Pure Pilates Sedgefield

Pure Pilates Sedgefield *Certified BASI Pilates Instructor
*Iyengar Yoga Instructor
*Somatic Exercises

Contact Vanessa on whatsapp at 084 551 2356.
08/01/2026

Contact Vanessa on whatsapp at 084 551 2356.

Iyengar yoga and Pilates classes are available. The fees for January 2026 are currently R100 for a group class. I am at the Lagoon Studio on the Island, Sedgefield. Feel free to accompany me as we mindfully explore and deepen your connection with your body.

Iyengar yoga and Pilates classes are available. The fees for January 2026 are currently R100 for a group class.   I am a...
08/01/2026

Iyengar yoga and Pilates classes are available. The fees for January 2026 are currently R100 for a group class. I am at the Lagoon Studio on the Island, Sedgefield. Feel free to accompany me as we mindfully explore and deepen your connection with your body.

Happy New Year!  May this year bring you not only joy but a deep sense of gratitude for all the blessings you receive on...
08/01/2026

Happy New Year!
May this year bring you not only joy but a deep sense of gratitude for all the blessings you receive on a daily basis: gratitude for the people in your life, the roof over your head, and the strength of your body to heal and carry you forward.

This year is your year.

Call and ResponseThe three years of Iyengar Yoga training has reshaped not only my yoga practice but also my Pilates tea...
04/12/2025

Call and Response

The three years of Iyengar Yoga training has reshaped not only my yoga practice but also my Pilates teaching. What has emerged is a deeper awareness — my students now sense the subtle interplay between mind and body with greater clarity.
This awareness creates a tangible connection between teacher and student. I can guide a client into a position where every muscle is alive, engaged, and purposeful. Then comes the moment of dialogue: I call out a cue — “lengthen the spine to the ceiling” — and there is a response.
This call and response is the heartbeat of teaching movement. It is the teacher’s voice reaching out, and the student’s body answering back. In that exchange, mental quietness arises. There is nothing to hear but the call, nothing to do but respond.
From this rhythm flows a relationship built on trust and camaraderie. Teacher and student move together, not in silence, but in a shared language of awareness. It is a beautiful dialogue — one that transforms exercise into art, and instruction into connection.

Contact Vanessa on 084 551 2356 whatsapp for Yoga or Pilates Training.

Yay! I have completed 3 years of Iyengar Yoga Training.When we start out on a journey, we don’t realise the trials we’re...
03/12/2025

Yay! I have completed 3 years of Iyengar Yoga Training.

When we start out on a journey, we don’t realise the trials we’re going to face. These past three years have been the hardest of my life, but I did it—I earned the qualification even though I went through a divorce and my child survived a car accident that nearly killed her.

Tears of joy and sadness ran down my face. I would walk into Saturday teacher training sessions heartbroken from all the pain welling up inside me, sometimes leaving early. There were sessions when I was difficult and angry, when I disagreed and questioned the teachers.

I was not the only one who had a tough time. There was a lovely woman who lost her partner to cancer, yet she too persevered until the end.

As humans, we face so much—happiness, joy, sadness, and loss. We should all pat ourselves on the back, say “well done,” and give ourselves a cuddle.

Gratitude Post  This morning, something beautiful unfolded, while setting up my computer before class, three friends wal...
21/08/2025

Gratitude Post

This morning, something beautiful unfolded, while setting up my computer before class, three friends walked in—new clients, sent to me by Helio Lobo, who shares the space at Lagoon Studio on the island. His open-heartedness and generosity moved me deeply. There was no fear in his actions, he had no desire to claim clients—just an open presence of helping me and the new clients.

It reminded me of the incredible compassion I experienced from Melanie Beaumeister and Barbara Eksteen at The Move Community at the Catholic Church, while I was at the Red Cross Hospital with my daughter, they stepped in to help teach my clients—expecting nothing in return. Within days, most of my clients had found a new home in their studio.

And their kindness didn’t stop there. They helped move my equipment from a space I could no longer access, storing what they could. The rest was collected by Paula Viljoen, my yoga teacher, and Werner & Ilze Bronkhorst.

To witness such open-heartedness is humbling. It brings a soft, radiant feeling that stays with me. I truly believe that each of these beautiful souls will continue to grow in wealth, health, and love.

Thank you for showing me what community really means. You’ve touched my heart.

Pilates and Yoga Classes Are Back!To everyone who’s been sending thoughts, prayers, blessings, and love to my daughter a...
14/08/2025

Pilates and Yoga Classes Are Back!

To everyone who’s been sending thoughts, prayers, blessings, and love to my daughter and me since her car accident on 26 May 2025—thank you, I appreciate that you stood by us.

If you’ve been part of this journey in any way, please come chat with me. I’d love to hear your side of the story, as this experience wasn’t just ours—it touched the entire community of Sedgefield, and I’ve heard how deeply connected everyone felt. I’m truly honoured that my daughter played a part in bringing that connection to life, even though the road we walked was a steep, mountainous one.

