About Our Founder

I came to Pilates quite by accident, not as a lifestyle choice but out of desperation to find a way forward after experiencing a debilitating back injury that rendered me a mere shadow of my former self. After several procedures and invasive spinal surgeries, I experienced the limitations of chronic back pain with no respite in view.

Refusing to accept my former self was to be a forever distant memory, I tried everything. Some things had very little effect and others worked, but only temporarily. It wasn’t until I committed to a regular clinical Pilates programme that I started to feel the difference. It took a lot of hard work and patience but with the pain free timeframes growing week to week – I had all the encouragement I needed. I was getting stronger and enjoying hours, then days and eventually months free of pain.

Five years on I am still pain-free and in better shape today than I have ever been. My former self really was destined to become a distant memory after all.

So, inspired by the life changing effects of this whole-body conditioning system of movement, I left my corporate career and become a fully qualified Pilates instructor. I am passionate about sharing with others what I have learned along the journey and take joy from teaching something that I love and believe in wholeheartedly.

I look forward to guiding you on the path to finding your own positive Pilates movement experience so you too can enjoy a greater strength and freedom in movement to live the way you want to without unnecessary restriction.

I look forward to welcoming you to Movement State!

Sandra Oates
Founder & Director
The Movement State