Pilates & Trauma Work

The body exists as communication.

- Maurice Merleau-Ponty

In exploring the interaction between movement and healing, Anna has developed an integrated body-based practice that centres on restoring vitality to the body and facilitating connection to a healthy and imaginative mind, particularly after trauma.

Anna is a certified Classical Pilates Mat instructor, and is undergoing Comprehensive Classical Pilates training, at Pi Studios London under Holly Murray, a student of Romana Kryzanowska. As a member of the Complimentary Therapists Association (CThA) and the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA), Anna has participated in Ariel Giarretto’s Somatic training on ‘Healing Sexual Trauma’, using body-based modalities, and has completed her training as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, with SOS Internationale Somatic Experiencing, under Lael Keen, Abi Blakeslee, Pedro Prado, and Giselle Genillard. She is has completed her certification with J Pilates in Pre and Postnatal Pilates. She developed ‘Resources for Trauma’, a Masters-accredited short course at St. Mary’s University to equip practitioners working with trauma.

Anna is the Director of The Willow Network, a research collective engaged with discourses on suffering and healing through the arts, and Director of The Willow Project CIC, an arts-mediated community that works with survivors of trauma and war. Current projects include running retreats for survivors of human trafficking, and children’s workshops. She has co-developed a Social Prescribing Pilot partnership with NHS provision in the Westminster London area. The focus is on chronic pain care for patients who have experienced trauma. It commenced in the Paddington London area, in February 2024.

Trauma-informed online classes are now resuming. For personal and group Somatic Experiencing sessions, or for more information, contact Anna.

Offerings:

Monday evening Classical Pilates Mat classes - £32 for 4 classes from 7.30-8.30pm UK time

Taking on individual clients for trauma-informed Pilates.

Somatic Experiencing sessions on Zoom - £60 per hour session. Email for availability.

Specialisation:

Anna specialises in working with refugees and those who have experienced human trafficking. This also includes those who have experienced war trauma, chronic pain due to trauma, and groups of children. Anna specializes in working with individuals who are experiencing secondary trauma from their work with others (including NGO workers, etc.).

Feedback:

‘Anna is a kind, committed and caring Pilates instructor. She made Pilates accessible and life-enhancing.’

- C. S.

‘Anna is a very gracious and skilled Pilates instructor. She has a gift for making you feel at ease and gently pushing you to do more than you thought you could… She is really good at ensuring that your needs and abilities are taken into account, even as she leads a group session. I highly recommend her classes!’

- E. G.

‘Anna was a fantastic teacher and was really great at being conscious of different strengths, experience, listening to peoples’ goals for the class, and whether anyone had injuries and adjusting her classes accordingly. I would really recommend her classes to anyone!’

- M. B.