Exercise Classes for Mums & Dads
If you can recommend any exercise classes, please email hello@nw8-mums.com.
Karin: ‘I was a gymnast (started when I was 4 years old) and did a lot of it for many years including competitions. I have always been very active and love moving, walking, skiing (I grew up doing cross country skiing on weekends in my native Sweden during winters). However, I am not good at motivating myself to exercising alone at home or outdoors.
Despite having done a number of runs for charity now, I actually don’t like running (unless it is a race and I am doing it for charity). I have been told on a number of occasions that I am a good and natural runner and that I should go for runs as part of my weekly exercise. I know myself though and rather than saying ‘I will’ and then spend time feeling guilty about not going for a run, I am brutally honest, say ‘I don’t enjoy it’ and feel better mentally as a result.
Over the years, I have learnt that working with a teacher 1:1 is what works best for me. I would rather exercise in a way that works for me and also do something I enjoy at the same time: i.e. moving. I love feeling my core getting stronger, my energy levels building up and it also helps my mental state of mind. Exercising was a big part of my recovery from postnatal depression.
I believe that working with someone is a very personal thing. When people ask me for recommendations, I always tell them to try a few different PTs, yoga or Pilates teachers to find the one that feels like the best fit for them.’
Karin x
Physiotherapy
Central Health has a branch in St John’s Wood and they are popular within the group.
My French Physio therapists frequently come recommended in the group.
The Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth has an entire department dedicated to all different kinds of physiotherapy; from postnatal and vestibular to other kinds of physiotherapy.
Personal Training (PT)
Alvaro Castano is a great PT with whom Karin has worked. He works with everyone including children and his attention to detail is amazing.
Tamsyn Hamilton Personal Training has a great team of people who can help you with everything from training to nutrition. Tamsyn is also a mum so truly understands what women go through physically during and after pregnancies.
Vivian Da Fonseca is a highly qualified personal trainer with a wealth of experience across prenatal and postnatal functional training, weight-loss, performance training and rehabilitation. As one of Brazil’s best known fitness instructors, her work has taken her to Canada, the USA and the UK. She even won Tatler magazine’s prize for “Best Bottom Class”.
Simi Mirpuri, personal trainer, is offering personal training right in the comfort of your home.
Rima Kalai is a Personal Trainer providing private training in St John’s Wood and Primrose Hill. To book, contact Rima directly at rima.kalai@gmail.com.
My family training together in the park
Outdoor & Group Classes
The Hub in Regent’s Park offers a variety of mummy and baby friendly. Check directly with them what their current schedule is.
Buggy Fit – It is easy to get fit and meet other mums with Buggy Fit. The nearest places to do this are in Paddington Recreation Ground and Primrose Hill. Please note that BuggyFit is run as a franchise so even though locations are close by, the trainer might not be the same.
Buggy Fit in Paddington Rec is with Sharon. To contact Sharon, please email her on re-energise.london@outlook.com.
Rima Kalai is a certified STOTT Pilates, Barre instructor and Personal Trainer. She is a resident teacher at the YMCA King’s Cross and also provides private training in St John’s Wood and Primrose Hill. To book, contact Rima directly at rima.kalai@gmail.com.
Simi Mirpuri, yoga instructor, nutrition coach and personal trainer is offering personal training right in the comfort of your home.
Pilates
Karin’s amazing Pilates teacher Gemma Shaw is a local mum of two boys. She really understands and knows what women need to work on both when pregnant and after having had their babies. Karin has had weekly classes with her since January 2015.
Jessica, another of our mums, is a classically trained Pilates teacher and founder of Passage Pilates.
Restorative Movement, previously known as Pilates with Paulette, has a great reputation amongst local mums for helping them recover after pregnancy, and Paulette is also a Franklin Method® Pelvic Power Instructor. This is a movement technique that helps people of all ages, abilities and genders develop mind-body techniques to not only improve movement but also change the way they feel in their body, forever. The pelvis is the bridge between our torso and legs. When correctly aligned, our pelvic floor muscles function optimally and movement improves. The six-week course will also help improve posture, balance, co-ordination and flexibility.
