The Story Behind The Wellness Space
The idea for The Wellness Space had been sitting with me for a long time.
For the last three years, I had been teaching Pilates at Restoration Yard on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Building those classes took time. In the beginning there were only a couple of people in each class, but gradually that grew into a lovely community of people returning week after week.
Before moving back to Edinburgh, I had run a successful studio in Spain for four years, so I always knew I wanted to create something here too. I looked at different units and industrial spaces, but none of them felt right. They felt cold and impersonal, and I knew that wasn’t the kind of environment I wanted to build.
After 30 years working in the fitness industry, I’ve seen how intimidating exercise spaces can sometimes feel for people. Over the years, that experience has taught me that most people aren’t looking to feel pushed or judged when they walk into a class - they simply want to feel comfortable, supported and welcomed exactly as they are.
That became the foundation for everything I wanted The Wellness Space to be.
I wanted somewhere people could walk into and immediately feel calmer. A place where they could reconnect with themselves without feeling pressure to perform, compete, dress a certain way, or fit into the “wellness aesthetic” that can sometimes take over these environments.
A huge part of that vision came from my own journey with movement.
Years ago, I taught high-impact aerobics and absolutely loved it, but over time my body began to struggle with the constant impact. I remember getting to a point where I could barely get myself up from the couch comfortably, and my physio suggested I try Pilates.
From that moment, I was hooked.
Pilates completely changed how I felt physically, but also mentally. It showed me that movement didn’t have to leave you exhausted or broken down to be effective. Instead, it could help you feel stronger, more connected to your body, and more capable in everyday life.
Now, through the studio, we hear so many similar stories. People come to Pilates after injury, stress, burnout, life changes, illness, or simply because they want to feel stronger again. Watching people slowly reconnect with themselves through movement is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.
Over time, I realised I was already teaching in the perfect place. The setting at Restoration Yard already had the feeling I wanted people to experience - calm, open and welcoming. Being surrounded by nature, having space to walk outside, and even having the restaurant and coffee shop nearby all help create an atmosphere where people naturally slow down a little.
When the opportunity came to create the studio there, it felt like everything fell into place.
What makes this venture even more special to me is that I’m doing it alongside my daughter. She has trained and come through this Pilates journey with me, and watching her develop her own passion for movement and wellbeing has been incredibly rewarding. The Wellness Space has very much become a family venture, built not only from my experiences, but from the support, encouragement and shared vision we have as a family.
Family, community and connection have shaped this space more than I could ever have imagined.
Seven years ago, my husband suffered a stroke and shortly after he was also diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully, he is doing so much better now and in remission, but that experience changed my perspective on people and on the importance of support. It made me realise how valuable it is to have spaces where people feel safe enough to talk honestly about what’s happening in their lives.
Over the years, I’ve seen how much people carry quietly whether they are caring for loved ones, navigating difficult periods, managing stress, recovering from illness, or simply feeling overwhelmed by everyday life. Sometimes movement is only one small part of what people need. Often, people simply need connection, conversation and somewhere they feel understood.
That sense of support is something we try to build into everything we do at The Wellness Space. One of the things I’m most proud of is our free cancer care class for people currently going through treatment or who have recently finished treatment. Creating something that could offer gentle movement, support and a sense of community during such a difficult time felt incredibly important to us, and it reflects exactly what we want this space to stand for.
What I probably didn’t expect when creating The Wellness Space was just how much of a community would grow from it. Friendships have formed, people support one another through difficult times, businesses have connected, and opportunities to support charities such as Business Beats Cancer have come from relationships built inside the studio walls.
My aim was always simple: to create a welcoming wellness space where people could enjoy reformer Pilates in a more personal environment, alongside yoga and mat Pilates in a calm, airy studio.
Looking around the studio now, seeing people chat before class, check in on each other, support local businesses, and genuinely enjoy coming through the door, I feel incredibly grateful for what it has become.
The Wellness Space was never just about exercise for me. It was about creating somewhere people could come exactly as they are, and leave feeling a little better than when they arrived.