REFORMER pilates

WHY?

Through my own training on the reformer, I’ve seen how the functional strength it builds supports the body to move with more control and stability — and how that has benefited my yoga practice in return.

Conversely, yoga can open the body and help it maintain flexibility, especially in the spine.

Combining the two allows us to move with both strength and fluidity, both precision and softness.

I believe we need both.

Beyond the physical, I also teach yoga for what it offers the nervous system. Yin and restorative yoga, combined with breathwork, are some of the most effective tools I know for managing stress, calming the mind and helping the body find its way back to rest.

That’s a dimension of practice that Pilates doesn’t reach — and it’s one of the reasons I’ll always teach both.

JUNE 2026

For this reason, I'm currently training to become a teacher via East of Eden's programme. East of Eden has been running Reformer classes for over a decade, with a faculty trained in both the BASI and STOTT approaches.

My training has been led by Robin Kendall, who has been teaching BASI Pilates for over 20 years; Abby McLachlan, who runs East of Eden, is STOTT qualified, and has been teaching for over a decade; and Sally-Anne McConnell, who has been teaching for over 20 years and specialises in working with special populations including pre and postnatal.

The programme is 108 hours in total, delivered over six months, and includes 25 hours of practice teaching and 10 hours of observations. It is NCFE-endorsed.

My exam will be mid June. I hope to be teaching in some studios as well as giving 1-2-1s by late summer.

I will begin my mat (STOTT) training in the Autumn.