Finding My Way Back to Movement: Why I Exercise

I wasn’t always into fitness. In fact, for a long time, I believed I wasn’t cut out for it at all.

Growing up, I had a sport-mad father who tried—relentlessly—to get me into every possible activity. Swimming, tennis, running, team sports… you name it, I tried it (or rather, I was pushed to try it). But nothing ever stuck. I wasn’t naturally talented, didn’t enjoy the pressure, and quickly developed the belief that I simply wasn’t “a sporty type.” Luckily, I was slim enough and never really felt the need to move for health or appearance. So, I didn’t.

It wasn’t until my 20s, almost by accident, that I started attending Pilates and fitness classes at a local gym. No expectations, no big plan—just curiosity. That’s when something clicked. For the first time, I felt connected to my body. I wasn’t failing, I wasn’t struggling. I was moving in a way that felt natural, grounding, and empowering. I wasn’t bad at exercising—I had simply never found the right kind of movement.

I fell in love with Pilates. So much so that I got my first qualification in Italy in my late 20s. But, life was happening—graduating, getting a job, building a career, getting married. All the goals we’re taught to chase. Pilates quietly took a back seat.

Then came my 30s: two children, a full-time corporate job, a relocation from Italy to the UK. Life was loud and demanding. I was constantly giving—to my family, to my employer, to expectations. But something shifted when we left the city for a quieter town life. The pace slowed, I began working from home, and for the first time in a long time, I had space to think about me. My needs. My body.

I joined the gym and started weight training, with one clear goal: get fit. And I did. I was there every morning at 6 a.m., counting calories, tracking progress, pushing hard. The results came. My body changed. I was proud. I won’t lie—I loved the aesthetic results. But that was exactly the point: everything was focused on how I looked.

Then, I hit my 40s. And everything changed again.

My body shifted, yes—but more than anything, my mind did. I started craving something deeper. I no longer wanted to train just to look good; I wanted to feel good. I wanted to move with purpose, intention, and joy. I wanted to nourish, not punish.

That’s when I found Pilates again.

Not just as a form of exercise—but as a practice. A way to reconnect with myself. To listen inwards. To strengthen and support my body as it is, not as I think it should be.

Now, I exercise for health, for clarity, for energy, for balance. I move because it makes me feel alive and aligned. Pilates is at the heart of that. It’s no longer something I “fit in” around life. It is part of life.

And that’s why I teach it. Because I know what it means to believe you’re not made for exercise. I also know how transformative it is to discover that you are—you just needed the right kind of movement

What truly sets Pilates apart—and what brought me back to it—is how deeply it works not only the body, but the mind. The concentration required in each movement brings a state of calm focus, almost like a moving meditation. That sense of flow quiets anxiety, clears mental clutter, and grounds you in the present moment. For many women—often pulled in every direction—this mental clarity is just as valuable as the physical benefits. At the same time, Pilates builds deep body awareness. It works your posture, alignment, and control, helping you move with greater grace, strength, and confidence, regardless of your body type. It doesn’t just make you look better—it teaches you to carry yourself better. And by correcting imbalances and building functional strength, it allows you to excel in any other sport or form of training. So yes, Pilates absolutely contributes to fitness and aesthetics—but it does so with a balanced, mindful approach that transforms the way you move, think, and feel.