Laura Lewis Movement

Laura Lewis Movement We are all about movement, movement is a great therapy for the body. Aston for Pilates utilises the There is something for everyone. With you in mind.

Laura is an Aston for Pilates teacher, first aid trained, fully insured and CRB checked and is based in Axminster. Laura travelled to Nevada USA, to obtain a qualification in Aston for pilates, ergonomics, and movement coaching. She is currently one of five in the Uk who has this qualification. What ever the reasons are for taking up pilates, whether it be for, Sciatica, Hyper-mobility, back issue

s, MS, pregnancy, toning, or stretching. Laura helps people discover what they can achieve with in their body, and will help put in place the tools necessary for whatever life may through at us.

PILATES ISN’T JUST ABOUT STRETCHING AND “THE CORE"Last week in class, we focused on something incredibly important: leg ...
07/09/2026

PILATES ISN’T JUST ABOUT STRETCHING AND “THE CORE"
Last week in class, we focused on something incredibly important: leg strength and the ability to get up from the floor or a chair without relying on our hands.
It’s a skill we need to keep practising.
As we age, strength, balance and movement skills can gradually decline. Yet many older adults come to believe that using their upper body to push themselves up is simply what they have to do.
But what if we focused on how the feet connect with the floor?
We explored weight distribution through the feet and what happens when the body moves its weight towards the front-to-middle of the foot, rather than habitually shifting backwards into the heels.
When the toes and forefoot are involved, we can create a much stronger connection with the floor and recruit the muscles that help us move:
🦶 The feet and toes
💪 Quadriceps
🍑 Glutes
🦵 Hamstrings
🧘 Pelvic floor
🧠 Abdominal musculature
And here's the part I find fascinating…
Sometimes you don't need to cue “engage your core” at all.
Change the way the body interacts with the floor, and the body can organise itself differently.
That connection can help support balance, stability and efficient movement.
This is why I’m cautious about simply telling everyone to distribute their weight “evenly through the whole foot.”
For some people, that cue can result in them shifting their weight backwards into the heels. The toes become less involved, the body may lose some of its forward support, and the movement strategy changes.
Instead, sometimes we need to explore:
Where is your weight?
What are your toes doing?
How are your feet connecting with the floor?
And what happens further up the body when you change that connection?
Because Pilates isn't just about stretching.
It isn't just about getting people to “engage their core.”
It's about teaching the body how to use itself more effectively.
The feet are our foundation.
And learning how to use that foundation can have a huge impact on something as simple — and as important — as getting up and down independently.
That's Pilates that can translate beyond the studio and into quality of life. 🤍

Take the Pilates Roll Up.Your stronger side keeps doing the heavy lifting…while your weaker side keeps trying to catch u...
05/09/2026

Take the Pilates Roll Up.

Your stronger side keeps doing the heavy lifting…
while your weaker side keeps trying to catch up.

The result? You look symmetrical, but your body may be compensating underneath.

Sometimes, creating better balance doesn’t mean forcing both sides to work the same.

It means noticing what each side is actually doing and giving the weaker side the opportunity to catch up.

Because symmetry isn’t always the goal.

Better movement is.

Have you heard of the conceit of feathering or spiralling?
Comment below
👇👇👇

04/09/2026

✨ What is Reformer Pilates? ✨

Think Reformer Pilates is only for the young, flexible or super-fit? Think again! 🤍

Reformer Pilates is a form of Pilates performed on a specially designed machine called a Reformer. Using springs, a moving carriage, straps and the resistance of your own body, the Reformer allows you to build strength, stability, balance, mobility and body awareness.

And the best part? You don't need to be flexible, experienced or “good at Pilates” to start.

Exercises can be adapted to suit different bodies and abilities, making Reformer Pilates a great option whether you're completely new to Pilates or looking to develop your existing practice.

Expect to work your whole body, challenge your muscles, improve your control and leave feeling like you've actually done something! 💪🏼✨

🧘‍♀️ Reformer Pilates Classes
📍 Laura Lewis Movement
Mondays — 9:15am
Thursdays — 6:30pm

Classes are friendly, supportive and suitable for a range of abilities.

