I truly loved this shoot, a gorgeous studio in the gorgeous village of Hurstpierpoint (near Brighton) with an even more gorgeous subject. This is Anaya Pilates and here is a little bit about her:
"Anaya is a highly qualified pilates teacher with 10 years experience of teaching all levels of mat and studio equipment classes. She has owned her own studio in London and worked closely with physios for over 7 years to demonstrate and learn about how pilates can compliment rehabilitation. Her specialisms include movement for sporting performance, back care, rehabilitation, pre- and post-natal, and fascia. She is currently working with elite athletes at Sussex Men’s Cricket and studying a diploma in Slings Myofascial Training with Art of Motion.
Anaya believes that the beauty of Pilates is that it is an inclusive form of exercise for people of all abilities. She carries this principle through her teaching and is a true example of this. Anaya has always enjoyed playing competitive sports and played Junior England and county cricket for Sussex Women’s between the ages of 10 and 18. However, her chance of advancing to a higher level in this sport was cut short after suffering from back pain. At the age of 13, she was diagnosed with a scoliosis and then two years later, the excruciating pain of two prolapsed discs in her lower back. This latter episode of back injury led to surgery on both discs. The surgery, however, was only a short-term solution and the back pain continued. Anaya sought medical advice from a back specialist who said that she could either have further surgery to fuse the vertebrae together or she could start practising Pilates. For her, the second option was obviously the more favourable. In 2002, she began practising Pilates and was amazed by the results. She rarely experiences back pain and is now stronger than ever - participating in sports again."
She has just launched Flex and Nourish workshops which you can follow on instagram @flexnourish and I can't wait to attend the next one to capture some images of the amazing food they create.
For more information visit: http://www.anayapilates.com