16/04/2025
Weyward Sisters - with Jo Turner
An experience, not just an exercise class.
After nearly 30 years of teaching movement and body awareness under the name of Pilates, I’m bringing together some of the parts I secretly love most in a series of four, very special workshops for women.
Weyward Sisters is a new offering. A class where movement meets music, where stretching and strength intertwine with storytelling, and where the seasons, the elements, and a bit of magic shape the way we move.
This is not a medical service (although there is plenty of evidence for the physical and mental health benefits of movement, meditation and a sense of community within a group) and it won’t be for everyone. I’ll still be teaching my regular Pilates classes, this is something a little bit different for those who love the sound of it.
Think of these workshops as a spellbinding blend. Yes, you’ll move. Yes, you’ll stretch. But you’ll also breathe in rhythm with incredible music, sink into meditations, and tap into something deeper - those forgotten, powerful parts of yourself that rarely get a look-in amidst the work emails, the laundry, and remembering everyone’s birthdays.
Over the past five years, in my work as a One Of many Women’s Coach, I’ve worked with female archetypes - a way of exploring different aspects of yourself beyond ‘the responsible one’, ‘the kind one’, or ‘the one who sorts out the drama.’ In Weyward Sisters, we’ll welcome back those hidden parts, discovering layers of strength, grace, and maybe a some wildness along the way.
What to Expect
• A Seasonal Journey: In each of our sessions spread over the year, we’ll explore one of the female archetypes. In spring, we’ll meet your youthful Warrioress. In summer, the captivating Lover. Dignified Queen will enter the stage in autumn, and in the depths of winter, we’ll encounter the wise and crafty Sorceress. Sessions will be influenced by nature’s cycles and the elements of fire, water, air and earth.
• Movement with Meaning: A blend of strength, flexibility, and movement tailored to each archetype, with beautifully curated soundtracks to enhance the mood of each session.
• Guided Meditations: We’ll sink into deep relaxation with guided visualisation exercises to connect with each archetype’s energy and the season.
• Storytelling: Stories and myths will be woven seamlessly and hypnotically throughout the class.
• Community: Although sessions can be purchased individually, my hope is to have a consistent group, so that we can get to know each other over the year.
Some prior Pilates experience is helpful, but we can arrange an assessment and introductory session if not. The main requirements are an open mind, a body that fancies a stretch, and a willingness to embrace something a little different.
For now, this is a women-only class, but if there’s interest, I’d be delighted to conjure up a mixed or men’s group too.
Weyward is a word with it’s roots in old English. In the context of Shakespeare's Macbeth, it refers to the three witches, also known as the "weird sisters" or "weyward sisters," who are figures of fate or destiny. It can also mean to follow one’s inclinations.
If you’re inclination is to join me for this wonderful workshop series, email info@courtyardclinic.com, or call 01453 548119.
Location: The Studio, Courtyard Clinic, Dursley.
Dates, Times and Themes
• May 24th, 2-4:30pm: The Warrioress: Youth, playfulness, conviction, vitality.
• July 26th, 2-4:30pm: The Lover : Beauty, pleasure,creativity, inspiration.
• September 20th, 2-4:30pm: The Queen: Grace,dignity, vision and leadership.
• November 22nd, 2-4:30pm: Sorceress: Trust, wisdom,connection and magic.
Costs
£25 for each session if booked separately.
Discounted price of £90 for all 4 sessions if booked and paid together.
Limited places
Maximum of 15 participants
Call, or email now to book your place
