From Setback to Strength and Beyond
One morning back in 2019, I was driving to work, waiting at a roundabout near my office when the person in the car behind me drove into the back of my car. Fortunately the impact was limited as she hadn’t been driving fast but because I had my foot on the brake, the majority of the impact seemed to be taken by my lower back.
At the time I was a keen Cross Fit enthusiast and loved to lift heavy weights but once I had the accident all of that was put on hold. I was fortunate enough to be able to see a doctor and be referred to a physiotherapist who gave me a programme of exercises (very similar to Pilates) that helped me rehabilitate my back. After a few months, I was able to get back in the gym and start building strength again but I found that it took very little to pull the muscles in my back and set me back to square one.
After the three lockdowns in the UK during the pandemic I knew that I had lost a lot of strength, core strength in particular, and this caused the symptoms to flare up more and more frequently. Recalling how Pilates made me feel when I did it, I decided to seek out a studio near me and found The Movement Base in Leigh-On-Sea, in Essex on the east side of London. Over time I noticed that I wasn’t noticing my back during my gym workouts, I was able to start lifting heavier and got back on track with my workouts. Pilates wasn’t new to me, I’d been doing Pilates on and off since 2014, but it wasn’t until my accident that I truly understood the profound benefits.
In 2023 I decided to sign up to a STOTT Pilates course with One KX in Kings Cross London. At the time I was really enjoying my classes and was intrigued to know more about the method as a whole. I wasn’t sure if I would ever actually teach but wanted to learn more. I allowed myself to be a beginner and over time I found that I felt the benefits to my injury. I think this has influenced my teaching style, I like to remind people that there’s no set end goal and there’s no rush to do the more advanced exercises. Just to embrace the process of learning and keep practicing! I also like to remember how much a good workout can transform my day and how I am now lucky enough to do that for others!
I love how well it complements other fitness methods and forms of movement. I’ve always been someone who loves to try loads of different things and I love that Pilates not only supports all the other things I do but makes me better at them. I’ve just completed my reformer instructor training and so this year I’ll be focusing on becoming a certified reformer instructor. One day I’d like to be a full comprehensive instructor but baby steps for now!
If I had any advice for anyone considering becoming a Pilates teacher I’d say keep learning! I know it sounds cliche but I’ve found that I’ve learned so much since becoming a certified instructor and I know I still have so much more to learn.
Having worked in healthcare for 10 years, Toluwa has always encouraged her patients to approach health in a holistic way, incorporating fitness as a key element in their healthy lives. A natural motivator, she now connects with her clients to enable them to be their best self, building their confidence as they work on their fitness together. Toluwa believes that Pilates is the perfect workout to make anyone feel strong and long and is thrilled to guide and inspire others on their path to wellness.
Toluwa currently teaches at The Movement Base, Third Space (Canary Wharf) and The Body People (Hackney). You can find Toulwa here.