Shine Yoga & Pilates with Dawn

Do I really need Pilates?

It’s a question I hear all the time. Often from people who are curious but not quite convinced. People who think Pilates is only for a certain type of person, or who assume it’s all about strong abs, stretching, or getting more flexible.

The truth is that most people don’t realise the benefits of Pilates until they experience it for themselves.

It’s not really about six-packs, complicated exercises, or pushing harder. It’s about moving better, supporting your body more effectively, and noticing the habits, tensions and compensations that have quietly built up over time.

In my latest blog, I explore why Pilates feels so different from other forms of exercise, why it’s often harder than it looks, and why so many people who once said “Pilates isn’t for me” end up wondering how they ever managed without it.

Read the full article here: https://open.substack.com/pub/dawnclerkson/p/do-i-really-need-pilatesor-is-it?r=2ggxzv&utm_medium=ios

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us on Sunday at Nurstead Court for our Pilates Day Retreat. 💛

The whole day had such a lovely atmosphere from start to finish, and it was wonderful to see everyone giving themselves permission to slow down, switch off and properly retreat from the busyness of everyday life.

We moved, breathed, laughed, walked through the peaceful Kent countryside, enjoyed brunch together on the lawn, created beautiful bookmarks in the craft workshop, and ended the day wrapped in the soothing sounds of crystal bowls and gongs during the sound bath. It felt like the perfect balance of energy, creativity, calm and deep rest.

I also want to say a big thank you to my co-host Emma Churchill, whose restorative Pilates session brought such a grounding, peaceful energy to the afternoon.

These retreat days are always about more than exercise — they're about creating space to reconnect with yourself, and everyone who came helped make that possible.

We left feeling lighter, calmer and a little more restored, which is exactly what a retreat should do. ✨

If you missed this one, join us at Nurstead Court on 19th July for our Yoga Retreat Day, or for the afternoon on 30th August for Gentle Stretch & Flow amongst the vineyards in Luddesdown.

Full details of both, and bookings, at www.bookwhen.com/shineyogaandpilates.

Or call/message me 🙏💚

“When will I be able to touch my toes?”

It’s one of the most common questions I’ve been asked in 16 years of teaching yoga… usually followed by “and when will I actually get more flexible?”

It sounds simple—but it opens the door to something much more interesting.

Because somewhere between standing upright and reaching for your toes…
you learn patience,
you learn where your edge really is,
and you learn that pushing harder isn’t always the answer.

And here’s the thing no one really tells you:

👉 Touching your toes isn’t the goal.

In my latest blog, I talk about the questions yoga teachers hear all the time—and what’s really behind them.
Along with what you actually gain on the way down (hint: it’s far more valuable than flexibility).

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “doing yoga right”… this one’s for you.

✨ Read the full blog here: https://substack.com/

Countryside Sound Bath … This Sound Bath is the closing experience of our full Pilates Day Escape, but we’ve made a few Sound Bath-only tickets available — perfect if Pilates isn’t your thing or if you’re short on time but still craving a moment of peace.

Surrounded by the rolling green fields, woodlands, and peaceful pastures of the Kent countryside, this magical venue creates the perfect setting for deep rest and healing.

Let the soothing sounds of the gong, crystal and Tibetan singing bowls, and delicate chimes wash over you — a deeply relaxing and restorative experience to calm the body, clear the mind, and uplift the spirit.

📆 Sunday 7th June
🕰️ 4-5pm
📍 Nurstead Court, Court Lane, Nurstead, Meopham DA13 9AD
💷 £18

🎟️ FULL DETAILS & BOOK HERE: https://bookwhen.com/shineyogaandpilates/e/ev-skor9-20260607160000

Sound Bath Kent

Imagine waking to warm Moroccan light, the scent of orange blossom drifting through the air, palms swaying gently in lush gardens, and nowhere you need to be.

This 5-day Pilates & Yoga Retreat at Villa Dinari, Marrakech offers a rare opportunity to step away from the pace of everyday life and into a world of refined calm, beauty and sensory richness.

Set within over two acres of beautifully landscaped gardens just outside Marrakech, this boutique villa blends traditional Moroccan charm with understated luxury.

Days unfold effortlessly—beginning with uplifting Pilates and yoga in the dedicated open-air shala, followed by time to unwind beside the heated pool, or retreat into shaded corners of the gardens. Evening practice is more restorative and calming to support nervous system deregulation.

Indulge in nourishing, beautifully prepared meals inspired by Moroccan cuisine, relax into the ritual of the traditional hammam, or enjoy restorative massage and spa treatments designed to soothe and rebalance.

Beyond the villa, the vibrant energy of Marrakech is just a short drive away, offering the option to explore colourful souks, rich culture and breathtaking landscapes—before returning to your own private oasis of calm.

Whether you are seeking deep rest, a reconnection to your body, or an elegant escape to reset and rebalance, this retreat is designed to leave you feeling grounded, revitalised and quietly transformed.

Full details and booking here: https://bookwhen.com/shineyogaandpilates/e/ev-s7vgg-20270522000000

Or email [email protected]

Or call 07497436045

Villa Dinari, Marrakech

A perfect way to close a beautifully sunny April day☀️

20 minutes of guided Yoga Nidra / NSDR to gently settle the mind and relax the whole body… followed by a deeply immersive sound journey, where layers of sound and vibration create a cocoon of calm. The experience moves through different textures depending on the instruments — at times soft and spacious, at others richer and more enveloping — gently guiding you into a dreamlike state of rest.

Starting with NSDR allows the body to soften and open — so the experience can be received more deeply.

Some really beautiful feedback too… from seeing a vivid purple glow 💜 to feeling gentle tingling through the skin. These experiences are often what happens when the body feels safe enough to fully let go — as the mind quietens and you become more aware of subtle sensations and imagery.

It’s always interesting afterwards when people ask about specific instruments… sometimes it can be a challenge to identify exactly what’s being described in the moment! The “thunder drum” being described as sounding like an aircraft was a new one ✈️😄 but I suppose it fits perfectly with the idea of a sound journey after all!

Thank you for giving yourselves that time to pause, rest and be held in the space 🤍

Sound Bath Kent



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FRIDAY MORNINGS JUST GOT BETTER !

My new 9.30am Friday Pilates class at Shears Green Community Centre starts next week - 24th April.

If you’ve been thinking about doing something for you, this is a lovely place to start…

✨ Build strength (especially your core)
✨ Ease back or joint discomfort
✨ Improve posture, mobility & flexibility
✨ Move at a pace that suits your body

This is a friendly, supportive class where you’ll feel comfortable whether you’re a complete beginner or more experienced — with options so you can work at the level that feels right for you.

👍🏻 Drop-in and block booking options available

✨ Introductory offer
Get 50% off your first class when you book a block of 4+ classes
(Offer not valid on single class bookings)

ℹ️ Use code FIRSTBLOCKCLASS50 when booking

👉🏻 Book your space here: https://bookwhen.com/shineyogaandpilates/e/ev-s4x29-20260424093000

🫶🏻 Know someone who’d love this? Tag them or invite them along with you



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