Movement is Medicine

5 MYTHS ABOUT WHO THE REFORMER IS FOR 🤍There’s a common misconception that Reformer Pilates is for the young, flexible a...
03/09/2026

5 MYTHS ABOUT WHO THE REFORMER IS FOR 🤍

There’s a common misconception that Reformer Pilates is for the young, flexible and already fit.

But that’s not why the Reformer was created.
Let’s go back to its roots…

MYTH 1: “The Reformer was created for dancers.”

❌ Not originally.
Joseph Pilates developed his method to help people develop strength, control, coordination and better movement.
Although dancers later embraced Pilates, it was never designed exclusively for them.

MYTH 2: “You need to be flexible before you start Reformer Pilates.”

❌ Quite the opposite.
The Reformer uses springs, resistance and support to help you work on strength, mobility and control.
You don't need to be flexible to start Pilates.
Pilates can help you develop your mobility.

MYTH 3: “Reformer Pilates is for young, fit people.”

❌ Pilates has never been about age.
The Reformer can be adapted to meet different bodies, abilities and levels of experience.
You can change the springs, position, range of movement and exercise to suit the individual.

MYTH 4: “The Reformer was designed for elite athletes.”

❌ It wasn't.
Joseph Pilates' work was about helping people understand and improve how their bodies moved.
The Reformer provides resistance and assistance, making it a versatile piece of equipment that can be adapted for many different people.
You don't have to be an athlete to benefit from it.

MYTH 5: “You have to be good at Pilates before you can use the Reformer.”

❌ You don't need to be “good” at Pilates.
That's what learning is for.
The Reformer gives you feedback through the springs and moving carriage, helping you develop body awareness, control, strength and confidence.
And perhaps this is the biggest misconception of all…
The Reformer isn't reserved for the flexible, young or elite.
It was created as a tool to help people move better, become stronger and develop greater control of their bodies.

So if you've ever looked at a Reformer and thought,
“I'm not flexible enough.”
“I'm too old.”
“I'm not fit enough.”
“That's for people who already know what they're doing.”
Think again. 🤍
The Reformer can meet you where you are.

🌿“I’m fine, thank you.”🌿This is something I hear instructors talk about more than you might think.An instructor will tel...
01/09/2026

🌿“I’m fine, thank you.”🌿

This is something I hear instructors talk about more than you might think.

An instructor will tell me about an experience where they have genuinely tried to support a participant during class. They have noticed a facial expression, a hesitation or something in the way the person is moving.

They have checked in.

“Are you okay?”
And, in the most wonderfully British way, the response is:
“I’m fine, thanks.”

So the instructor continues, believing everything is okay.
Then, later that evening, they received an email from the participant explaining that they weren't actually comfortable with a particular movement, they weren't sure about what they were feeling, or something that hadn't felt right during the class.

And the instructor is left questioning themselves.
“Should I have noticed?”
“Did I miss something?”
“Should I have done more?”
I have to be honest, this has happened to me too.
And when instructors talk to me about these experiences, one of the first things I say is:

✨“This isn't on you.”✨

If you have observed your participant, noticed their expression, checked in with them and asked if they are okay, you have done your part.
The participant has said they are fine.
You are not a mind reader.
As instructors, we can observe movement. We can look at body language, facial expressions, breathing and behaviour. We can ask questions and create opportunities for communication.
But we cannot know exactly what someone is experiencing if they don't tell us.
And this is why I keep encouraging students to speak up in the moment.

🌿If something doesn't feel right, tell your instructor.
🌿If you are unsure what you should be feeling, ask.
🌿If you don't understand the movement, say so.
If you need a modification, let us know.

Because when you communicate with us in the moment, we have the opportunity to help you.

30/08/2026

It’s been a busy weekend, and everyone has worked incredibly hard. 🤍



Contact days are such an important part of the learning journey. They give you the opportunity to put your practice into action, receive positive and constructive feedback, and understand how you can continue to improve and develop moving forward.

