Hi, I am Laura and I thought I would just share a little more about me and my life. I am a mum to my 6 year old daughter HB; she is my little mini-me and bestie in all our adventures. One of the biggest reasons I went into fitness is because of her….but I didn’t start my career in fitness.
Growing up
I had a big passion for dancing. As a child, I rarely sat still and loved practising dancing. I took every opportunity to choreograph routines, practise in the living room and make all my family watch endless shows. Sounds like most 6 year olds, right? The only difference- I was a teenager- but my dream was to choreograph dances and perform.
At 15 years old I was awarded a full scholarship to Bird College for Dance and Musical Theatre and at 16 I moved to London to train full time and follow my dream. Three amazing years later and I ventured off to my first professional job as a dancer on the cruise ships at just 19.
Professional career
I spent many years working as a professional dancer on cruise ships, in theatres, local pantomimes, and touring shows. I am very grateful that my time as a dancer allowed me to see some incredible places, experience different cultures, and tick off visiting over 75 different countries, including doing a world cruise.
As time progressed, I moved to the other side of the stage and became a rehearsal director, this allowed me to be on the creative side more. I would teach and rehearse the casts before flying out to various locations in Europe to get the shows ready for opening night.
Time for a change
In 2011, I decided it was time to take a break from dancing and I had an opportunity to move to Moscow, Russia and be a Governess teaching pre-school English. During this time I would dance at a University in Moscow and to maintain my fitness I joined a gym. This is where my love for lifting first started.
Working with different trainers I learnt a lot and discovered I could work my body in a whole different way to dance, using weights – a new passion had started.
Stars and stripes
My travels continued and after 2.5 years in Moscow I moved to Miami, USA. Here my training adapted from gyms & weights to more Pilates and yoga classes.
Living in Miami and missing my dancing, I was offered a job as an Install Director for Celebrity Cruise Lines. For me this was a dream job. I would be part of the team that teaches numerous shows to a large cast of singers and dancers. After rehearsals in Miami, I would fly out to the ships to install the shows, adding the light and costumes before seeing all the hard work come together as each show went live onboard. A true bucket list moment for the 16 year old me when I first moved to London.
Becoming a mum
As time progressed I wanted to start a family. For me, I knew that meant ‘hanging up the dance shoes’ & retiring from dance. After my daughter was born I was unsure of what I wanted to do, I focused on being a mummy and enjoying those magical moments.
During this time, I felt quite lost and disconnected from my body. I was unable to get to a gym but knew I needed something… I discovered home workouts. It was never about my physical body but I felt I needed to exercise and move my body for my mental health- to feel like me again.
I would work out most days at home in my living room with HB by my side, first as a baby and then as a toddler. She would pick up her toy weights and copy me! I have some of the best memories of our ‘workouts’ together and her cheering me on ‘Go, Mummy!’.
This is where my next chapter in life started. I wanted to help other new mums and people feel better about themselves through fitness.
Back to school
I retrained and qualified as a fitness and gym instructor with a goal to help people, and in particular new mums, feel better about themselves- to feel the BEST VERSION of themselves through fitness.
I had a passion and drive and I needed to share it. Covid and lockdowns hit just months after I was qualified and stopped me to getting started with classes in 2020 but it did not stop my ambition or goals.
Over the past 3 years I have now qualified in various fitness styles and Level 3 Pre and Postnatal fitness. I have created new classes and brought my ideas and passion to the area. I am so grateful to all the people I have met and all the members of my classes I now get to call friends. It was about creating a community, a place to enjoy exercise, and for people to believe and reach their own potential.
My work now allows me to help others through my classes, 1-1’s & workshops locally, but even further afield with my online membership. However you choose to workout, my goal has always been to help people feel the best version of themselves; I’ll be there to motivate you along the way.
Health and fitness is a journey and I am here to help you with yours.
Laura xx
