Dance, move, breathe: Zumba and Pilates for holistic wellbeing

This month, we’re catching up with instructor Sandra, a highly experienced instructor with decades of teaching fitness and dance. We chatted about her journey, her teaching approach, and who these classes are really for.

Four women on mats hold their arms up at a 90 degree angle, facing a woman on a mat who is demonstrating the pose

Sandra’s background

Sandra's love of movement started long before she ever stood at the front of a class. As a student, she threw herself into exercise to music, drawn in by the way a good beat could match any mood. Music, she says, has always been like a heartbeat to her: always there, always meaningful. She trained as a gym instructor, teaching aerobics and gentle exercise classes alongside a career as a secondary school teacher, where she even ran fitness sessions for fellow teachers.

Her passion for Zumba took hold when she started attending classes at her local gym. She was immediately captivated by the variety of world music, the energy, and the sheer fun of it — and qualified to teach not long after. Years on, that enthusiasm hasn't dimmed. In 2015, she added Pilates to her repertoire, having practised yoga for many years and finding that Pilates offered something complementary: a deeper focus on breathing, posture, core strength, and being present in the moment.

A woman stands with her arms up at her sides with elbows bent.

Why Zumba and Pilates?

Sandra chose these two disciplines because, together, they cover so much ground. Zumba works on rhythm, flexibility, coordination, concentration, and endurance; but anyone who’s attended a class knows that it feels like you're simply dancing. All you need is comfortable clothing, trainers, and a bottle of water. Pilates, meanwhile, brings balance, control, and a calm awareness to the body. Sandra loves the versatility of mat Pilates in particular: it can be done anywhere, adapted for anyone, and requires nothing more than a mat and some floor space.

Who is it for?

These classes are catered towards every woman. No experience is needed for either class, just a willingness to show up and move. Sandra checks in with members before each session to understand any health considerations and adapts what she teaches accordingly. She has worked with people managing mental health conditions who initially felt too anxious to join a group setting, older adults who assumed exercise wasn't for them anymore, new mothers returning to fitness after having a child, and everyone in between. Her oldest participant is 91 years old.

Both classes offer options for beginners, those maintaining their current level, and those looking to progress, so everyone has something to work towards, whatever stage they're at.

Women stand on mats in a wide stance, leaning over towards one leg

What to expect in a session

Zumba classes are built around music, movement, and a sense of shared energy. The studio becomes a space where the music drives you forward and the atmosphere does the rest.

Pilates sessions take a quieter, more inward tone, asking participants to bring their full attention to the hour and embrace what it offers them. For both, comfortable clothing and a bottle of water are key. All other materials, including light hand weights and mats, are provided by Sandra.

Sandra's approach as a teacher is grounded in encouragement. She motivates the group as a whole while making space for individuals to work at their own pace. She believes in progress that's self-directed, nudging people gently forward while always honouring where they are right now. Her warmth and eagerness to know every person in the class is clear from the moment you meet her, and attendees say that her classes have become an essential part of their weekly routine.

Sandra demonstrates a stance for one of the attendees

What she hopes you'll take away

Sandra wants her members to leave feeling better physically, emotionally, and holistically. A sense of calm after Pilates is just as valuable as the burst of energy from a Zumba class. She has seen people who arrived isolated and uncertain slowly open up, find community, and discover that exercise can be a genuine source of joy and confidence in their lives.

Her philosophy is simple: our health is our wealth. It doesn't have to cost anything. It doesn't have to be complicated. But it does require showing up for yourself, one hour at a time, and giving yourself the gift of feeling your healthiest, happiest, most confident self.

Come along and see what you get out of it.

Sandra demonstrates a pose with feet together and weight in one hip

Sandra demonstrated a movement with wrists

How to join

Zumba and Body Conditioning runs Mondays from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

Pilates runs Fridays from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.

Register for the Wellbeing programme here.