But it’s not just about the learning. You gain valuable support from your peers, share experiences, encourage one another, and often build friendships along the way.

Today, I had the pleasure of working with , and we received such lovely feedback. It was a real reminder of just how much goes into these weekends.

They’re intense. They are hard work. There’s a lot to take in.

But when you see the progress, the confidence growing and the support within the group, it’s all worth it. ✨

Well done everyone — you should be incredibly proud of yourselves. 🤍


28/08/2026

Me on a daily basis.

No wonder us pilate instructors can't count.
My brain fog is not improving, those mushroom gummies just aren't working 🤣🤣🤣.
Or is this as good as it gets 🤔

27/08/2026

I certainly get my steps in when I’m setting up for classes—and, of course, I don’t stop moving once we begin! 😄

I’m constantly walking around, checking in, observing and making sure everyone feels supported. It’s really important to me that no one is left in the dark.

And please, ask questions! 🙋‍♀️

There’s no such thing as a silly question. Every question opens up another opportunity to learn, understand your body and deepen your practice.

For me, teaching Pilates isn’t just about demonstrating the exercises. It’s about creating an environment where you feel confident to explore, question and grow.

Because that’s how we become better movers—and better teachers too. 🤍

26/08/2026

This week in classes, we’ve been focusing on asymmetrical movement — and it’s something I think we can all benefit from understanding.

If you’re trying to make both sides of your body move exactly the same, I’m sorry to say… it’s impossible. And actually, it’s not something we should necessarily be striving for.

We are not perfectly symmetrical beings. We have a dominant side, a side that often feels stronger, more coordinated and more confident. And naturally, that dominant side is going to influence and sometimes even help your less dominant side.

That’s why this week we’ve been exploring weight transfer through whatever part of the body is in contact with the ground.

We’ve also been playing with something I call “feathering.” 🪶

🌿So, what is feathering?
Think about the way a feather touches a surface. It doesn’t suddenly land with all its weight. It gradually makes contact, gently increasing and decreasing pressure.

In movement, feathering is about subtly shifting pressure and weight through the body rather than holding everything rigid or trying to distribute weight perfectly evenly.

It might be allowing a little more weight into one hand, foot, sit bone or shoulder, before gently transferring that load somewhere else.

This gives the body the opportunity to sense, adapt and organise itself, rather than forcing it into a perfectly symmetrical position.

And this is where movement becomes really interesting.
We’re not trying to make the body behave like a machine.
We’re giving it information.

We’re allowing the stronger side to communicate with the weaker side, allowing weight to move, and giving the nervous system an opportunity to figure out how to organise the whole body.

Sometimes, better movement isn’t about making both sides the same.

It’s about learning how they work together. 🤍

25/08/2026

September is almost here… and with it comes another season of change. 🍂

When I started practising Pilates 30 years ago, I never imagined how deeply it would change my understanding of the body.

Pilates isn't simply about performing exercises. It teaches you to understand how you move, how your body responds, and how that awareness can follow you into everyday life.

Over time, you begin to notice the little things — how you stand, walk, sit, breathe and move — and perhaps even recognise what may be contributing to those niggling, unwanted issues.

My September classes have a few spaces available:
✨ Monday 11:00am — 1 space
✨ Tuesday 9:30am — FULL
✨ Tuesday 10:45am — 1 space
✨ Tuesday 7:00pm — FULL
✨ Friday 9:30am — FULL
✨ Friday 10:45am — 3 spaces

📍 All classes are held at

If you'd like to work towards improving your quality of life, strength, mobility, flexibility, physical function, coordination and overall body awareness, I'd love to hear from you.

Perhaps this September is the perfect time to start investing in your body — not just for how you move in class, but for how you move through life. 🤍

Message me to find out more or to secure one of the remaining spaces.

Address

Axminster

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 3pm
Tuesday 9am - 3pm
Saturday 8am - 3pm

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