03/08/2026
🛥️Diary of a grateful Pilates Instructor...17 years of Core Factor Pilates! 🤸🏽🍾
On 27 July 2009, I taught my very first professional Pilates class in Woodford, Northamptonshire in the Primary School hall.
I then started up my next class in Higham Ferrers and Stanwick which quickly became a double evening class to accommodate everyone and by the September, I was teaching 6 classes including in Titchmarsh and Great Addington. They were mostly evening classes, as my son Francis, was only 2 years old.
I'm so grateful to my hubby Barry, for supporting me during my training and for always being there, being my Pilates cheerleader! It was a big change leaving my Insurance career of nearly 18 years and diving into the pool of Pilates!
17 years later, it's a privilege to be teaching Pilates 9 classes a week in and around the local area of Somersham, where we've now lived for over 16 years! These classes since 2020 are all live streamed on Zoom too. I am most humbled when I know that I've taught Pilates to many of you for the same number of years!
So, it was great to be back out on the river with the fabulous St Ives Electric Riverboat Co; Cambs. to celebrate my 17th Anniversary with some of you two Sundays ago on 26 July. I'm so pleased you enjoyed the afternoon and thank you for joining me!
Lovely to meander down the river on riverboat Meander, go through Hemingford Lock, enjoy a cream tea at the beautiful Houghton Mill - National Trust and then meander back to St. Ives, popping corks all the way enjoying the scenery, wildlife and Captain Francis' expert commentary. I learn new things every year!
Enormous thanks again to the owners, Captain Francis and Sarah. 🤗
Huge thanks also to my son Francis, 1st Mate, who drove the riverboat again. He's been on my Anniversary River Trip now ever since I first celebrated this way back in 2011 when he was only 3. 😌❤️🤗
More thanks to hubby Barry for being driver and loading and unloading all the trugs of Prosecco and snacks!
Thank you to all of you for choosing me to do Pilates with!
Love and grateful thanks.
Pilates Liz 😌🤸🏽❤️
Photos by Elizabeth & Barry Reid, Joy Travers and Sandra Starling
