As we wrap up another incredible year of movement and mindfulness, I want to thank you for being part of this spirited community. In 2025, I’ll be transitioning to a quarterly newsletter format, although I may send out emails in between if there are any important changes or updates. This change allows me to focus on creating content and resources that are both thoughtful and inspiring. I hope you enjoy this festive update, which includes some exercise & wellness tips, and a sprinkle of holiday cheer! 🎄
📰 Class News and Updates
Starting from 22nd January, there will be a small price adjustment for group classes to reflect the value of the sessions and to support the continued quality of your experience. Here’s the updated pricing:
- Mat Pilates Group Class (1 hour): £9 per session
- Block of 4 Mat Pilates Group Classes: £27 (a saving of £9 compared to booking individually)
- Chair Pilates Group Class (45 mins): £7 per session
- Block of 4 Chair Pilates Group Classes: £21 (Please note: Chair Pilates blocks are available exclusively online.)
This adjustment ensures I can keep offering a supportive environment and focused, high-quality instruction. Your understanding and loyalty mean everything, thank you!
📅New Booking System Coming Soon!
I’m happy to announce that a brand-new booking system will be launching on 22nd January! After careful research, I’ve chosen a platform that’s not only user-friendly but also seamlessly integrates into my website. This means no more redirecting to external sites, so booking your spot will be quicker and easier than ever. I’m also simplifying the confidential PAR-Q health questionnaire process to make your booking experience as smooth and efficient as possible. Please ensure this is updated yearly. or if there are any changes to your health condition that I need to be aware of.
Important: Please make sure to use up any remaining passes or vouchers on the current system BookWhen by 21st January, as it will no longer be active after this date.
I’ll send an email with all the details a few days before the new system launches, so keep an eye out for it. If you don’t see it in your inbox, be sure to check your spam folder or feel free to reach out to me directly!
Thank you for your patience and support as we transition to this improved system -I can’t wait for you to try it out!
🎄Christmas Class Schedule
A reminder of our Christmas class schedule;
| Christmas Schedule | Last Class before Christmas | Return Date |
| Mondays | 23rd December | 6th January |
| Tuesdays | 17th December | 7th January |
| Wednesdays | 18th December | 8th January |
| Fridays | 20th December | 3rd January |
| Saturdays | 21st December | 11th January |
⭐ A Small Action, A Big Impact
As a small business owner, reviews are essential. They not only encourage me but also play a vital role in helping others trust and discover our little corner of wellness.
In today’s world, people often choose services based on reviews. Your feedback helps others feel confident about joining us, making reviews an essential lifeline for small businesses like mine. Without them, it’s hard to thrive and survive in an online-driven world.
If you’ve found strength, balance, or enjoyment in our Pilates sessions, I’d love for you to share your experience. Reviews help keep help this community grow stronger and reach more people who could benefit from what we do.
It doesn’t have to be long -just a sentence or two is enough to help others understand the value of what we share here. And if writing feels like a chore, just think of it as leaving a note for someone who might be starting their own wellness journey.
You can leave your review here:
Thank you for being part of my journey and for supporting Pillar Pilates!
💪🏼Exercise of the Month
Total Upper Body Boost: Strong Arms, Core & Shoulders
This month’s featured move is the ultimate warm-up for frosty mornings! A dynamic lunge-twist combo, aka the Woodchopper exercise. It will ignite your core, build rotational strength, and improve mobility leaving you feeling powerful & unstoppable – just pretend you’re a lumberjack warming up for some serious log-splitting action! 🪓 🪵
Ready to give it a try? No axe required – just join me in the video below!
✨Client Spotlight
This month’s spotlight is on two exceptional people (but not limited to two) who have shown dedication and enthusiasm in our group classes. I have used their first names with consent:
- Mary is one of my most inspirational clients, showing that it’s never too late to build strength and improve your quality of life. When she first joined my Whitfield classes, she was on the waiting list for a hip replacemet after years of wear and tear from working on the farm. Her goal was to build muscle strength to prepare for the operation and aid her recovery. After a 3 month break for surgery and recovery, Mary returned to class this Autumn with a new lease of life. Following her consultant’s advice, she eased back into Pilates and shared how it has helped her in so many ways. Not only has it supported her physical recovery, but it has also helped her mental well-being and reinforced the supportive community she’s always been part of. Mary’s positive outlook is truly inspiring. Her personal philosophy is, “If your body says ouch, don’t do it.” She reminds us all to listen to our bodies and respect our limitations. She also says Pilates has been incredibly helpful for reducing joint stiffness, and for anyone considering a hip operation, her advice is clear: “Don’t be fearful. The preparation and recovery are so much easier when you strengthen your body first , stay active and stay positive.” Thank you, Mary, for sharing your journey and for being such a shining example of resilience and determination!
- A big thank you to Wendy for her kindness and effort, who took the initiative to help gather a wonderful group for our gentle Chair Pilates sessions at Tilmanstone Village Hall. Wendy’s effort in spreading the word among local villagers and her support groups has brought together people who could truly benefit from these classes. Thanks to her, we’ve built a warm and welcoming community, supporting beginners and those recovering from injuries or surgery while learning to care for our bodies with mindfulness. It’s also been a lovely way to strengthen connections within the village and bring people together, all while keeping things fun. Thank you, Wendy, for your kindness and dedication!
