Bunny Randall
About Bunny
As a child I always wanted to be a gymnast and loved dancing and generally being active. Watching gymnastics on TV encouraged me to stand forcing a curve in my lower back like the gymnasts could do. Move on into adulthood and working life with long days desk bound for many years (20+ years) being a Graphic Designer made my body dysfunctional and my posture terrible. From sitting so much my already curved lower back was enforced into this posture for hours and hours a week with often 10-12 hour days and my shortened hip flexors got shorter, my lengthened Glutes got weaker.
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Whenever possible my passion for sport and exercise was part of my routine and usually daily would involve a run or a group exercise class. Hammering lots of sports with bad posture, then sitting for hours on end with very limited stretching didn’t work well. Having suffered a series of sports related injuries over the years, with two back injuries, Pilates and Yoga both helped me to bring my body back to balance and made me passionate about this form of controlled exercise and movement. Pilates and Yoga are a big part of my weekly routine now and became such a passion that my love for these two disciplines encouraged me to want to teach and share with others. My body feels much more in balance and the impact stuff feels much easier now as the core strength is there and everything works correctly.
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APPI qualified Pilates instructor Bunny Randall –
in studio and on demand classes
After a break from Pilates following my move to Andover, my love for Pilates was again reunited following a terrible year suffering the crippling pain of sciatica from a sports related injury. Being thrown tablets and endless phone calls crying to the doctor to do something I started my own diagnoses and also my own rehab routine of stretching to make my body well again so daily life could function. Throughout this year of pain my body had become so weak as walking, standing and sitting was very painful and all my sport had to stop. I had a limp and also couldn’t sleep as the pain was so bad. A really terrible time. So after about a year of feeling very sorry for myself without knowing where to turn my journey to recovery daily Pilates began, slowly my body started to feel normal again and the pain started to go as I strengthened and stretched the right bits.Looking back if the right help and support was available and I knew then what I know now there certainly would not of been as much pain and suffering for so long.
Rehab work is never instant but consistency and perseverance always pays off.
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Well on the road to recovery and always with an interest in the human form and exercise, I decided that I wanted to help others by understanding the benefits of Pilates and Yoga and help reduce pain that people suffer with every day. With research, training and a lot of hours of studying I qualified as a teacher of Pilates (qualified 2016) and Yoga (qualified 2018) now I can help others on the road to recovery. Totally giving up my desk job my passion for helping others really has come alive.
There is a real buzz from the way I watch clients bodies get stronger and their posture improve. Reducing their daily pain and the ability to lead a functional life is HIGH on my agenda for all my clients no matter what the goal. Having lived with acute debilitating pain for so long quality of life is key.
Believing that every person no matter of age, size, sex, experience, injury, disease and flexibility should make movement (even if modified) part of their weekly routine. Pilates and Yoga are my passions and I want it to be yours too.
Pilates Reformer and Large Equipment studio
My Pilates Reformer career began with one Reformer in my lounge and 121 and rehab sessions began. Soon realising how much 121 and rehab work helped others this became more of a focus in my week.
With one Reformer, the client and I would work on a routine of carefully planned lessons that were tailored to them. In September 2018 taking the plunge and making a large investment one room in my house was converted to a home studio which holds 3 Reformers, 1 Wunda Chair, 1 fuse ladder, 1 Cadilac and 2 Towers (as well as loads of other pieces of equipment) to start small group classes as well as a dedicated space for 121 clients and sessions. The progression of clients posture and strength is amazing to watch and like bamboo growing I can see progress week on week. A whole new buzz to my career had been born.
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Both forms of exercise have helped me through many injuries and tweaks and now help to prevent them reappearing. Having the large equipment on hand at home to use with my family and benefit from is great and enjoying how exercise can bring enjoyment and energy into family dynamics.
