In our latest “Why I Move” series, we feature Lottie Anderson, the visionary behind Bondi Rise Pilates. Lottie founded Bondi Rise Pilates with a mission to connect people worldwide through the power of movement. By establishing her studio and creating a global online Pilates platform, she aims to provide everyone with access to high-quality, effective workouts, anytime and anywhere. Lottie’s lifelong passion for movement and exercise led her to Pilates, where she discovered the transformative impact these exercises can have on both 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 do you move?
Moving makes me feel my absolute best. I move to feel strong, to feel healthy, to relieve stress, but moving also enables me to connect and socialise with our lovely community at Bondi Rise, both in-studio and online. Moving is a way of life, and something I love to do.
What are some of your earliest recollections 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 from an early age, they were there on the side lines cheering me on!
Tell us how Bondi Rise Pilates came to be?
Having lived in Australia, I was immersed in the wellness and fitness culture and fell in love with that way of living! I soon became addicted to Pilates and how it was changing both 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 we moved back to the UK from Bondi Beach, I knew I wanted to bring a slice of Bondi back 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 sunrise in Bondi was a magical time with everyone out walking, running, surfing, and the buzz of exercise was infectious. I wanted to create that same feeling of excitement around exercise in a UK Pilates studio.
How has your own fitness journey evolved over the years?
Before I moved to Australia, I was heavily 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 turned upside down! I started reformer Pilates and realised I didn’t need to spend hours in the gym. Instead, I could spend 50 minutes at Pilates, which delivered amazing results for my body. Plus, I left feeling calm and relaxed. I still enjoy running and Barry’s Bootcamp, but I realised my body and mind respond better to Pilates and bodyweight exercises, as opposed to intense training with heavy weights and high-intensity workouts.
What do you hope people gain from attending a Bondi Rise Pilates class?
I hope people leave our Pilates classes feeling empowered, energised, and part of a vibrant community. We want everyone to gain strength, flexibility, and a deep sense of well-being, both physically and mentally. Our small group classes ensure that each person gets personalised attention and the most out of their workout. Most importantly, at Bondi Rise we aim for 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 utilise food to fuel you throughout your long days in the studio?
Whilst I know nutrition is super important, and last year I spent time with a nutritionist before my wedding, from which I saw HUGE benefits, I am guilty of grabbing meals on the go. However, last year I implemented some really healthy habits from the nutritionist and realised the importance of protein, so I always make sure my meals and snacks are high in protein as this keeps my energy levels up! My favourite meal is granola and Greek yogurt mixed with chocolate protein powder topped with berries, and I will happily eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner…! I am really lucky that my husband is an amazing chef and enjoys cooking, so he always makes sure our dinners are colourful, well-balanced, and tasty. I am actually working with the same nutritionist on creating some amazing recipes for our Bondi Rise community.
Reformer and mat aside, do you enjoy any other forms of movement in your routine?
I love walking! I love walking Gus, my dog, with my husband Ben and we are really lucky to live so close to the Thames and Bushy park. As I am writing this, I am in the car on my way to the Peak District with the family to do some hiking! 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 the business, listen to a podcast, and a great way to catch up with family and friends with a phone call.
Having lived both in Sydney and in London, what’s one thing Aussies do better and one thing Brits do better when it comes to wellness?
The day starts so much earlier in Sydney! It’s so common to meet a friend for a coffee and walk or do a workout class before 7am. It feels like you have a whole morning before your workday has even started! If I am really honest… Sydney does wellness so much better than we do here in the UK. There are boutique, independent studios on every street corner and they are really accessible to everyone. Whereas it feels like there are a lot more lock-in membership chains here in the UK (which is a good thing if you’re after everything under one roof!), I prefer the smaller boutique studios where you’re part of a community!
What are the fitness essentials you can’t be without?
Black Lululemon super high waisted Align pants, Pilates grippy socks (I even wear these as normal socks!!), a huge water bottle and my apple watch to track my steps and activity…otherwise did you really do your 10k steps or Pilates workout!
