Pilates at The Shard

My first experience with pop-up pilates or yoga in an iconic London building, was Power Pilates At The View From The Shard hosted by Julie Sullivan.

I had only been doing pilates for 2 months when I signed up to do pilates 800ft above London. No-one can say I don’t aim high.

I took along my friend and Rapid Transformational Therapy therapist, Kim Wilson. Kim did a RTT session with me on 26 January 2019, and I haven’t been the same since. Taking along the hypnotherapist that got me over my total aversion to exercise, was only fitting. “See Kim, I really truly love exercise now. Thank you so much for helping me get over my issues!”. Kim is on the left, and I’m the one on the right wearing stripes.

Julie’s pilates class was good with a mix of challenging and easy moves, using a small pilates ball. It was great looking out of the huge windows and seeing London from above – it certainly helped to distract me from donkey kicks with a ball clenched in the crook of my knee!

The only down side for me was the close proximity to other attendees. The mats were laid out in two rows all facing the window. I was in the back row (I love being in the back) but the mat in front of me was placed in front of a pillar which pushed it out of line with all the other front row mats, and therefor much closer to me. I had a foot in my face for a big part of the class.

At the end of the class we were able to wander around the viewing platform without any other tourists to appreciate the view from the 69th floor. It wasn’t the clearest of mornings so my photos look a bit grey, but you get the idea. The Power Pilates ticket included entrance to the viewing platform, pilates class and we received a gift voucher from Sweaty Betty. Score!

Kim and I ended our morning with breakfast at Rabot 1745.

Chocolate muesli and hot chocolate with my hypnotherapist friend was a great way to end the morning. Highly recommended.

Instructor: Julie Sullivan of HG1 pilates. Julie is also a Stretch Ambassador for Sweaty Betty Harrogate.

Location: Viewing platform of The Shard, Joiner Street, London, SE1 9QU

Time: 08:15 – 09:15

Date attended: Saturday 6 April 2019

Yoga mat provided: Yes

Good to know: If you are in the back row, stay clear of the mats in the front row laid out in front of a pillar.

If you like doing yoga in quirky places, outside, or in iconic London buildings, check out my list of Funky places to do yoga and pilates around London.