Pure Pilates Sedgefield

Pure Pilates Sedgefield *Certified BASI Pilates Instructor
*Training to be an Iyengar Yoga Instructor. (3rd year)
*Somatic Exercises

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.

Over the last month or so, my back has been seriously “eina!  It all started when I decided to focus on improving my swi...
03/04/2025

Over the last month or so, my back has been seriously “eina! It all started when I decided to focus on improving my swimming skills—or maybe it goes back even further, to when I wasn’t paying enough attention to my exercise routine. Who knows? There were probably a whole bunch of reasons.

The moment I knew I was in trouble was when I bent down to pick up a foam block while teaching a Pilates class… and suddenly, standing up wasn’t so easy. The rest of the day was pure agony. Painkillers didn’t help much, and I quickly realized I needed a physio’s help. Slowly but surely, my back started to improve, though there were a few setbacks—mostly from me thinking I could jump right back into my usual yoga poses.

It was a frustrating time. I couldn’t demonstrate exercises for my clients, and even something as simple as getting out of the car turned into a mission. I had to grip the door frame and brace myself just to avoid sending shockwaves of pain through my back. And, to top it all off, I was in the middle of moving house!

But as with everything in life, this too shall pass—one of my favorite reminders. And now, as I sit here feeling 95% better, I’m reassessing my approach to exercise. The key, I’ve realized, is consistency and balance. My physio also pointed out something interesting: strengthening the gluteus medius is crucial for preventing back issues as we age. These are simple exercises I can (and should) do daily.

As someone who spends so much time teaching movement, I’ve learned the hard way that I can’t keep putting my own body on the back burner. But through it all, I’ve also come to realize how important it is to be kind to ourselves on these journeys. If I never experienced back pain, I wouldn’t truly appreciate a pain-free body. Grateful for the lessons—even the tough ones.

Isn’t it amazing when life flows effortlessly, and everything falls into place? A friend reached out to me recently, hop...
23/01/2025

Isn’t it amazing when life flows effortlessly, and everything falls into place? A friend reached out to me recently, hoping to help her daughter get moving again after a tough couple of years. Her daughter, a bright-eyed tween, needed a space to exercise. I could have offered her private lessons or placed her in a class with adults, but inspiration struck—why not create a class just for tweens?

Within a day, seven enthusiastic kids had signed up! This week, we kicked off with two sessions, one on Tuesday (Yoga) and another on Thursday (Pilates) at 3:15 p.m. The energy in the room was electric—these eager, joyful children coming together to move, laugh, and support each other. Moments like this remind me why I do what I do. It doesn’t get much better than this!

2025 - The Year of Loving Yourself
09/01/2025

2025 - The Year of Loving Yourself

2025 - The year of Loving Yourself.

What does it truly mean to love yourself? The Bible reminds us, "Love your neighbor as yourself." But how can we extend love to others if we haven’t first learned to embrace and cherish ourselves?

This year offers a beautiful opportunity to reflect deeply, uncover the challenges we face in accepting our bodies, and begin to accept ourselves as we truly are—we are love, peace, and joy. Let’s take this journey together, fostering a love that not only transforms how we see ourselves, but also empowers us to love others more fully.

2025 - The year of Loving Yourself.  What does it truly mean to love yourself? The Bible reminds us, "Love your neighbor...
09/01/2025

2025 - The year of Loving Yourself.

What does it truly mean to love yourself? The Bible reminds us, "Love your neighbor as yourself." But how can we extend love to others if we haven’t first learned to embrace and cherish ourselves?

This year offers a beautiful opportunity to reflect deeply, uncover the challenges we face in accepting our bodies, and begin to accept ourselves as we truly are—we are love, peace, and joy. Let’s take this journey together, fostering a love that not only transforms how we see ourselves, but also empowers us to love others more fully.

My morning class, they are so dedicated, a few of them have been coming to me for over 5 years.
20/11/2024

My morning class, they are so dedicated, a few of them have been coming to me for over 5 years.

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

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Pure Pilates Sedgefield posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category