About Lara
Lara trained with Body Control Pilates in London in 2007 and has been passionately teaching Pilates ever since. She is a Pilates Mat Work Master and Lower Back Pain Specialist. While living in UK, she set up her own classes and collaborated closely with physiotherapists, osteopaths, The Pain Consultants and The MS Centre in Norwich.
In recognition of her work, Lara was awarded a bursary by the MS Centre to undertake advanced training in Exercise Prescription for People with Neurological Problems at Oxford Brookes University, this experience deepened her understanding of how Pilates can support individuals with specific health challenges.
Lara began hosting residential Pilates retreats in Gozo in 2012 and she relocated there permanently in 2015. She set up a home studio where she could teach both Mat and Studio classes on the Reformer, Cadillac and Wunda Chair. When the pandemic struck in 2020, she transitioned to teaching online and was invited to act as a Supervising Teacher for students training with Body Control Pilates. As in-person teaching resumed, Lara expanded her teaching horizons and started offering Pilates workshops alongside her popular online classes.
Throughout her 17 years of teaching, Lara has remained committed to ongoing professional development and to creating classes that are safe, inclusive, and enjoyable. Whether working one to one or in groups, her goal is always to help clients move better, feel stronger, and live more comfortably in their own bodies.
Lara's Story
Pilates really became a key turning point for me after falling off a horse and then dealing with the compounded stress of dancing and running. Pilates helped me recover and also find a path to teaching and helping others. It is one of those practices that truly transforms how you move and perceive your body, especially when dealing with injuries or chronic pain. What began as a tool for rehabilitation quickly evolved into a deeper exploration of movement and increased body awareness.
Thanks to Pilates my body is stronger and more flexible in my 40's than it was in my 20's. Over the years I climbed Mount Kilmanjaro, walked 120 kms of the Camino Di Santiago and completed the Inca Trail in Peru, all the while reducing injury risk. Pilates breath work is particularly good for mountaineering; it helps condition respiratory muscles, improves oxygen delivery to working muscles, aids in core stability, and enhances mental focus and relaxation, all of which are crucial at high altitudes.
Pilates machines offer assistance and resistance simultaneously, facilitating dynamic stretching and movement patterns that can help improve flexibility and range of motion. Recently gaining my Teaching Diploma in Spanish Dancing is testament to this.
The focus and concentration required in Pilates can be very effective for the mind, particularly in establishing mindfulness and healthy routines. The method's emphasis on the mind-body connection, controlled breathing, and mindfulness helps to calm the nervous system and clear the mind of worries. There is no doubt in my mind that regular Pilates practice can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and stress.
“It is the mind itself which builds the body” Schiller
Who can Pilates Help
Joseph Pilates believed that modern life, poor posture, inefficient breathing, and the disconnection between mind and body negatively impacted health. He expressed concerns as early as the 1930s, long before the 1960s. To counteract these issues, he developed the Pilates method, which focused on core strength, flexibility, breathwork, and mindful movement to restore the body to a more natural and balanced state. Given the further increases in screen time, remote work, and sedentary habits since his death in 1967, he would likely have even greater concerns about the impact of modern living on
health today.
“The whole country, the whole world, should be doing my exercises. They'd be happier" Joseph Pilates
Movement is a foundational piece of maintaining long-term health, and with this mindset, anyone can adopt the practise into their lives. Pilates is one of those practices that builds sustainable strength, flexibility, and body awareness, all of which become even more crucial as we age. It's about longevity: Pilates can serve as a lifelong companion to a healthy body and mind. The low-impact nature of Pilates can help keep joints fluid, muscles strong, and posture aligned, all the things that help maintain mobility and prevent injury as you get older. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness the transformative impact Pilates can have, not only in restoring physical function, but also in enhancing mental well-being. I continue to be inspired by the progress my clients make and their commitment to Pilates.
“If you liken the whole range of movements which we are capable of performing to the alphabet, then children use every single letter, 'A-Z', by comparison most adults rarely get past 'E' because we continually repeat the same movements day in, day out'”
Body Control Pilates
Workshops
Lara offers Master Classes, Workshops, and Guest Teaching at teacher trainings. For details, please email pilatesforlifewithlara@gmail.com
Master Class: 1 or 1.5-hour class taught by Lara in her signature style.
Workshops: 2-3hour subject-specific workshops taught by Lara.
Guest Teaching at teacher trainings: Lara will teach a 1-hour class, followed by Q and A, and an optional lecture on teaching and her style.
Please get in touch if you have additional questions or requests for guest teaching at your next training!
Contact Lara: pilatesforlifewithlara@gmail.com
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