself. Over the years, I have watched women become stronger and more confident in their bodies. Often, that confidence encourages them to try other activities they might never have considered a year earlier.
For me, that is what Pilates is really about. It's not about being perfect at exercise. It's about discovering what your body can do, enjoying movement and giving yourself the confidence to keep moving.