In the beginning…

I’ve been passionate about movement and exercise for over 20 years, but my reasons for exercising have changed enormously over that time.

Like many people, I didn’t enjoy PE at school or team sports. At 15, my stepdad introduced me to the gym and, for the first time, I found a type of exercise that felt right for me. I loved the calm, the focus and the feeling of looking after myself.

That experience sparked a lifelong passion for helping others discover movement they genuinely enjoy.

Today, I’m a Level 3 Mat Pilates Instructor and Personal Trainer based in Beeston, helping people build strength, improve mobility and feel more confident through sustainable exercise.

Professional Experience

I began my career in the health and wellbeing industry in 2013 after finding a love for spin classes. The spin instructor said that I should get qualified so I did and never looked back. In my 20s, I was teaching spin classes all over Nottingham at Bramcote Leisure Centre, Virgin Active, David Lloyd. I then added on Kettlebell classes which I loved as it brings in strength & fitness. 

Alongside this I left a corporate job and worked as an Advanced Physiotherapy Assistant within the NHS, I supported patients through pulmonary rehabilitation and community rehabilitation, helping people regain strength, confidence and independence through movement.

I later managed a local authority Exercise by GP Referral programme, supporting people referred by their GP to begin exercising safely. I also hold a Level 3 qualification in Supporting Clients with Long-Term Health Conditions, allowing me to adapt exercise for people with a variety of health needs.

Earlier in my career, I was also Level 3 and Level 4 qualified in Sports Massage Therapy, running my own successful clinic, Beeston Premier Sports Massage Therapy, for seven years. I worked with a wide range of clients including runners, boxers, bodybuilders, Personal Trainers and people experiencing everyday muscular tension, postural aches and pains, and sports-related injuries.

Although I no longer offer sports massage, those years gave me an in-depth understanding of how the body moves, adapts and responds to exercise—knowledge that continues to shape every Pilates class and Personal Training session I deliver today.

During the pandemic, I rebranded my business as Dana B Wellbeing, choosing to focus on helping people through Personal Training, traditional mat Pilates and sustainable wellbeing. That change reflected my growing belief that exercise should support your whole health—not just your fitness.

My personal journey…

Like many people, my relationship with exercise hasn’t always been healthy.

In my late teens and twenties, I believed exercise was all about becoming thinner. I spent years eating too little, doing excessive cardio and believing that exercise had to be hard to be worthwhile. Looking back, I can see how much I had absorbed the messages of diet culture.

After qualifying as a Gym Instructor, I taught high-energy Spin and Kettlebell classes. I loved teaching and the sense of community, but over time I realised my own relationship with exercise needed to change.

I wanted movement to enhance my life—not exhaust it.

Everything changed when I qualified as a Level 3 Mat Pilates Instructor in 2016.

Pilates introduced me to a slower, more mindful way of exercising that focused on breathing, posture, control, strength and movement quality rather than simply burning calories.

I went on to establish fully booked mat Pilates classes in Beeston and later created my online Pure Pilates membership so people could continue moving from home.

In 2019, I qualified as a Level 3 Personal Trainer, allowing me to support clients in their own homes with practical, enjoyable strength training that fits around everyday life.

My approach to movement…

Movement has always fascinated me, but what I enjoy most is helping people rediscover confidence in their body.

Over the last 10 years I’ve worked with people of all ages and abilities, supporting them through Pilates, personal training and exercise programmes tailored to their individual needs.

More recently my work is evolving into Exercise Rehabilitation, helping people recover from pain, improve mobility and build long-term strength through personalised exercise.

As an Exercise Rehabilitation Practitioner, I work alongside chiropractors and other healthcare professionals to help patients continue their recovery beyond treatment, supporting them to move well, feel stronger and regain confidence in everyday life.

Whether you’re joining one of my Pilates classes, looking for one-to-one support or beginning a rehabilitation programme, my aim is always the same:

To help you move with confidence and enjoy a healthier, more active life.

Qualifications

  • L2 Gym Instructor 2013
  • L2 Exercise to Music 2014
  • L3 & L4 Sports Massage 2015
  • L3 Mat Based Pilates 2016
  • L3 Personal Training 2019
  • L3 Pre & Post Natal Exercise 2021
  • L3 Supporting Clients with Long Term Health Conditions 2022
  • Plus CPD – Pilates with equipment, Kettlebell Instructor, L2 Spin instructor