Pilates in Exeter with
Fiona Swan
Welcome to my Pilates classes at Powderham Castle, Alphington Community Theatre, and livestreamed online.
Pilates for beginners
Personal Training
Why practice Pilates?
​​​​​​​​Fiona's Pilates classes are suitable for all levels, from beginners to intermediate. In all sessions, the exercises are layered from easy (Level 1) to more challenging (Level 3), ensuring that everyone can practice Pilates effectively and get the best possible results. ​​​​​​
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​​​​​​Pilates is a low-impact way to stretch and strengthen the whole body. The controlled and focused movements are an effective way to improve body strength, along with the range of movement around joints. It's also great for balance, agility, and coordination, which become increasingly important with age.
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Pilates may also help you enhance other sports and activities, such as golf, gardening, and paddle sports like kayaking.
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Pilates is based on the 34 original Joseph Pilates mat-based exercises, stretching and strengthening all muscle groups, leading to improvements in muscle mass and bone density. Pilates is particularly effective in managing 'non-specific' lower back issues and a great way to correct any postural issues. ​​
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​To ensure that individuals get the most out of Pilates, I offer separate classes at Powderham Castle & Alphington Community Theatre Room for beginner and intermediate levels. This enables everyone to start at an appropriate level and make good progress.
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​​​​If you prefer exercise at home, I also offer livestreamed classes on Monday at 8.15am and Wednesday at 8.45 am. This enables Pilates to fit around your lifestyle and make use of any equipment you have. The class has an upper body strengthening element using 1 to 3K hand weights. ​
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Alternatively, you may be interested in personal training sessions. As a trainer who specialises in exercise for older people, functional fitness, and some neurological conditions, I can develop an exercise programme to meet your specific requirements. If you would like to discuss, please do get in touch. Contact Fiona
Hope to meet you soon.​​
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​ Fiona
About Fiona
Fiona enjoys working with individuals to help improve health and fitness - both in class and the great outdoors.
Fiona is a Personal Trainer Practitioner registered with the Charted Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA). She is also a Level 3 Mat-Based Pilates instructor, with a Level 4 specialist qualification in Exercise for Lower Back Pain.
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With a particular interest in exercise for older people and functional strength training, Fiona is especially aware of the importance of maintaining the many components of fitness, particularly for those aged 40 and onwards. Where possible, strength, agility, and balance training are incorporated into all classes.
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As an outdoor enthusiast, Fiona is also a Hill and Moorland Walk Leader, providing local interest walks across Devon & Dartmoor. She also teaches Nordic walking and 'forest fitness' at beautiful Haldon Forest Park. Fiona is also a keen kayaker and is a Paddle Sport Leader with Teignbridge Canoe Club.
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For more about Fiona's outdoor fitness classes and guided walks, please see www.nordicwalkingdevon.co.uk
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Whatever your motivation for exercise, I hope you will consider my classes, as they really are suitable for everyone. Exercising with others, with guided instruction, is a great motivator, and the varied exercises within the sessions may provide that extra bit of challenge you're looking for. Or reach those parts of the body you never knew existed!
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​​​​​Registered with CIMSPA, the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity, enhanced DBS checked, and fully insured.
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The power of Pilates - what real life clients are saying
​"I have found Fiona's Pilates classes very helpful and enjoyable. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 18 months ago and the stretching from Pilates has been invaluable! I also had a plantar fasciitis, but after 3 weeks of Fiona's Pilates it has gone!
Thank you Fiona!" Louise Knapman – April 2026
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​“Fiona is an excellent teacher, I love my classes and my body really feels it if I have to miss a session. I have noticed a significant benefit to my strength and flexibility. I always feel better after a class, it’s a very friendly environment with Fiona explaining everything really well and checking at intervals to make sure you’re doing it right. I’m really glad I found her classes.” Jacqui Dart – March 2026
​“Fiona’s Pilates class has been amazing for my back problem. Last year I was on a waiting list to see a spinal surgeon. I started doing Fiona’s beginner's Pilates class in September, and within a couple of months, the pain and numbness had gone, and I no longer needed to see the spinal surgeon! I love the class, Fiona is an excellent teacher and tailors the exercises to individual abilities. It has certainly helped me and I feel the benefits every day.” Catherine Lewis – March 2026
How to get started
Joseph Pilates
Pilates is a 'physical fitness system' developed by Joseph Pilates, born in Germany in 1880. He devised 34 mat-based exercises, which now feature in modern-day Pilates classes.​​​
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Pilates is recognised as an effective way to improve
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Strength
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Flexibility
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Mobility
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Balance and coordination
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Posture ​
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Find out more ​