West Yorkshire Pilates, Yoga & Breathwork

West Yorkshire Pilates, Yoga & Breathwork I help humans breathe better, move better & feel amazing, from head to toe ✨Pilates | Reformer Pilates | Yoga | Yoga for 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘮 |𝗞𝗶𝗱’𝘀 Yoga | Breath work
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16/11/2025

🚨A new Pilates class begins on the 2nd of December in Normanton Town Centre at NORMANTON NUTRITION 🚨

This class will operate as a rolling 6 week course, in line with my other 6 week terms.

It’s a no equipment class, where we will focus on the Pilates principles, functional movement, strength, mobility & balance.

All levels of fitness catered for as I offer levels to exercises to suit each individual.

There will be two dates before Christmas:

📆2nd December

📆9th December

The following consecutive 4 weeks return in January, starting on the 13th January 2026.

There are limited spaces available & some have already gone, so don’t delay if you’d like to join this group.

Drop me a message & we can get you signed up. 📩📩📩

11/11/2025

If we haven’t met yet, here’s a little about me 💫

I’m Mel (or Mimi Kitten Squirrel, as my child calls me 😹🐿️🤭).

I’m a Movement & Yoga Teacher & Breath-work Facilitator.

I started running 🌟West Yorkshire Pilates, Yoga & Breathwork🌟 over 16 years ago now.

It kinda happened as a ‘happy accident’, when I couldn’t find a Yoga class to suit my new life in London, so I took up Pilates, thinking “it can’t be *that* different, can it?’.

It WAS *that* different though… it was my favourite thing to do!

The deets:
✨I’m 48 years old
✨I’m a Libra/Scorpio cusp ⚖️🦂
✨I’m 5’2”
✨I was born in Leeds
✨I’m a mama of one

When I’m not working in or on my business, you’ll find me horse riding, at the gym or outside somewhere, walking. Probably to the charity shop, as I LOVE rooting through and finding a bargain 😀🛍️

My goal is to make wellness more approachable & I thrive on bringing beginners into classes - the ones who are really nervous, the ones who don’t think they can do it or the ones who just don’t believe it’ll work for them, then watching them grow in confidence & strength 💪🏼

If you’re nervous about joining a class, I’m your girl! 🙋🏼‍♂️

Drop me a line below & tell me, what’s your main concern? What’s stopping you? What’s making you feel wary?

I’d love to hear 🗣️🥰

04/11/2025

Whilst we were away for a few days, my 14 year old & I trained together in the gym each morning. He also uses our gym every other day at home & has been known to do Reformer Pilates too. In fact, we corrected his spinal scoliosis using the Pilates Reformer.

Resistance training in kids was once taboo…but now doctors say it could change their entire future…

As more families bring structured fitness into their routines, experts are noticing a shift. “This generation of children is seeing their parents at the gym & so it’s more common for a family to do that together,” says Dr. Eva Seligman of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

The National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) has been issuing position statements on the importance of youth resistance training since 1985,” Dr. Lyon says.

“There are these outdated myths, for example, that training affects bone growth & there [are] lots of injuries,” she says.

“There is this very early mental programming that I think changes the landscape of musculature in kids,” Dr. Lyon says. “We have to be very conscious of that if we want to change the metabolic landscape.”

The benefits of regular resistance training for kids…

💪🏼Physical health – Regular movement strengthens muscles & bones, improves coordination & supports a healthy weight.

🧠 Brain development – Physical activity helps improve focus, memory & learning by increasing blood flow to the brain.

🥰Emotional well-being – Exercise releases endorphins, which help kids feel happier & reduce stress or anxiety.

😴Better sleep – Active kids tend to sleep more soundly & feel more energized during the day.

As a kid with Hyper-mobility, I’ve noticed a big difference in strength, stability, clarity of thinking, mood & energy whilst he’s been weight training.

Weight training is a WIN for our kids! 🥳🏋🏼💪🏼

21/10/2025

I had a fantastic 48th birthday with Yoga Niki Silk before we both headed off to work this evening, to share our Pilates, Yoga & Aerial Yoga.

We shopped 🛍️, we ate 🥩🍳we brushed our teeth 😬🪥 & visited the lovely Amy Stringer 💍🥰🌙🫶🏼

#48

16/10/2025

This is Mia & she has THE most to contend with, health wise. But, she doesn’t let that stop her. Mia’s determination in class & in her self-practice has meant she has made so much progress over the last few months.

Here is Mia’s Pilates journey, in her own words…

“When you are told that you have two conditions that there are no cures for, the only feeling is helplessness. The only way to manage is physio & loads of medication for life. What 24 year old wants to live like that?

Then someone recommended Pilates. With my background of sports & Yoga, this appealed to me. I was looking for a local class & found Mel.

