I found Pilates after spending the best part of 10 years struggling with my health. At 15 I began to experience pain and loss of sensation in parts of my body.  The condition progressed to the point I was unable to walk, would experience episodes of temporary blindness, fainting, spasms, brain fog and extreme fatigue. This illness unravelled to the point at 17 I found myself in a pain clinic with a sense this was the end of the road. By this stage I was crawling around the house, being helped or carried up the stairs and occasionally needing help washing my own hair or putting my socks on. My life had shrunk dramatically and I felt at the time was irrevocably broken.

However, I learnt the value of baby steps, I began to take daily walks held up by my mum, 20 meters to start, we’d park by a bench, walk to it, sit, rest and walk back. Then every day I could, we’d push it a little further, maybe only a few steps. Eventually I found my way to a physiotherapist with a specialism in one of my conditions and in Pilates. Pilates exercises started small, a focus on stability, paying careful attention to strengthen my weak wobbly joints. Over time, the exercises grew with me, the steady challenge becoming a pleasure, I began to feel strong again, with it came some energy, some peace. I began to settle back into a body that had felt like an adversary. Just a year after practising Pilates daily, my world had stretched back out to include swims in rivers and hikes up mountains. Views, sights and experiences I thought I’d never see again made possible by Pilates.

My experience taught me so much about pain and all of its faces. Pain can make us shrink from the world, Pilates fortified my resilience and paved my way back. My mission is to help others feel safer and stronger in their bodies.

I’m currently training with Balanced Body ( an internationally recognised and world leading resource for Pilates, mindful movement equipment, education and Information).

I am passionate about the power of Pilates to make tangible and profound improvements to your life and health. Onwards and upwards!