Kat Hesse

In my home region, the Harz-mountains of Germany, breathing fresh air and exercise is part of everyday life. Walking in deep forests, sledging in snowy mountains and cycling along sunny paths... for me, life is movement and movement is life.

Exercise has always been important to me. I was a competitive swimmer, hiked, ran, did some horse riding, loved yoga, even tried self-defence, and then discovered a passion for ballet and modern dance.

In 1987 I discovered Pilates. Initially I needed it for a dance-related knee injury but it soon became a passion - living in London had taken its toll by that time and Pilates helped me to regain my posture, breathing and general sense of wellbeing.

I eventually decided to turn my passion into my profession and trained as a Pilates teacher at The Place in London with Hana Jones, Susanne Lahusen and Sonja Noonan, as well as with the physiotherapist Carole Traole and yoga teacher Gary Carter.

I soon became interested in release-based movement therapy: Habitual movements can lead to patterns of tension which are often felt as discomfort or pain. Myofascial release through movement offers a long-term solution. I have trained extensively in this area with the osteopath and yoga teacher John Stirk and with Doug Keller, whose unique work combines myofascial release with yoga. I also incorporate elements from ideokinesis to facilitate neuo-muscular re-education.

But I also enjoy dancing through life - occasionally even with a feather boa! My work as a Lebed instructor combines therapeutic movement with joyous dancing. It is a wonderful movement therapy that was developed originally for those with breast cancer, but has since become popular with those with lymphoedema, RA, MS, Alzheimer's and the elderly.

My love for plants and nature has inspired me to take a BSc in Herbal Medicine at the University of Westminster. Herbal Medicine combines orthodox medical sciences with therapeutic knowledge about plants and offers me a deeper insight into common pathologies I see in my classes.

I have come full circle: I live once again in the beautiful countryside - although my present home, Suffolk, is flat rather than mountainous. Nowadays, exercise is my profession, not just a hobby. And taking time to breathe deeply whilst looking at the beautiful sunrises and sunsets reminds me every day of how lucky I am to work in a field I am passionate about - exercise and breathing.

Kat