A Love Letter to Pilates

Most of you know me through Pilates, and while I’ve spoken a lot about FAMO Fascia Movement, Pilates is where it all began. From my first class in 2000 to teaching and training ever since, Pilates has been my anchor. It grounds me, centres me, and continues to teach me new things every day not only in my own practice but with my clients too.

FAMO is a layer I’ve added to enhance what Pilates already builds: a body that moves with awareness, alignment, and ease. Even the creators of FAMO — art of motion academy — run one

of the largest Pilates education programs in Europe. They complement each other beautifully.Thank you to Mr Joseph Pilates for his legacy. 

Advanced Reformer exercise

🌿 Pilates is the Foundation of ALL My Retreats

Every retreat, Pilates is practiced daily. It is the steady thread that holds the retreat together with supporting strength, alignment and precision.  Pilates and FAMO together, form a multidimensional approach. It is where precision and muscles meets adaptability and fluidity.

🧠 Why Pilates Matters

Research increasingly supports strength and movement for healthspan — aging well with agility and ease.

A regular Pilates practice (Studio Pilates, Reformer and Mat) offers:

✔️ A functional base of support

✔️ Precision through muscles, joints & fascia

✔️ Breathwork that underpins every movement

✔️ Alignment of the whole body

✔️ Feedback from small & large equipment

Single Leg Bridge on the Reformer- Intermediate level

🎥 Reformer Classes: What to Look For (And Avoid)

Seen those TikToks of people falling off reformers like it’s a sport? Yes… not exactly the goal. This is a worrying trend. I’ve had two clients in the last few weeks that have injuries from doing a reformer class where supervision was minimal or without much set up of basics. And I'm talking about serious injuries that took months to heal with ongoing consequences.

If you want to avoid being that person (or just value your tailbone), here’s what to look for:

• Instructor Training: Check where the teachers studied

• Class Levels: Foundations matter. Even advanced movers benefit from revisiting the basics

• Class Size: Fewer reformers often mean better attention and care

• Programming: Watch for proper warm-ups, gradual layering, and spring safety

• Red Flag: No warm-up? That’s a no-go!

Fancy moves on social media don’t show the nuance Pilates requires. True progress comes with time, practice, and skilled guidance. You only have one body, so take care of it.