💚Wellness Tip
Exercise your way to Stress Relief 💆♀️
Did you know that every time you exercise, your brain becomes a natural pharmacy of feel-good chemicals? During exercise, your brain triggers a natural release of endorphins, which help reduce pain and trigger happiness. It also increases serotonin and dopamine, the brain’s natural mood enhancers, leaving you feeling uplifted and more positive.
Exercise doesn’t stop there. It also boosts norepinephrine, a chemical that helps your body manage stress effectively. These powerful brain signals work together to calm your mind, improve focus, and bring a sense of balance, even during the busiest times.
A brisk walk, a Pilates session, or even a few stretches can instantly change your mood to the upside. When holiday tasks start to feel overwhelming, let movement become your go-to for staying calm and in control!
💭Upcoming & Future Plans
✨ What’s next on the agenda?
🏰Target & Tone Video Series: Progress is steady and updates will follow soon.
🧘🏼Home Practice Videos: first one will be ready by the start of the New Year, a good time to start while we are in that mindset. Set yourself a goal to practice 1 hour a week at home as an addition to our classes and you’ll soon notice the benefits.
🎯Hypnotherapy Training: I’ve just completed Module 2 and am thrilled with the progress so far! Working with a small group weekly has been rewarding, knowing our sessions are already making a real difference.
There may still be space for anyone who wishes to try my services for free while I’m training. Whether you want help with phobias, anxiety, weight management, IBS, habits, or even performance enhancement, I’d be delighted to work with you.
As a bonus, you’ll receive a free relaxation hypnosis audio to send you into a blissful trance, best listened to before bed when it’s time to go to sleep. Some sessions are conducted online, so you can relax without leaving the house. If this interests you, please reach out!
📆 Upcoming Schedule Notes: Please take note of the days when classes will not be running due to my training commitments;
- Saturday 4th January ’25
- Saturday 1st February ’25
- Saturday 1st March ’25
- Saturday 29th March ’25
- Saturday 26th April ’25
- Saturday 24th May ’25
- Saturday 21st June ’25
- Saturday 19th July ’25 (Graduation Day
)
🛍️Product of the month
MusiCozy Headphones
The MUSICOZY Multifunctional Headphones combine comfort, functionality, and smart design to transform your sleep, workouts, and relaxation. Perfect for coping with a snoring partner, listening to movies & music, enhancing your evening walks, or unwinding with guided meditations or podcasts, these headphones deliver value at every turn.
Soft, breathable fabrics keep you cool and comfortable, whether you’re falling asleep or powering through a workout. Reflective fibres in the headband enhance visibility for night-time runs or walks, while Bluetooth 5.4 technology ensures fast, reliable pairing with your devices for crystal-clear sound.
With a 16-hour battery life, you can listen to your favourite playlists, take hands-free calls, or immerse yourself in podcasts without interruption. The lightweight, multi-purpose design fits seamlessly into your lifestyle, serving as sleep headphones, a workout headband, or even a travel companion.
Key Benefits:
- Improved Sleep: Block out distractions with soothing sounds or meditations for deeper rest.
- Enhanced Safety: Reflective design keeps you visible during night time activities.
- Comfortable Fit: Plush, breathable fabrics adapt to your head, ensuring all-day comfort.
- Versatility: Ideal for sleep, workouts, travel, or daily use.
Upgrade your routine with this all-in-one solution or give it as a thoughtful gift for someone special.
Click here to check price on Amazon.
(Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, but don’t worry, your purchase via my link doesn’t cost you any extra!)
🪷Guided Meditation
A heartfelt positive winter message to my Pilates family;
Maybe you can relate to this: for as long as I can remember, I regretfully spent every winter complaining about the cold and the rapidly impeding dark evenings. Year after year, it became the go-to topic in conversations, wishing the season away and counting the days until spring. But in doing so, I missed out on the quiet beauty winter has to offer.. the moments I could have embraced but failed to see.
From a young age, I dreamed of living somewhere warm, with palm trees and sandy beaches. In 2012, I made that dream a reality, and lived and worked in Cyprus for 6 years. Returning home to UK mid-winter was a shock to the system and forced me to make peace with the season, as the thought of it once filled me with dread.
Ironically, now when I meditate and imagine my ‘happy place,’ I often choose a snow-capped pine forest.. a place of stillness and serenity. Winter, with all its quiet elegance, has become a season I associate with reflection and renewal.
I created this meditation with care, drawing on my own reflections about the season. You can click the link below to listen whenever you have a quiet moment, or before bed for a peaceful night’s rest.
And if you don’t get the chance before our next class, we’ll take the time to enjoy it together as we wind down on the mat. ❄️
💡Inspiration & Motivation
“If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old; if it is completely flexible at 60, you are young ~ Joseph Pilates”
Joseph Pilates famously said, ‘If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old; if it is completely flexible at 60, you are young.’ It’s a powerful reminder of how much your spine plays a role in how you feel every day, whatever your age. The spine thrives on movement to keep it strong, supple, and healthy – keeping your spine mobile can make everyday tasks feel easier and help you stay active and comfortable. Even small stretches or gentle movements can make a difference. This photo captures the joy of movement – a group of people of varying ages and abilities, connecting with their bodies and enjoying the benefits of exercise, embracing the freedom of movement through side bends.. Remember that taking care of your spine is one of the best ways to look after your overall health. Every little bit helps!
To book a class, visit www.bookwhen.com/ppilates.
Until next month, keep practicing and be kind to your body!
Michelle 💜
