Laura Lewis Movement

Laura Lewis Movement We are all about movement, movement is a great therapy for the body. Aston for Pilates utilises the There is something for everyone. With you in mind.

Laura is an Aston for Pilates teacher, first aid trained, fully insured and CRB checked and is based in Axminster. Laura travelled to Nevada USA, to obtain a qualification in Aston for pilates, ergonomics, and movement coaching. She is currently one of five in the Uk who has this qualification. What ever the reasons are for taking up pilates, whether it be for, Sciatica, Hyper-mobility, back issues, MS, pregnancy, toning, or stretching. Laura helps people discover what they can achieve with in their body, and will help put in place the tools necessary for whatever life may through at us.

14/09/2026

🌿 Instructors can you track your Pilates Tree? 🌿

LETS HAVE SOME FUN ☺️

✨ Hey, I realised something pretty cool this weekend.

I’m actually much closer to the original Pilates method than I’d originally thought.

Over the years, I’ve adapted, changed and developed my own findings and ways of teaching. And, of course, Pilates today can look very different from what Joseph Pilates taught 100 years ago — because we’re dealing with very different bodies, lifestyles and issues.

But when I traced my teaching lineage back, it got really interesting.

Alan Herdman was taught by the Pilates Elders — the teachers who had been directly taught by Joseph Pilates. Alan then brought Pilates to the UK in the 1970s.

Michael King later became an apprentice, before developing his own teacher education programmes in the 1990s.

I started my Pilates journey in the 1990s under my mentor, who trained directly under Michael King.

So, if I’ve got my Pilates maths right… does that make me 6th generation Pilates? 👀

Which got me thinking…

How far back can you trace your Pilates tree? 🌳

Who taught your teacher, who taught them, and who taught them?

Let’s have some fun with this and see how many generations we can trace back to Joseph Pilates.

Drop your Pilates lineage below! 👇👇👇👇

12/09/2026

🌿New Blog🌿

This is something that has come to my attention.

Although as instructors we want people to communicate, sometimes students think they are being a nuisance if they don't speak up.

Yes we may look out for facial expressions, but we aren't mind readers. It's not part of our skill set.

I tried some new dialogue this week to see if a difference was made to someone coming to a class for the first time. The outcome was perfect. It went like this. It was at a gym by the way.
"Hi my name is Laura, what is Yours?
Have you done Pilates before?
Ok so is there anything particular I need to be made aware of?
Just to let you know, this is a mixed ability class, if things don't feel right listen to your body don't work with strain or pain.
If something really doesn't feel right please speak up, as I look out for facial expressions but I am not a mind reader. (She laughed).
I encourage questions, and you are hear to help improve your well being so it's important to ask questions as you may help someone else out as well in the process.

Her response was , "oh I can do that is an i? "

My response, "Of course, I want you to leave he feel good not worse, so speaking up is key to the practice. "

In the class she did speak up as I was at the front and she was right at the back. It was perfect, and after would she told me how much she enjoyed the class and how different she felt.

You see why is it odd to ask questions, you are going to class to improve yourself, your awareness, your practice. If you don't understand something. Speak up, it can't be after, the moment has passed.

Link in bio ✨

🌿Self-reflection is key to understanding yourself in your entirety.Most mornings I run at 5:30am. No people, no distract...
11/09/2026

🌿Self-reflection is key to understanding yourself in your entirety.
Most mornings I run at 5:30am. No people, no distractions just the air, the quiet and time to reconnect with myself. Afterwards, I spend 10 minutes exploring movement.
But this morning I did something different.
I sat with a cup of tea and watched the sun rise.
As the colours warmed the sky, I realised just how far I have come in understanding my own body.
I’ve spent much of my life trying to feel well. As a child I was often sick, later diagnosed with coeliac disease. As a competitive ice skater, I’ve experienced sciatica since I was 14.
🌿I’ve also had two car accidents.
And one of those accidents completely changed the way I looked at the body.
During my Aston Kinetics training in Lake Tahoe, my back went into spasm. Judith and Alan observed me and could see a pattern from the accident.
Alan didn’t work directly on my painful back.
He worked gently on my forearm.
Within 20 minutes, something changed.
I was fascinated.
It taught me that sometimes the place we feel pain isn't necessarily the place we need to work.
Years later, after another accident, I found myself using the same principles. Instead of simply chasing the pain, I began observing, feeling and understanding the patterns my body was creating.
🌿And this is why I created The Intelligent Body.
I constantly hear:
"What's the best exercise for my back?"
"What's the best exercise for my hip?"
"What will fix my shoulder?"
I wish there was one simple answer.
But there isn't.
Because your body is constantly organising, adapting and balancing around the demands you place upon it.
The way you stand.
The way you breathe.
The way you distribute your weight.
The way you move.
The positions you repeatedly put yourself in.
Your body develops patterns.
And sometimes, adding another exercise to that pattern isn't the answer.
First, you have to learn to see it.
Then learn to feel it.
Then understand how to change the way you move within it.
This isn't a quick fix.
It's learning.
It's observation.
It's awareness.
It's understanding ground reaction force and how to use movement and touch as tools to help you navigate everyday life.