After 2 emails, I knew this was the class for me. I had a rocky start in the group classes but Mel was determined to make a difference to my health. And oh boy, she has!

Both mentally & physically. It’s slow process with POTS & Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. But the progress is beginning to show & that is making me more & more determined.

Mel is amazing. She works with each individual person. No one session is the same & feedback during the session is given to each person based on their own progress. Nothing about the class is a generic Pilates class, it is more than that. It is personalised. And it takes a holistic view of Pilates, which is very difficult to find.”

Mia’s combined health conditions mean that her body struggles to support itself, even in the most basic ways. Even just starting up is challenging, but we are working on exercises to bring stability, strength & balance.

ANYONE can do Pilates.
ANYONE can make progress.

If you’d like to discover if Pilates can help YOU, whatever health conditions or fitness levels you have, please get in touch.

The new 6 week term of Pilates classes begin next week & I have the following spaces:

📌 Wednesdays, 6:30pm - Normanton Methodist Church (4 spaces)

📌 Wednesdays, 8pm - Nostell Village Hall (2 spaces)

Drop me a message to claim your spot. Spaces don’t hang around for long!

16/10/2025

Do you have anxiety, depression, or other challenging mental health? Do you look at this photograph of me, a Movement Teacher & Breathwork Facilitator, & think I can help you?

Probably not. 🙂‍↔️

You might even think that the practices I teach are, fluffy, hippy rubbish or, perhaps, pointless.

I meet many people who think that way. The ones that roll their eyes or laugh. But the practices I teach are simple, effective & intended to bring the body back to homeostasis.

Homeostasis is the body’s ability to maintain a stable internal environment, such as temperature, blood sugar or mood regulation, by making automatic adjustments to counter external changes. Think of it as a built-in thermostat that keeps things balanced for your body to function correctly & survive.

I recently taught a session to Richard, a self confessed skeptic, & these are his words…

“This review is from a skeptic.
I met Mel for the first time, for a 1-1 Yoga & Breathwork session.

My sister recommended Mel, as she already attends her classes. I did wonder how this would help & I was skeptical, having already tried Hypnotherapy in the past, without success.

I have been finding life difficult, due to stress & anxiety & I felt like a coiled spring.

We covered a lot; breathing, Yoga poses, posture & more. Mel gave me lots of tips & I enjoyed the session. So…from a skeptic, did I come away more relaxed?
YES.” 🥳👏🏻

Yoga helps mood homeostasis by activating the body’s relaxation response, which shifts the nervous system from the stress-induced sympathetic state, to the calming parasympathetic state. It does this through practices like breathing & mindfulness, which regulate hormones, reduce inflammation & increase the production of neurotransmitters, leading to improved mood & reduced anxiety.

If you’d like to experience the calming benefits of Yoga, like Richard has, the new 6 week Yoga term begins next week.

🌿 Spaces are limited to keep classes personal & supportive.
📅 Starts Tuesday, 21st October
📍Normanton Parish Rooms

👉 Ready to roll out your mat?
Reserve your spot today!
💌 DM me the word ‘BALANCE’ & I’ll do the rest.

14/10/2025

Those who know me know I spend a hell of a lot of time out walking. I don’t even have to go far. Just around where I live.

One thing I’ve noticed now it’s darker earlier is that all people really seem to do it sit & watch tv, scroll on their phones & generally don’t do much. I can see them through the windows. I don’t see many people out walking. I can see them all in their homes, marinading in their day with loads of blue light!

Which is super bad for us.

Consequently, there’s a huge increase in mental health issues… anxiety, depression, lack of motivation, sleep problems… plus, many people have physical ailments & conditions too…

So where am I going with this?

YOGA.

Movement.
Stillness.
No screens = no blue light.
Good for mental health.
Good for improving sleep.
Good for social connections.
Good for connecting with yourself.

In a cosy room.
Leaving you feeling calm & regulated in your mind, body & breath.

What are you waiting for?

What have you got to lose?

Yoga:

The new 6 week terms starts next Tuesday, 21st October…

For beginners.
For those who have practised yoga before.
And all those in between.

Join us at Normanton Parish Rooms for a 6-week yoga journey designed to help you move, strengthen, breathe & find your calm before the hectic festive season begins. ✨

🗓 Starts: Tuesday, 21st October 2025
🕖 Time: 7:15PM – 8:15PM
📍 Location: Normanton Parish Rooms

Whether you’re a complete beginner or returning to your mat, these super friendly and welcoming classes will help you improve flexibility, release stress and build inner balance in a welcoming community group.

Spaces are limited, so book early to secure your spot! 💫
👉 Message to register or find out further information.

