Trauma-Informed Pilates
Movement That Honors Your Body, Your Boundaries, and Your Story
Trauma-informed Pilates isn’t about a specific set of exercises… it’s about how we approach movement together. It means you always have choices, your body autonomy is respected, and the studio is a space where you can move without pressure, judgment, or assumptions about what you “should” be able to do.
At Havenwell Pilates, trauma-informed teaching is built into every session. This means offering options for different movements so you can choose what feels right for your body. It means asking permission before using touch to cue or adjust. It means recognizing that movement can sometimes bring up emotions—and that’s okay. You’re not broken, and you don’t need to push through anything that doesn’t feel safe.
Our instructors are trained in the brain’s trauma response and the neuroscience behind it, which helps us understand how our bodies hold and process experiences. But here’s what we’re not: therapists. What we can offer is a space where your nervous system gets to feel safe, where you have full control over your choices, and where movement becomes something empowering rather than something to endure. If you’re curious about how our founder, Allie, was led toward trauma-informed approaches, you can read about her journey here.
Private Pilates sessions are ideal for a trauma-informed approach
In a private session, we move at your pace. There’s no pressure to keep up with a class, no eyes on you except your instructor’s (and only when you’re comfortable with that), and no expectation that you’ll do anything that doesn’t feel right. You get to:
- Choose your level of challenge for every single exercise
- Pause or modify without explanation
- Build trust with your body in a space that feels emotionally safe
- Work with an instructor who understands that healing isn’t linear
Private sessions give us the time and space to listen to what your body needs—not just physically, but emotionally too.
How is Havenwell Pilates different?
Not all Pilates instructors are trained in trauma-informed practices, and not all studios prioritize emotional safety alongside physical movement. At Havenwell, we recognize that:
- Your body has a story, and movement can be complicated
- Autonomy and choice aren’t optional—they’re essential
- Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is say “not today”
- Building strength isn’t just physical; it’s also about reclaiming trust in your body
We also offer on-demand movement collections if you’d like to experience our teaching style from the comfort of your own space before committing to private sessions. Every collection includes modifications and options, so you’re never stuck with a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s a low-pressure way to see if our trauma-informed approach feels right for you.
Who is this for?
Trauma-informed Pilates is for anyone who needs movement to feel safe first. You might be:
- Recovering from medical trauma or surgery
- Navigating PTSD, anxiety, or a history that shows up in your body
- Healing from an eating disorder or complicated relationship with exercise
- Dealing with chronic pain that’s left you feeling disconnected from your body
- Simply tired of fitness spaces that don’t feel emotionally safe
If you’ve ever felt like you need to explain yourself, apologize for your limitations, or push through discomfort to “keep up,” this is your permission to move differently.
Ready to move in a way that feels safe?
Request your private Pilates session and let’s talk about what trauma-informed movement can look like for you.