PILATES ISN’T JUST ABOUT STRETCHING AND “THE CORE"Last week in class, we focused on something incredibly important: leg ...
07/09/2026

PILATES ISN’T JUST ABOUT STRETCHING AND “THE CORE"
Last week in class, we focused on something incredibly important: leg strength and the ability to get up from the floor or a chair without relying on our hands.
It’s a skill we need to keep practising.
As we age, strength, balance and movement skills can gradually decline. Yet many older adults come to believe that using their upper body to push themselves up is simply what they have to do.
But what if we focused on how the feet connect with the floor?
We explored weight distribution through the feet and what happens when the body moves its weight towards the front-to-middle of the foot, rather than habitually shifting backwards into the heels.
When the toes and forefoot are involved, we can create a much stronger connection with the floor and recruit the muscles that help us move:
🦶 The feet and toes
💪 Quadriceps
🍑 Glutes
🦵 Hamstrings
🧘 Pelvic floor
🧠 Abdominal musculature
And here's the part I find fascinating…
Sometimes you don't need to cue “engage your core” at all.
Change the way the body interacts with the floor, and the body can organise itself differently.
That connection can help support balance, stability and efficient movement.
This is why I’m cautious about simply telling everyone to distribute their weight “evenly through the whole foot.”
For some people, that cue can result in them shifting their weight backwards into the heels. The toes become less involved, the body may lose some of its forward support, and the movement strategy changes.
Instead, sometimes we need to explore:
Where is your weight?
What are your toes doing?
How are your feet connecting with the floor?
And what happens further up the body when you change that connection?
Because Pilates isn't just about stretching.
It isn't just about getting people to “engage their core.”
It's about teaching the body how to use itself more effectively.
The feet are our foundation.
And learning how to use that foundation can have a huge impact on something as simple — and as important — as getting up and down independently.
That's Pilates that can translate beyond the studio and into quality of life. 🤍

Take the Pilates Roll Up.Your stronger side keeps doing the heavy lifting…while your weaker side keeps trying to catch u...
05/09/2026

Take the Pilates Roll Up.

Your stronger side keeps doing the heavy lifting…
while your weaker side keeps trying to catch up.

The result? You look symmetrical, but your body may be compensating underneath.

Sometimes, creating better balance doesn’t mean forcing both sides to work the same.

It means noticing what each side is actually doing and giving the weaker side the opportunity to catch up.

Because symmetry isn’t always the goal.

Better movement is.

Have you heard of the conceit of feathering or spiralling?
Comment below
👇👇👇

04/09/2026

✨ What is Reformer Pilates? ✨

Think Reformer Pilates is only for the young, flexible or super-fit? Think again! 🤍

Reformer Pilates is a form of Pilates performed on a specially designed machine called a Reformer. Using springs, a moving carriage, straps and the resistance of your own body, the Reformer allows you to build strength, stability, balance, mobility and body awareness.

And the best part? You don't need to be flexible, experienced or “good at Pilates” to start.

Exercises can be adapted to suit different bodies and abilities, making Reformer Pilates a great option whether you're completely new to Pilates or looking to develop your existing practice.

Expect to work your whole body, challenge your muscles, improve your control and leave feeling like you've actually done something! 💪🏼✨

🧘‍♀️ Reformer Pilates Classes
📍 Laura Lewis Movement
Mondays — 9:15am
Thursdays — 6:30pm

Classes are friendly, supportive and suitable for a range of abilities.

Movement is Medicine

5 MYTHS ABOUT WHO THE REFORMER IS FOR 🤍There’s a common misconception that Reformer Pilates is for the young, flexible a...
03/09/2026

5 MYTHS ABOUT WHO THE REFORMER IS FOR 🤍

There’s a common misconception that Reformer Pilates is for the young, flexible and already fit.

