The Luma Blog

Returning to movement after birth takes more care than most people expect. Here is what postnatal Pilates and Yoga actually looks like, and how Luma approaches it.

The transversus abdominis, multifidus, pelvic floor and diaphragm all contribute to trunk control. Here is what they do and where Pilates fits.

Luma is a boutique studio with small classes. The way it works well for everyone depends on a few straightforward things. Here's what they are and why they matter.

The evidence base for Pilates is real but uneven. Some benefits are fairly well supported. Others are plausible but much harder to prove. A few things the industry regularly claims don't hold up well on closer inspection. Here’s what the research actually shows.

Sciatica is something Lucia sees regularly at Luma. Here's what Pilates can and can't do for sciatic pain, how to approach it safely, and when to seek advice first.

Hypermobility is more common than people realise, and Pilates is one of the most consistently recommended forms of exercise for it. But the approach matters. Here's what you need to know.

Anyone can call themselves a Pilates instructor. Here's what separates a comprehensively trained instructor from a weekend course, and why it matters.

The women I see making the most consistent physical progress at Luma are often in their fifties and sixties. Not despite their age. Because of what they bring to the practice.

After 26 years of teaching, I've heard almost every reason someone gives for putting off their first Reformer class. Most of them aren't true. Here's what actually is.

A practical, no-nonsense guide to what actually happens when you start Reformer Pilates while recovering from an injury, from what to tell us before you book through to how classes are adapted around you.

The progression through Luma's class levels is deliberate. Each one builds on the last, and moving through them in order produces better long-term results than jumping ahead. Here’s what to expect at each stage.

Reformer Pilates is one of the most effective forms of exercise available, but it can be hard to know where to start. This guide covers everything: what the Reformer does, who it's for, how it compares to other movement practices, and how to find your way into a consistent practice at Luma Pilates in Edinburgh's New Town.

Menopause changes the body in ways that most exercise programmes are not designed to address. Reformer Pilates and Yoga are two of the most effective tools available during this transition. Here’s why, from someone who knows firsthand.

Shoulder and neck pain affects almost everyone at some point. For most people, it's not a structural problem. It's a muscular one. And that's exactly what Pilates is designed to fix.

Long hours in the saddle compress the thoracic spine, shorten the hip flexors, and create the muscular imbalances that lead to injury. Reformer Pilates addresses all of it, directly and consistently.

Reformer and Mat Pilates share the same principles but offer different experiences and different results. Here is an honest account of what each does well and when to choose one over the other.

The benefits of Pilates and Yoga for stress and anxiety are not vague or anecdotal. They are specific, well-understood, and consistent. Here’s how each practice works and why they are most powerful together.

They use similar-looking machines, they're both low-impact, and they both show up in boutique studios. But Lagree and Reformer Pilates are genuinely different methods, with different histories, philosophies, and outcomes. Here's what you need to know.

Both practices have a genuine claim on posture. But they work differently, suit different bodies, and produce different results. Here's how to choose. Or why you might not have to.

The evidence is clear: moving well during pregnancy matters. Lucia Poulter explains how Reformer Pilates adapts from the first trimester through to birth, and how Kat Aydin's prenatal Yoga sessions complement the work.