In our last series “Why I Move”, we presented Lottie Andersonthe visionary behind Bondi Rise Pilates. Lottie founded Bondi Rise Pilates with the mission of connecting people around the world through the power of movement. By establishing his studio and creating a global online Pilates platform, he aims to provide everyone with access to high-quality, effective workouts, anytime, anywhere. Lottie’s lifelong passion for movement and exercise led her to Pilates, where she discovered the transformative impact these exercises can have on the body and mind. Join us as we delve into Lottie’s journey and her dedication to bringing the benefits of Pilates to a global audience.
Why are you moving?
Movement makes me feel my absolute best. I move to feel strong, to feel healthy, to relieve stress, but movement also allows me to connect and socialize with our beautiful community at Bondi Rise, both in the studio and online. Movement is a way of life, and something I love to do.
What are some of your earliest memories of physical activity as a child?
I have always been active, and growing up I always said yes to trying a new sport or physical activity. My parents are also really active and have always encouraged and supported me, so when I started playing team sports at an early age, they were there on the side lines cheering me on!
Tell us how Bondi Rise Pilates came about?
After living in Australia, I was immersed in the wellness and fitness culture and fell in love with that way of life! I soon became addicted to Pilates and how it was changing my body and mind. Initially, I trained for my own personal practice, but I quickly fell in love with sharing my passion for Pilates with others and became an instructor. Before returning to the UK from Bondi Beach, I knew I wanted to bring a slice of Bondi with me in the form of Pilates and to continue the wellness lifestyle I loved in Australia. The name “Bondi” came from the place I love, Bondi Beach, and “Rise” came from “sunrise”, as the sunrise in Bondi was a magical time with everyone walking, running, surfing, and the buzz of the exercise was infectious. I wanted to create the same sense of excitement around exercise in a Pilates studio in the UK.
How has your own fitness journey evolved over the years?
Before moving to Australia, I was very into running, body pump and HIIT classes at the gym. The year before I moved to Sydney, I ran the London Marathon, which was an amazing experience. Then I moved to Sydney, and my whole fitness journey came crashing down! I started reformer Pilates and I realized that I didn’t need to spend hours in the gym. Instead, I could spend 50 minutes at Pilates, which gave amazing results for my body. Plus, I left feeling calm and relaxed. I still love running and Barry’s Bootcamp, but I’ve realized that my body and mind respond better to Pilates and bodyweight exercises, as opposed to intense training with heavy weights and high-intensity training.
What do you hope people gain from attending a Bondi Rise Pilates class?
I hope people leave our Pilates classes feeling empowered, energized and part of a vibrant community. We want everyone to gain strength, flexibility and a deep sense of well-being, physically and mentally. Our small group classes ensure that each person receives personalized attention and gets the most out of their workout. Most importantly, at Bondi Rise we want everyone to have fun, feel connected, and leave with a smile, ready to take on the day with confidence and positivity! I want people to feel that buzz I felt at sunrise on Bondi Beach!
Nutrition plays an important supporting role for movement… how do you use food to fuel yourself in your long days in the studio?
While I know nutrition is super important, and last year I spent time with a nutritionist before my wedding, from whom I saw HUGE benefits, I am guilty of taking meals on the go. However, last year I implemented some really healthy habits from the nutritionist and I realized the importance of protein, so I always make sure that my meals and snacks are rich in proteins this keeps my energy levels up! My favorite meal is granola and Greek yogurt mixed with chocolate protein powder with berries, and I will happily eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner…! I’m really lucky that my husband is an amazing chef and loves to cook, so he always makes sure our dinners are colorful, balanced and tasty. I am actually working with the same nutritionist to create some wonderful recipes for our Bondi Rise community.
Reformer and mat aside, do you enjoy some other form of movement in your routine?
I like to walk! I love walking Gus, my dog, with my husband Ben and we are really lucky to live so close to Thames and Bushy park. As I write this, I’m in the car on my way to the Peak District with the family for a walk! I also try to walk to the studio when the weather is good, which is about 30 minutes. For me, walking is a way to clear my mind, think about business, listen to a podcast, and a great way to catch up with family and friends with a phone call.
Having lived in Sydney and London, what’s one thing Aussies do best and one thing Brits do best when it comes to wellness?
The day starts so early in Sydney! It is so common to meet a friend for a coffee and walk or do a training class before 7 o’clock. It looks like you have a whole morning before your work day has even started! If I’m really honest…Sydney does welfare a lot better than we do here in the UK. There are boutiques, independent studios on every street corner and they are truly accessible to everyone. While there seem to be a lot more lock-in membership chains here in the UK (which is a good thing if you’re under one roof after all!), I prefer the smaller boutique studios where you’re part of a community !
What are the fitness essentials you can’t live without?
Black Lululemon super high waisted Align pants, tight Pilates socks (I even wear these as normal socks!!), a huge water bottle and my Apple Watch to track my steps and activity…otherwise you really did your 10k steps or pilates workout!