Hear first-hand how clinical Pilates can elevate every healthcare career

Insights from our expert Educator, Physiotherapist and Founder of Have Movement, Eva Heraud

If you’ve ever wondered what it would look like to integrate clinical Pilates into your existing practice as an allied health professional, Eva is here to give you the answers! You’ve definitely heard about the impact, importance and endless benefits of clinical Pilates by now - and the increasing need for health professionals to add it to their skill sets to incorporate into the holistic, effective management approach you use to improve your patients’ outcomes.

But seeing the power of Pilates in action? That’s something else entirely! 

Meet Unite Health Educator, Eva

Eva is a Unite Health Educator, helping hundreds of allied health professionals upskill and elevate their careers with our APPI Clinical Pilates Certification and APPI Pilates Instructor Certification each year. She’s had such an interesting and inspiring career to day, and she’s sharing her greatest advice, insights and learnings with YOU, to show you just how important it is to upskill with clinical Pilates. So you too can add it to your toolkit and use your newfound knowledge to open up endless new career opportunities.

Eva brings a whole-person approach to movement, grounded in clinical reasoning and curiosity. Her work integrates Pilates, breath, and biomechanics, underpinned by a belief that movement is medicine. She has a particular passion for feet, calling them “the gateway to understanding human movement”, and uses this lens to help people reconnect with how their bodies move from the ground up.

Eva’s integration of Pilates into her work as a physio has achieved incredible results

With over 20 years of experience as a physiotherapist, Eva has studied many movement practices - Pilates and physiotherapy being the obvious, alongside AiM, Feldenkrais and DNS. She’s completed courses in women’s health, feet and biomechanics, breathing and more, and shares her learnings and wisdom with both her peers and clients - and our students! 

Eva’s present day career…

Eva now works with a diverse range of clients across private practice, NDIS and Aged Care, offering tailored support and education. Her work focuses on helping individuals reconnect with their bodies through movement and breath, using a combination of clinical Pilates, movement physiotherapy, and functional rehab.

She also teaches regularly with Unite Health, where she supports students through their Pilates education journey—whether they're just starting out or deepening their skills.

Let’s get into how clinical Pilates has changed Eva’s life and career!

When did you decide you wanted to pursue a career in health and fitness?

Eva: I decided to become a physio when I was in secondary school. I’d always loved sport and science, and then someone suggested physiotherapy to me. Without much thought I signed up for the university degree, imagining myself as the physio for Manchester United - and the rest is history!

What did your career progression look like, from your days at school to where you are today?

Eva: I’m originally from the UK, and after finishing school I took a year off to travel Australia before heading to university. During my degree I truly discovered what physiotherapy was all about…and how many different areas of physiotherapy there were.

After graduating, I worked in a hospital in London for a few years before taking some time off to travel… By the time I was 29, I decided it was time to “grow up” and get back into physiotherapy. I had always intended to move to Australia, so I…moved here in 2010. Once in Australia, I took the time to reassess how I wanted to use my skills. I’d completed my APPI training in 2004 and Pilates had been an aha moment for me, so I decided to focus on movement as treatment. 
Since then, I’ve embraced the title of "movement physio," blending my diagnostic skills with movement-based rehabilitation.

How did you become involved with Unite Health? What about the company and our courses aligns with your approach to Pilates and health?

Eva: In 2018 the studio I was renting closed, and I was looking for a new place. Someone recommended Unite Health, so I reached out to Sarah [Todd, Unite Health’s Founder], who kindly offered me a space to rent. Around the same time I was immersing myself in more learning... I was so excited about everything I was learning…

So when Sarah asked if I’d be interested in teaching, it felt like the perfect fit. I love talking about movement and helping people move better, so transitioning into an Educator role at Unite Health felt natural.

What I love most about Unite Health is how research-driven and clinically reasoned the courses are. Each Educator brings their own unique experience, meaning no two instructors are the same. While we teach APPI’s Pilates repertoire, we all contribute different perspectives which keeps the learning dynamic and rich.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

Eva: When I’m teaching, my day starts with a train ride from the Peninsula, where I get some work done. Once in Melbourne, I walk 15-minutes to the studio, which gives me time to think and prepare.

Once at Unite Health, I set up the studio and welcome my students. Depending on the course, I might be meeting new Pilates instructor trainees, guiding allied health professionals through a clinical Pilates course, or teaching a later-stage instructor course. 
At the end of the day, it’s a train ride home to see my two kids and husband—with my cup full from the day.

What are your career goals and aspirations for the future?

Eva: I’m incredibly grateful for all the opportunities Pilates has given me. Looking ahead, my next big goal is to open a studio on the Mornington Peninsula that integrates Pilates, movement, and heat and cold therapy.

Another business I'm working on with my husband is focused on saunas and ice baths. We see a real opportunity to bring movement, recovery and well-being together in one space.

Alongside that, I’m developing a children’s shoe brand to promote foot health from an early age.

So the next few years will be about tying all these passions together into a space where movement, breath and recovery meet, alongside incorporating design with biomechanics.
How important was your Pilates education and training in getting you to this point in your career?

Eva: I honestly can’t overstate how transformative Pilates has been for me. It provided the foundation for everything I do, shaping my understanding of movement, biomechanics, and the body as a whole.

Pilates has opened so many doors - in my own movement practice, my work with clients, and my connections with other practitioners and students. It’s kept me engaged in the industry for all these years, offering constant opportunities for learning and growth.

What advice would you give to aspiring Pilates instructors looking to start their own business or make their mark in the industry, or allied health professionals wanting to upskill in clinical Pilates?

Eva: Pilates has evolved in so many ways, from 34 classic exercises into modern interpretations like reformer classes and clinical applications. While I love seeing this evolution, I also think one key element is sometimes missing: attention to detail.

My biggest piece of advice is to make precision and individualised care part of your unique selling proposition. No matter the format—group classes, reformer, clinical Pilates—your ability to observe, cue, and refine movement will set you apart. This attention to detail is what transforms good instructors into great ones.

Beyond that, I’d encourage new instructors to think about how they can do things differently. Look at what’s already out there and ask yourself: How can I offer something unique? Whether it’s your style, your programming, or your philosophy, carving out your own niche will help you stand out in a crowded industry.

Lastly, stay curious. Pilates is a lifelong learning journey, and the best instructors are always evolving.

Want to stay up to date with Eva? Follow her on Instagram at @havemovement or check out her website: Have Movement

If Eva has inspired you to add clinical Pilates to your repertoire, so you too can enjoy the benefits for your patients and for your own career, enrol in our upcoming APPI Clinical Pilates Certification intake today! Why wait to elevate your career?