While we were in hospital, I could feel every prayer, every blessing, and every good intention. I believe that energy helped me face all that Emma and I went through with grace.

I’ve now resumed teaching, and I’m in a new space! You’ll find me at the beautiful Lagoon Studio, on the corner of Jan van Riebeeck and Charles Te Water, right on the Island in Sedgefield. The studio is gorgeous with wooden floors and a peaceful view of the lagoon.

With love, Vanessa Snyman

30/05/2025

My pilates and yoga studio will be closed from June 2025 indeterminedly.

I had my tween class this afternoon, and honestly, they’re all just amazing. Each one is so different, and that’s what m...
15/05/2025

I had my tween class this afternoon, and honestly, they’re all just amazing. Each one is so different, and that’s what makes it so special. What really stands out to me is how differently children and adults respond to things. The tweens don’t hide how they feel—they’ll let me know if they’re not enjoying something, and when they love a class, their enthusiasm is so genuine and contagious.

My hope for the class is that it becomes a space filled with excitement and joy—a place where they can experience how wonderfully our bodies are designed, and where they can let go of tension and emotion through movement.

But if I’m honest, I don’t feel like I’ve quite reached that goal yet. There’s a lot stirring in my mind as I reflect on it.

What keeps coming up for me is play. I see it in both adults and kids—when something feels fun, it becomes play. And at the heart of play is creativity. It takes us to places we can’t reach when we’re stuck in our left brain. Play draws us into the right brain—where time disappears, and we’re simply present.

That’s what I want for all my clients: to walk away feeling that movement isn’t just a routine or a task. It’s a beautiful way to connect with our bodies and to see just how wonderfully we’re made.

In the book of Genesis, God breathes life into us, humans, giving us the gift of breath—a simple yet profound act we per...
08/05/2025

In the book of Genesis, God breathes life into us, humans, giving us the gift of breath—a simple yet profound act we perform every moment of every day. Despite its fantastic role in our existence, do we every pay attention to how we breathe? Breath is more than just a biological function; it’s a bridge to our inner selves, a rhythm that reflects our mind-body connection.

I’ve seen this in exercise classes. Some people, working through certain exercises, have wide open mouths, their bodies strained. Others, overwhelmed by stress, hold their breath entirely, their faces bright red as their bodies tense. These unconscious reactions reveal how closely breath is tied to both our physical and emotional state.

Different disciplines approach breath in unique ways. In Pilates, you learn to inhale through the nose and exhale through pursed lips, engaging the core with each breath. Yoga emphasizes nasal breathing, using breath as a tool to build inner strength and calm. Each method is shaped by its purpose, guiding breath in a way that supports its practice.

Try this right now. Are you breathing through your nose or mouth? Is your breath shallow and quick, or deep and steady? This simple act of noticing is the first step toward change. When we become aware of how we breathe, we unlock its true potential—an effortless, natural force that aligns body, mind, and spirit.

01/05/2025

Come and experience a yoga or pilates class. Contact Vanessa 0845512356

01/05/2025

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about stability—how our bodies hold themselves together. For me, flexibility has always been second nature. My body moves freely and easily, but that fluidity comes with a challenge: without proper support, I’m more prone to injury.
Think of the body like a building. Its framework—bones, muscles, and ligaments—work together to absorb force and support movement. But in my case, that framework feels a bit loose, like it needs extra reinforcement. My muscles and ligaments don’t have that natural tautness, which means I have to be intentional about keeping everything in place.

Then, there’s the other side of the spectrum—those whose bodies naturally resist stretching. For them, touching their toes might feel like an impossible task. Their structure is tighter, with muscles that don’t easily lengthen. Developing flexibility, like longer hamstrings, takes patience. Fun fact: even the most flexible person can struggle with a simple forward fold after sitting at a desk for weeks and months for 8 hours a day!

Flexibility often gets all the praise. If you can sink into deep stretches or fold forward with ease, you’re considered impressive. But what about those who don’t move quite so freely? I think it’s time to celebrate them, too.

A tighter, more stable body has its own strengths. Built-in support means fewer injuries, more natural alignment, and a foundation that holds itself together with ease. People with this kind of structure often find it easier to keep their hips square or avoid knee troubles. So if you’re someone with a tight body—embrace it! Your body’s natural stability is a gift.

Of course, a little flexibility is still valuable. Stretching can help even the most structured body gain a touch of fluidity, making movement more comfortable. Whether you’re naturally loose or tight, it’s all about balance—finding what works for your body and honouring both its strengths and its potential.

Address

Cnr Jan Van Riebeeck And Charles Te Water, The Island
Sedgefield
6573

Opening Hours

Monday 06:00 - 18:00
Tuesday 06:00 - 18:00
Wednesday 06:00 - 18:00
Thursday 06:00 - 18:00
Friday 06:00 - 18:00

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