Pilates With Eliza

Back in January, I attended .girls.can event, where we explored how to further reduce barriers to movement for women and girls. One of the many positive outcomes was the creation of focus groups to keep these conversations going.

As a Pilates teacher, my work centres around helping people reconnect with their bodies through movement - particularly those living with chronic pain, fatigue and those who may not feel fitness spaces are for them.

Last week, I joined one of the follow-up groups focused on creating genuinely safe and welcoming spaces for movement within culturally diverse communities.

It was really clear that true inclusion has to be culturally respectful, accessible, and community-led. One phrase from the discussion that really stayed with us all was the importance of being “authentically curious” when trying to understand needs.

This is something I’ve been reflecting on more and more through my own teaching experiences - especially when working within different communities and individuals with varied needs. It’s a reminder that we don’t always need to arrive with answers, but instead with openness, curiosity and a willingness to listen and learn.

A few thoughts and reflections I’ve been carrying with me since:

Trust comes first: People are far more likely to engage in movement within spaces and communities where they feel safe and known. I’ve seen this firsthand while teaching in a local mosque community.

Small changes can have a huge impact: The language we use, the environment we create, clothing expectations and class structure really matter when it comes to whether someone feels comfortable enough to walk through the door.

Connect First: Often, it’s the feeling of community, trust, and relationship-building that encourages people to keep showing up - not just the exercise itself.

I left inspired by the conversations, the people in the room and the potential for more collaboration across Bristol moving forward.

There’s still so much to learn, but I’m grateful to be part of spaces asking thoughtful questions about how movement can feel safer, more welcoming, and more accessible for everyone

This is my beginners social prescribing group, and this picture perfectly captures the brilliant energy they bring each week.

People arrive in my classes for all sorts of reasons - managing pain, rebuilding confidence, feeling disconnected from their bodies, or just not quite knowing where to start with movement.

Today, we celebrate International Pilates Day and everything Pilates has to offer, and what it opens up for people. For many of my clients, it’s about finding a way back into movement that feels good… feeling a little more at home in your body… realising you can do more than you thought… and moving in a space that feels familiar and easy to step into AND importantly having fun and building friendships along the way.

Pilates can be strong, precise, challenging…and it can also be gentle, supportive, and empowering.

If you’ve been thinking about trying Pilates but weren’t sure where to begin…all of my classes are mixed ability, I offer 1:1 and 2:1’s and I’m always so happy to chat through what might suit you best.
You can message me via the link in my bio 🫶

Personalised Pilates in a calm, private home studio. Message to book a free intro call 📞

All classes are mixed ability, small group sessions (4 max) in my peaceful, fully equipped home studio in BS6. You’ll get plenty of guidance and support - if you’d like to join, just send me a message.

Six months of deepening, expanding, and growing my teaching has flown by. What a journey it’s been, adding new richness and dimension to the way I teach and move. ✨

This Comprehensive training with Soul Pilates has been about building on what I already bring as a teacher - adding fresh tools, confidence, and clarity to support my clients in even richer ways.

And now the work continues ….. weaving this learning into my teaching, continuing to grow my confidence and holding space for others to explore their own movement stories.

I’ve gained tools, but also trust in the process, in my body, and in the unfolding of skill over time.

And the people 🫶 what a joy to learn alongside such a brilliant, supportive group of women. I couldn’t have wished for better company on this journey.

So excited to step into this next chapter as I put all this learning into practice. ✨

Today in our session, we talked about loneliness and chronic pain while we moved together… Many shared how pain changes their world. For some, being physically alone is a reality because socialising drains their energy or feels impossible. Others spoke about being around people but still feeling like they’re not really understood. That loneliness isn’t just about being by yourself, it’s about feeling unseen and disconnected in their experience.

Some of the group have shared that this is the first time they’ve really socialised with people outside of their family in a long time. Chronic pain can make a social life feel impossible, even going to the shops can drain all your energy, let alone reaching out or making new connections. But this group has become a safe, welcoming space where people see each other, have started to share lifts, and warmly welcome new faces.

That feeling of being part of a community, where you’re accepted just as you are, can make all the difference. It’s the gentle encouragement, the shared smiles, and the little moments of kindness that help us keep going. Because loneliness isn’t just about being by yourself, it’s about missing that human connection and the feeling of belonging.

It’s Loneliness Awareness Week and the theme is about “Meeting Loneliness Together,” about reducing the stigma around this natural human emotion, raising awareness, and empowering everyone to make connections. It’s so important to me that we find ways to create movement spaces where people feel seen, heard, and truly belong, because you’re not alone in feeling alone. Because movement matters, but community is what keeps us coming back. 🫶