But that’s not why the Reformer was created.
Let’s go back to its roots…

MYTH 1: “The Reformer was created for dancers.”

❌ Not originally.
Joseph Pilates developed his method to help people develop strength, control, coordination and better movement.
Although dancers later embraced Pilates, it was never designed exclusively for them.

MYTH 2: “You need to be flexible before you start Reformer Pilates.”

❌ Quite the opposite.
The Reformer uses springs, resistance and support to help you work on strength, mobility and control.
You don't need to be flexible to start Pilates.
Pilates can help you develop your mobility.

MYTH 3: “Reformer Pilates is for young, fit people.”

❌ Pilates has never been about age.
The Reformer can be adapted to meet different bodies, abilities and levels of experience.
You can change the springs, position, range of movement and exercise to suit the individual.

MYTH 4: “The Reformer was designed for elite athletes.”

❌ It wasn't.
Joseph Pilates' work was about helping people understand and improve how their bodies moved.
The Reformer provides resistance and assistance, making it a versatile piece of equipment that can be adapted for many different people.
You don't have to be an athlete to benefit from it.

MYTH 5: “You have to be good at Pilates before you can use the Reformer.”

❌ You don't need to be “good” at Pilates.
That's what learning is for.
The Reformer gives you feedback through the springs and moving carriage, helping you develop body awareness, control, strength and confidence.
And perhaps this is the biggest misconception of all…
The Reformer isn't reserved for the flexible, young or elite.
It was created as a tool to help people move better, become stronger and develop greater control of their bodies.

So if you've ever looked at a Reformer and thought,
“I'm not flexible enough.”
“I'm too old.”
“I'm not fit enough.”
“That's for people who already know what they're doing.”
Think again. 🤍
The Reformer can meet you where you are.

🌿“I’m fine, thank you.”🌿This is something I hear instructors talk about more than you might think.An instructor will tel...
01/09/2026

🌿“I’m fine, thank you.”🌿

This is something I hear instructors talk about more than you might think.

An instructor will tell me about an experience where they have genuinely tried to support a participant during class. They have noticed a facial expression, a hesitation or something in the way the person is moving.

They have checked in.

“Are you okay?”
And, in the most wonderfully British way, the response is:
“I’m fine, thanks.”

So the instructor continues, believing everything is okay.
Then, later that evening, they received an email from the participant explaining that they weren't actually comfortable with a particular movement, they weren't sure about what they were feeling, or something that hadn't felt right during the class.

And the instructor is left questioning themselves.
“Should I have noticed?”
“Did I miss something?”
“Should I have done more?”
I have to be honest, this has happened to me too.
And when instructors talk to me about these experiences, one of the first things I say is:

✨“This isn't on you.”✨

If you have observed your participant, noticed their expression, checked in with them and asked if they are okay, you have done your part.
The participant has said they are fine.
You are not a mind reader.
As instructors, we can observe movement. We can look at body language, facial expressions, breathing and behaviour. We can ask questions and create opportunities for communication.
But we cannot know exactly what someone is experiencing if they don't tell us.
And this is why I keep encouraging students to speak up in the moment.

🌿If something doesn't feel right, tell your instructor.
🌿If you are unsure what you should be feeling, ask.
🌿If you don't understand the movement, say so.
If you need a modification, let us know.

Because when you communicate with us in the moment, we have the opportunity to help you.

30/08/2026

It’s been a busy weekend, and everyone has worked incredibly hard. 🤍



Contact days are such an important part of the learning journey. They give you the opportunity to put your practice into action, receive positive and constructive feedback, and understand how you can continue to improve and develop moving forward.

But it’s not just about the learning. You gain valuable support from your peers, share experiences, encourage one another, and often build friendships along the way.

Today, I had the pleasure of working with , and we received such lovely feedback. It was a real reminder of just how much goes into these weekends.

They’re intense. They are hard work. There’s a lot to take in.

But when you see the progress, the confidence growing and the support within the group, it’s all worth it. ✨

Well done everyone — you should be incredibly proud of yourselves. 🤍


28/08/2026

Me on a daily basis.

No wonder us pilate instructors can't count.
My brain fog is not improving, those mushroom gummies just aren't working 🤣🤣🤣.
Or is this as good as it gets 🤔

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