My Story
With my roots in the Netherlands but a deep fondness for Norway, I founded iris.pilates in 2026 in Tranby, Lier.
About Iris
For years, I thought I was simply stiff.
I struggled with chronic pain in my hips, knees and lower back, and no matter how active I was, my body never seemed to move the way I wanted it to. Certain muscles just wouldn't switch on, while others worked overtime to compensate. I was doing all the right exercises to get stronger, but my body still didn't move the way I wanted it to.
But then, discovering Pilates back in 2016 changed my approach to movement.
Instead of wondering "How can I get stronger?" I became fascinated by "Why is my body moving this way?" I started learning how the feet influence the hips, how breathing affects the pelvic floor, how the deep stabilising muscles support the spine, and how everything in the body works together rather than in isolation.
That curiosity eventually led me to become a STOTT-certified Reformer Pilates instructor and it completely changed the way I think about movement. I'm still learning new things everyday, and the human body never stops fascinating me. I believe that understanding why your body moves the way it does is just as important as the exercises themselves.
That's why I work one-to-one.
Every body has its own story. The way you stand, breathe, compensate, and move is shaped by your lifestyle, injuries, pregnancies, habits, and experiences. Understanding that takes time, careful observation, and a personalised approach.
Rather than following a fixed programme, I begin by understanding how your body moves. From there, I design each session around what you need most, whether that's improving posture, rebuilding core and pelvic floor function, reducing pain, or developing the strength to move through everyday life with greater ease and confidence.
My goal isn't simply to guide you through exercises. It's to help you understand your body, move with more awareness,, and build strength that supports you for years to come.
After all, strength isn't the goal. Moving well is.
Working together
The first session begins with observation. I look at how you stand, breathe, walk, and move before deciding what your body needs. From there, we build a programme that evolves with you, helping you develop strength, improve posture, and create better movement patterns that carry over into everyday life.
The first session
The Reformer is the equipment I use to make that possible. Its adjustable springs allow exercises to be adapted to your body, whether you need more support, more challenge, or somewhere in between. This means every session can be adapted as you progress, while remaining kind to your joints.
The Reformer
My approach is rooted in the STOTT Pilates method, which combines the original principles of Joseph Pilates with contemporary knowledge of biomechanics, posture, and movement. I use these principles to design personalised sessions that build strength, improve movement, and increase your body confidence over time.
The Pilates method
Although my native language is Dutch, I completed my Pilates education in English and have been teaching in English for many years. I'm learning Norwegian every day and hope to teach in Norwegian in the future. Until then, I'll be happy to guide you through your sessions in English.