Restorative Pilates in the Soanes Centre: Community wellbeing in nature

A supportive mat Pilates class to help you build strength, improve mobility, and move with greater ease.

Community wellbeing and movement - indoors, but in nature.

With an optional starter:  A 20 minute walk around the Cemetery Park at 5pm.

Grounded in the core principles of Pilates - including breathing, concentration, alignment, stability and control - this low-impact class blends classical Pilates foundations with contemporary approaches to support confident, comfortable movement. Exercises are carefully sequenced to develop strength, mobility, balance and coordination, while helping you build greater awareness of how your body moves. Breath is used to support appropriate muscle engagement and encourage smoother movement while helping you develop a deeper awareness of your body.

Suitable for beginners as well as those with previous Pilates experience, the class offers clear guidance and a range of options so you can adapt each exercise to suit your body and how you're feeling on the day. Whether you're looking to improve posture, build core strength, move more freely, or return to exercise in a supportive environment, you'll be encouraged to work at a pace that feels sustainable rather than striving to push through discomfort.

This is a friendly, inclusive class where all bodies and movement experiences are welcome. Set within the Soanes Centre in the peaceful surroundings of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, it's an opportunity to take time for yourself, enjoy mindful movement, and leave feeling stronger, more mobile, and more connected to your body. 

About Eloise

Eloise is passionate about the transformative power of Pilates. Her approach is empathetic and understanding, informed by her experience of living with scoliosis and chronic pain; she has first-hand experience of the multifaceted benefits of Pilates, and in particular the deep mind-body connection the practice encourages. Emphasising the importance of mindful movement, Eloise's classes are more than just workouts; they are holistic experiences designed to challenge, educate, and uplift participants. Her intention is to create a welcoming space where individuals of all experience levels can explore and grow. Balancing challenge and fun, Eloise aims to foster a sense of well-being and strength in her students that extends beyond the mat.

Feedback from participants

“I love that Eloise explains everything we do, why and how. She really takes her time to explain and to genuinely check on everyone. I've never been to a class like this . She's great, so thoughtful and thorough!”

“The relatability of Eloise and her lived experience of pain. She is very non-pressured, and the class is full of mixed people of many ages, sizes and abilities - I feel very comfortable there as someone with chronic pain who has to go slow. She makes it possible for you to sit sections out without feeling conspicuous.”

“Eloise creates a fully inclusive environment striking a balance between the needs of the class and individuals. I’ve been to a lot of body work classes over the years, and this is without doubt the most comfortable I have felt."

Photographer: Steve Emery @step_emery

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We have mats for you to use however you may bring your own if you wish. Please note The Soanes Classroom is a small studio space with a maximum of 12 participants.

Contact: If you have any questions regarding this session, please email contact@fothcp.org

Dates & Times 

Tuesdays 5.30pm to 6.30pm for an initial trial of five sessions, with an optional walk around the Cemetery Park at 5pm.

Tickets:

• Pay Less (covers some of our costs) – I am a student, unemployed, on benefits or financially stressed - £6
• Standard (covers most of our costs) – I am employed, have some expendable income, and manage to meet my basic needs - £10
• Pay it Forward (covers all of our costs and supports our work) – I am employed or have enough savings to comfortably meet my basic needs - £14

Meeting point: The Soanes Centre, the concrete building to the right as you enter via the main gates on Southern Grove E3 4PX

ON THE DAY

1. Please arrive at least 5 minutes early and go to the meeting area: The Soanes Centre, the concrete building behind a black fence seen on the right as you enter via the main gates on Southern Grove E3 4PX.
2. Please bring your own bottle of water, and your own mat if you have one.
3. The Friends will collect contact information on attendees, we will treat your data in accordance with our data protection policy.
   

Click here for more information on our data protection policy.

Access statement

• This is an accessible, inclusive event. The building and toilets are accessible.

• Please contact us with at least 2 weeks’ notice if you’d like BSL or other interpretation/translation and we will do our best to accommodate. Sadly, we have no-one in house who is able to offer this service.

• We aim to make our events as accessible as possible, and we're learning constantly how to do this better. If you would like to let us know about any specific requirements or access needs that you would like us to meet, or offer feedback on our accessibility arrangements, please email contact@fothcp.org. We want you to feel safe in the Cemetery Park.

Refund policy: If you tell us that you want to cancel your ticket, we will only give you a refund if you request one, and if you give a minimum of 5 days notice before the start of the event.