09/10/2025

Yoga isn’t just about flexibility or fitness; it’s a holistic Mind/Body practice that integrates movement, breath & self awareness, which work together to regulate the nervous system, balance hormones & shift patterns of thought & emotion.

What can Yoga help with & how? ⤵️

🌬️ANXIETY
Activates the parasympathetic nervous system (“Rest & Digest”), counteracting the body’s stress response.
Breath-focused movement helps slow racing thoughts & regulate heart rate.
Grounding poses provide a sense of stability & safety.

🌧️DEPRESSION & LOW MOOD
Increases serotonin & GABA levels — neurotransmitters linked to improved mood. Encourages embodied awareness — reconnecting you to your body when you feel numb or detached.
Boosts circulation & vitality, which can counter fatigue & apathy.

🌙 SLEEP ISSUES/INSOMNIA
Calms the mind & nervous system before bed.
Balances cortisol & melatonin levels through breath & relaxation.
Improves body awareness, helping you release tension stored in the body.

💔 EMOTIONAL REGULATION & TRAUMA HEALING
Yoga creates a safe space to notice & release emotions stored in the body.
Mindful movement rebuilds trust between body & mind.
Breathwork helps regulate emotional surges & reduce reactivity.

🧠 OVERALL MENTAL WELLBEING
Yoga cultivates:
Mindfulness → reduced rumination & greater present-moment awareness
Self-compassion → gentler inner dialogue
Community & connection → through classes & shared practice

🕉️ THE SCIENCE BACKS IT UP
Studies show regular yoga can reduce symptoms of anxiety & depression as effectively as some forms of psychotherapy.

Yoga & mindfulness-based interventions lower cortisol, improve heart rate variability & enhance emotional resilience.

Want or NEED some Yoga in YOUR life?

The new 6 week Autumn term begins on
📅Tuesday the 20th October,
⌚️7:15pm
📍Normanton Parish Rooms.

Classes are suitable for ANYONE who has never practiced Yoga before, thinks they’d be rubbish at Yoga, who feels nervous about starting Yoga, who thinks they don’t have time for Yoga. ALL ARE WELCOME! 🙏🏻

06/10/2025

Hi, I’m Sasha — and I’ve been attending Mel’s Pilates sessions for over a year now.
For the past 30 years, I’ve been busy with work, children, home, life… and sitting a lot! 🪑
At a desk, in a car, on planes — all that sitting has definitely weakened my posture, balance, and core strength.

My goal is to be fitter and healthier in my 60s 💪- so I’ve got four years to make it happen!

I knew my balance was awful and wanted to improve it - ha - but I soon discovered that good balance starts with a strong core and glutes! 🍑

Mel is brilliant at bringing all three together. She explains every move clearly so you understand what’s happening in your body and why. Every week is different: one session might use sliders for core strength, another focuses on balance with hogs -and sometimes it’s just you and your mat, reconnecting with your body. 🧘‍♀️

Mel is warm, generous, and has a lovely sense of humour. There’s no judgement, just pure encouragement. She truly believes that what we do now, our future selves will thank us for. 💜

We’ve even learned how to fall - and more importantly, how to get back up! When we were kids, we’d bounce straight back without thinking, but as adults, we forget how. Mel helps us rediscover that confidence. I actually tested it recently when I tripped over a box at home - I fell well, didn’t hurt myself, and got straight back up! 🙌

Is it worth the 40-minute drive each week?
Absolutely — YES, it is! 🚗✨

Sometimes you just need an aerial hammocks in the woods kinda afternoon… with Nicola Bliss Yoga 🪽🧘🏼‍♂️🌳🧘🏼‍♀️💚
02/08/2025

Sometimes you just need an aerial hammocks in the woods kinda afternoon… with Nicola Bliss Yoga 🪽🧘🏼‍♂️🌳🧘🏼‍♀️💚

Address

West Yorkshire Pilates & Yoga Normanton Methodist Church
Normanton
WF61AG

Telephone

+447795165047

Website

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Our Story

F e a t u r i n g: P I L A T E S A relaxing and gentle method of exercise that works to condition the body and mind from the inside out. Increasing core strength and balance. Protecting joints. Creating a stronger mind/body connection. Correcting muscle imbalances. General Matwork, Pregnancy Pilates and Post Natal are all specialities.

Y O G A F O R A U T I S M & S E N S O R Y Y O G A Improving fine motor skills, reducing anxiety, increases muscle tone and balance, assisting all systemic functioning, helping concentration and focus, balancing the nervous system, organising the vestibular system... Suitable for all children.

Y O G A Improving strength and balance. Creating focus and bodily awareness. Finding calm. A mental, physical and spiritual practice.

Y O G A F O R C H I L D R E N Providing children with the opportunity to connect with their mind and body in a fun and safe way.