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If you asked me which I love more, Pilates mat or Reformer, Pilates or Yoga. It would be difficult to answer, all of the disciplines have different benefits. Mat and Apparatus Pilates are very different but both great in their own ways. Yoga helps stretch and strengthen our body and encourage our mind to relax too. I do all of these several times a week and really can feel the benefits to my body on a daily basis. Bringing flexibility and strength helps performing every day activities easy.
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A good Pilates and Yoga teacher will know exactly the right exercises and stretches to give you and can work closely with other professionals to achieve recovery. The pilates large equipment is a safe way to work your body for rehabilitation and I have marathon runners, prenatal, postnatal as well as 75+ year olds coming and working on the machines – all with great results.
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121 sessions and classes are very popular so please contact for details. Please don't live in pain thinking it is just how life is.
Having a back injury (2 in fact) that limits what my body can do on a daily life aspect but also from an exercise aspect lead me to find Calisthenics. I had found a way to enjoy exercise again at a higher level with no impact or pressure on my back. Calisthenics is not known to many and it is body weight exercises usually using full body strength.
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After rehab and wanting a form of exercise I could do around a bad back I started Calisthenics in 2019. Initially to try and learn to handstand, then the love grew when I learnt more about the sport. Slowly with time and effort some of the skills that were never imaginable to me have become possible. The skills are endless and it is a very fun way to build strength, exercise and is a great community. I have friends all over the country and aspire to be as strong as some of them one day. The support and friendship that has been gained during this time to meet and exercise, fall and laugh together has been the saviour for my mental health on many occasions.
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During lockdown Calisthenics boomed as exercise was accessible with limited equipment at home. Pull up bars flew off the shelves and were difficult to find for a time. It was great to see more and more people getting involved in bodyweight training.
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In early 2021 I decided that I wanted to share this passion with others and searched and searched for a qualification but most instructors were not teaching qualifications any more. And after lots of searching and emails patience and persistence paid off and in June 2022 I gained my qualification to become a Calisthenics Coach. Now able to blend some skills with any of my clients who want to learn. Also offering 121 Calisthenics Coaching and staring monthly workshops in October 2022 in Andover.
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Qualifications:
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Pilates Level 3
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Pilates Reformer APPI instructor
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Yoga 200 hour & Level 3
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Personal Trainer
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Hypopressives Instructor
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Calisthenics Coach
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Nutrition Level 3 & 4
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Meditation 50 hour
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Yin Yoga 20 hour
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Mindfulness 20 hour
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Reformer on the Mat APPI
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Level 2 in Gym Instructing
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Adapting exercise for Ante and Post Natal clients Level 3
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Anatomy and Physiology for exercise and health Level 3
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Principles of Exercise, Fitness and Health – Level 2
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Know How to support clients who take part in exercise and physical activity Level 2
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Health, safety and welfare in a fitness environment Level 2
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Teaching and adapting exercise for 5-17 year olds Level 2
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Advanced CPD in modern Post Natal Assessment, Core Restore & Functional Exercise Programming
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First Aid for sport
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Strong to the Core Pelvic Floor
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Core Exercise Solutions Pelvic Floor Course
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BodyBalance (Thai Chi, Yoga and Pilates)
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Exercise to Music Level 2
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TRX Suspension Training Coach
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Advanced Diploma in Nutrition and Weight Management Level 4
– Nutrition and Weight Management
– Behaviour Change Coaching
– Nutrition for Sport and Exercise
– Childhood Nutrition and Obesity Prevention
– Pre- and Postnatal Nutrition
– Nutrition for Older Adults
– Vegan, vegetarian and Plant Based Diets
Pilates and Yoga classes held in Andover and Whitchurch, Hampshire.
Home Pilates Large Apparatus Studio based in Andover. 1-1 /1-2 or 1-3 sessions.
Yin Yoga and Sound Gong Bath at Longparish once a month.
Pilates Reformer 1-1 classes over zoom and on demand.
Calisthenics 121 and workshops.
Online weekly Pilates, Yoga and fitness classes.
Personal Training
APPI qualified Reformer Instructor – Bunny Randall
