What Slow Living Means to Me – and How Pilates Supports It
For four years, I worked in the fast-paced world of motorsport - constantly on the road, fuelled by adrenaline, coffee, and countless nights in foreign hotels. On paper, it sounded exciting, but the reality was completely different: long days, late nights, living off processed food, and a complete disconnection from my body. I was always "on," always rushing to the next event and underneath it all I felt exhausted, unhealthy, and like I’d completely lost who I was. It took its toll on me, and eventually, I knew something had to change.
The one thing that kept me slightly in-tune with myself was pilates. It was a moment of ‘me time’ - 20minutes on a hotel room floor, just me, a towel, and movement. It gave me a moment to come back to myself.
I knew I wanted to quit my job and leave motorsport, but I had no idea what came next. Then one morning, completely out of the blue, I woke up and said to my mum, "I think I’m going to do a Pilates qualification." And just like that, everything changed. The decision to teach came almost overnight, but looking back, the craving for ‘a slow life’ had been building quietly for a long time. The rest, as they say, is history.
What is Slow Living?
To me, slow living isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing things with intention. It’s choosing to be present rather than just productive. It’s savouring a quiet morning coffee, soaking up the sun, or cooking a meal with loved ones. It’s about noticing the way your body moves, or how it feels when you take a deep breath and finally let go.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m far from perfect, my life isn’t free of to-do lists or busy days, I often find myself squirrelling away on my laptop at 10pm working on my next big idea, but around those moments of crazy I do try to live in a way that feels calm, grounded, and connected to what truly matters to me.
Where Pilates Comes In
Pilates has become one of the biggest changes in my journey to a slower life. It's a form of movement that asks you to listen rather than push through. You can’t rush pilates. It meets you exactly where you are - whether that’s energised, tired, emotional, or somewhere in between.
In my own practice, and in my classes, I see how taking time to move slowly and with intention can completely shift your day. Pilates reminds you to tune into your breath, to move from your centre, to be present in your body.
And that presence? That’s the heart of slow living.
The Little Things
Some of my favourite slow moments include:
Starting the day with a few moments in the fresh air, just listening to the birds
That first sip of coffee in the morning when the world is still quiet
Watering my houseplants and checking in on how they’re looking
Taking my mat outside and moving my body in the sun
Lighting a candle at the end of a long day
It’s not about big rituals or ‘instagram worthy’ routines. It’s the little moments of peace that help me feel like I’m living with life, not just rushing through it.
An Invitation
If you’re craving a bit more stillness in life, I encourage you to find your version of slow. Maybe it’s five minutes of quiet before your day begins. Maybe it’s a weekly pilates class where you come back to your breath. Maybe it’s learning to move in a way that feels kind, not punishing.
Slow living isn’t something you achieve – it’s something you gently return to, moment by moment.
Hannah x
