hi, i’m lauren.
From primary school teacher to passionate Pilates instructor, this is my story.
Three years ago, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, an autoimmune disease which involves the immune system attacking the healthy joints in the body. This was a huge blow to someone who adored health and fitness, loved exercising and even competed in bodybuilding competitions! Once an active individual, I found myself in constant pain and often unable to even perform the simplest of my day-to-day tasks. Feeling frustrated and angry, I got into a cycle of ignoring my disease, overexerting myself then having to deal with the consequences, sometimes spending days in bed recovering. I lost all my confidence and no longer felt part of the ‘fitness’ space.
Desperate to find something that would help me, I did my research and entered the world of Pilates. I attended a reformer Pilates class at Coco Studio and was immediately hooked- there was so much variety in the exercises, I could adapt and adjust them to suit my needs and I had so much fun- the sessions flew by, and I found myself going back again and again. Over time, I started to notice a huge difference in my mobility and strength; I could walk my dog without any knee pain and gradually increase the intensity of my sessions without any aftereffects.
“Change happens through movement, and movement heals”
— Joseph Pilates
During this time, I had been a full-time primary school teacher for nearly 10 years. I loved being in the classroom and teaching children, but demands of the profession left me feeling burnt out and exhausted. Like many others, I had had enough and wanted to leave school life behind. After years of not knowing what else I could do, I knew I had to follow my gut and train to be a Pilates instructor, turning my passion into a career. I studied for my Mat Pilates Level 3 and reformer qualification in June 2023, and since then have thrown myself into the world of teaching Pilates.
My goal is to show people that Pilates is for everyone: whether you struggle with your mobility, are a complete beginner to exercise or even somebody who doesn’t feel comfortable in the regular ‘fitness’ spaces. I understand how it feels to be frustrated and anxious about exercise, so you can expect to find my classes as a judgement-free zone; somewhere friendly and supportive for like-minded people to enjoy exercise and the incredible benefits of Pilates (and have to a laugh whilst we do!)
Thank you for your interest in my story. I hope to see you on the mat soon!
Lauren xx