Yoga + Pilates: A Love Story

I just want to be clear: this isn’t a competition.

Pilates isn’t “fitness” while yoga is “spiritual.”
Yoga isn’t “stretching” while Pilates is “strength.”

You don’t have to pick a side — you’re allowed to want both fire and flow, strength and softness.

Coming from the school of Classical Pilates, I loathe to think of Pilates like a fitness class - it’s a holistic practice, and there’s a mind-body connection there that makes you really tune inward and connect to yourself. Plus, as I mentioned before, the functional nature of Pilates actually really helps me tap into my breath.

Equally, although I love to take things a little bit more slowly in yoga, there’s still an element of strength there that I like to channel with softness. (And let’s be real - chaturangas - enough said).

Photo by @andrewprod

A love story for the ages

Yoga and Pilates are an amazing complement to one another. While yoga encourages a deeper range of flexibility (hello backbends!), Pilates forces you to take it all back into control (one of Joseph Pilate’s Five Principles - it was originally called Contrology, you can see why!)

After a huge obsession with yoga and gaining flexibility left me with yoga butt (NOT as sexy as it sounds - it’s essentially overstretching the hamstring tendons that connect to the sitbones) - and noticing a lack of muscular connection in the left side of my body due to nerve damage from an operation and a horse-riding accident when I was a teenager - I found Pilates at the right time to help strengthen and create connection to muscles again.

Fun fact - Classical Pilates was actually developed as a rehabilitation system and many of Joe’s earliest devotees were injured dancers looking to heal their bodies - It’s still recommended now for rehabilitation across all sports.

While yoga allows you to trust your core, Pilates strengthens your core.

Yoga reminds you that your centre isn’t just physical - it’s energetic, something deeper, something that connects us all to the One. Pilates sharpens your connection to your physical body through precision and alignment.

One teaches control. The other teaches surrender.

Pilates invites precision and control. You’re present in every movement.
Yoga asks you to let go — into sensation, into stillness, into trust.
Balance the two, and you build a body that’s strong and intuitive. A mind that’s clear and open. A spirit that’s centred but still playful.

Photo by @andrewprod

We’re not here for dogma — we’re here for joy.

There are no gold stars for mastering the “perfect” practice.

I want to bring you yoga and Pilates because the joy lives in the mix, in moving, in playing, in finding freedom in your body that allows you to find freedom in your mind. When you dig deep and find the inner fire to make it through a class, you realise just how strong you are.

When you realise that showing up for yourself with movement and making the decision to look after yourself is an act of self-love, you learn to to show up every day with that same love and kindness for yourself and for others.

And that’s where the magic really begins - because you realise that you are so connected to yourself, so grounded, so proud of your accomplishments on the mat - that confidence and self-love shines through to everyone else.

That’s why I’m so passionate about what I do, and sharing this feeling with others.

I can’t wait to share this with you on retreat.

• London day retreat: 26th July 2025 - Details TBA soon

• Italy retreat - 3-9 September 2025

• Ibiza retreat - 11-15 April 2026

Love,

Abby x

rebel radiance Spring Equinox Mini-retreat

Our Spring Equinox mini retreat was a such a joyous celebration to welcome the solar new year!

We welcomed 20 beautiful souls join us for a day of movement, sound, and self-nourishment at Yoga Base London on Saturday 22nd March 2025.

Abby and our wonderful sound healer, Cathy Henderson

We started off the day with a beautiful cacao ceremony, with ethically-sourced ceremonial grade cacao provided by Common Roots Cacao. We created intentions for the afternoon, with the theme of self-love running throughout the retreat.

After mindfully accepting the cacao and speaking our intentions into it, we embarked on some breathwork and meditation to ground ourselves as the effect of the cacao began to flow into our bodies.

Grounding cacao supplied by Common Roots Cacao

We then moved into our flow, led by yoga teacher Abby. The flow was layered for all-levels, designed to provide something for everyone - a challenge if desired, but also space to soften.

As the heart-opening effects of the cacao began to take hold, we opened our hearts through physical movement.

Setting up the space, ready to go

Our gorgeous guests were delighted with their goodie bags!

After our flow, it was time to come down with some gentle breathwork and a savasana head massage before we embarked on the sound bath.

The sound bath was an aural delight, led by Cathy, the most wonderful sound healer. She truly is such a talent! Tuned to the Love Frequency, the afternoon blended together perfectly to allow the guests to melt into their mats and let the healing vibrations of sound wash over them.

Our incredible sound bath set up!

After our journey of sound, the room was brought back softly to then close out with a beautiful angel card pull.

The guests were given rose essence to cleanse their space before speaking their intentions into the angel cards and pulling them.

Our beautiful guests receiving rose essence before taking their angel cards

The set up was so beautiful and we harnessed the healing energy of crystals

It really was such a magical afternoon of self-love and nourishment, and we are so thankful to the 20 beautiful souls who showed up with open minds and open hearts to this event.

We are already planning the next mini retreat, and cannot wait!

One of our beautiful guests selecting her angel card