Paulette has comprehensive training in matwork Pilates and postnatal exercise enabling her to create a bespoke blend of low impact exercises suitable for mums in their ‘4th Trimester’. You will also learn lots of takeaway tips to ensure you don’t undo all your hard work as well as gain nutritional information to accelerate healing and improve energy. Paulette’s courses run in school term times. She also does private classes.
Rima Kalai is a certified STOTT Pilates, Barre instructor and Personal Trainer. She is a resident teacher at the YMCA King’s Cross and also provides private training in St John’s Wood and Primrose Hill. To book, contact Rima directly at rima.kalai@gmail.com.
Karin doing Pilates at Gemma Shaw’s studio
Yoga
Seity Collective – a wellness platform founded up by one of our mum-preneurs Carla Pozner and her husband – Seity Collectiveprovides exclusive access to their hand-picked network of multi-discipline professionals, providing first-class, 1:1 holistic healthcare, from Psychology to Physiotherapy, and Reiki to Acupuncture.
Laura Della Guardia is one of our mums and she offers yoga classes.
Daniela Lejtneker runs online yoga classes including a specialist menopause yoga programme.
Carla Pozner is also a yoga instructor and osteopath working with both adults and children.
Simi Mirpuri, yoga instructor, nutrition coach and personal trainer is offering personal training right in the comfort of your home.
Venues – Gyms & Studios
Tribes, located just behind The Clifton NW8 on Clifton Hill, offers Personal Training, Small Group Training, and a variety of classes at the Studio for all levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners. Currently, Tribes offers Yoga, Pilates, Bollywood Dance and Stretch & Mobility. Starting in September 2024, they will be adding even more to the schedule, including HIIT, Zumba, Dance Cardio and more.
Tribes is more than just a gym – it’s a movement dedicated to fostering a community of wellness, resilience, and personal growth. Our goal is to build lasting relationships with locals, and we’re thrilled to have a wellness hub in the neighborhood, enhancing both our health and a sense of community in St John’s Wood. We can’t wait to see everyone get involved.
Rebel opened its doors in 2019 and is already a firm favourite with many locals.
The Garuda Yoga & Pilates Studio here in St John’s Wood is a wonderful place. I have done both matwork and apparatus work there. What I found most inspiring there is the fact that there is no music playing which means I am focussing entirely on my mind and body. Very refreshing in today’s world where everything is so loud and fast.
Heartcore opened its doors in St John’s Wood in January 2016 and is a popular place.
Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre has a lot to offer in terms of exercise. It is best to check with them what there is on and what types of membership schemes they have.
Nutrition & Health Coaches
Simi Mirpuri, yoga instructor, nutrition coach and personal trainer is offering personal training right in the comfort of your home.
Seity Collective – a wellness platform founded up by one of our mum-preneurs Carla Pozner and her husband – Seity Collectiveprovides exclusive access to their hand-picked network of multi-discipline professionals, providing first-class, 1:1 holistic healthcare, from Psychology to Physiotherapy, and Reiki to Acupuncture.
Dr Harriet Holme of Healthy Eating Dr is a paediatric oncologist an local nutritionist. She can help with all aspects of nutrition including weaning help for babies.
Nada Soubra is another one of our mums and she is a health coach.
Paulette Pollock of Restorative Movement is also a health coach.
Acupuncture
Karin has the most amazing acupuncturist, Ping Li, who she saw before, during and after the pregnancy with her son. She only does home visits. She is Karin’s go-to person for anything health related and she has been a patient of hers since May 2013. Please email nw8mums@gmail.com for her details. Ping came to Karin’s house every week during her last pregnancy.
One of our mums, Ingrid Huang, is a wonderful acupuncturist also popular in the group. She sees patients in her house or at Violet Hill Studios.
General Well-Being
LondonCryo on St John’s Wood High Street offers a range of different treatments.