A Gentle Reset with Louisa Drake: Celebrating International Yoga Day at The Sloane Club
BLOG - BEAUTY & WELLNESS
17/06/2025
Photo by Oly BarnsleyIn celebration of International Yoga Day, we discovered that true luxury lies not in doing more, but in being present
In an industry that rarely slows down, taking a moment to simply breathe can feel like a quiet luxury. So, to mark International Yoga Day, we stepped away from the fast pace of castings, travel, and studio lights - and into the calm elegance of The Sloane Club - for a morning of movement, conversation, and connection.
Led by the ever-inspiring Louisa Drake, the session was designed to be more than just a yoga class. It was a reset. A chance for our Premier models to ground themselves, move mindfully, and re-centre amidst the beautiful chaos of their day-to-day lives.
Led by the ever-inspiring Louisa Drake, the session was designed to be more than just a yoga class. It was a reset. A chance for our Premier models to ground themselves, move mindfully, and re-centre amidst the beautiful chaos of their day-to-day lives.
The morning began on the terrace, where soft sunlight filtered through the trees and the atmosphere felt slow, still, and spacious. A light brunch awaited - seasonal fruit, freshly baked pastries, and a selection of wellness-led refreshments, from matcha lattes to cold-pressed orange juice. It was the kind of start that gently encouraged you to exhale.
Louisa, who has been practising and teaching yoga for over a decade, brought a calm yet energising presence to the session. Her signature method blends sculpting strength work with restorative flow - a practice designed not just for physical alignment, but mental clarity too. With an intimate class, the session felt personal. Intentional. And tailored to the unique pressures of modelling life.
Throughout the hour, she guided the group through grounding flows, breathwork, and gentle challenges, reminding everyone that wellness isn't about perfection - it's about presence. The models found space to move intuitively, listen to their bodies, and reconnect with themselves away from the usual demands of their careers.
Louisa, who has been practising and teaching yoga for over a decade, brought a calm yet energising presence to the session. Her signature method blends sculpting strength work with restorative flow - a practice designed not just for physical alignment, but mental clarity too. With an intimate class, the session felt personal. Intentional. And tailored to the unique pressures of modelling life.
Throughout the hour, she guided the group through grounding flows, breathwork, and gentle challenges, reminding everyone that wellness isn't about perfection - it's about presence. The models found space to move intuitively, listen to their bodies, and reconnect with themselves away from the usual demands of their careers.
Following the practice, Louisa joined us for a relaxed conversation, sharing thoughtful insights in honour of International Yoga Day. From her personal journey with yoga to how movement supports emotional resilience, she spoke with warmth and authenticity. Her perspective was a gentle reminder that wellness isn't one-size-fits-all - it's about finding what brings you back to yourself.
International Yoga Day Q&A with Louisa Drake
What does International Yoga Day mean to you personally, and how has your relationship with yoga evolved over the past decade?
International Yoga Day represents a beautiful reminder that movement and mindfulness belong to everyone, regardless of background or body type. Over the years of using yoga as a dancer to stay flexible and create shapes as a modality to improve my physical ability, my relationship with yoga has shifted from viewing it as just another form of exercise to understanding it as a foundational practice for total wellbeing.
Drawing from my training in Strala yoga and years of experience in pilates and personal training, I developed the Louisa Drake Method as a comprehensive approach that weaves together the best of all these modalities. I've learned that yoga isn't about achieving perfect poses – it's about creating space in your body and mind. The Strala philosophy of "moving with ease" has deeply influenced how I approach not just yoga, but all movement within the LDM framework. It's taught me that when we stop forcing and start flowing, we discover our body's natural intelligence.
The Louisa Drake Method has always been about finding balance in fitness, health, and wellbeing, and yoga enhances this holistic framework with its mindful approach to movement and breath.
Whether I'm incorporating pilates precision, personal training strength work, or yogic flow, the principle remains the same – true strength comes from the inside out. This integrated approach is what makes LDM so effective, whether you're in a high-intensity sculpt session or a gentle restorative flow.
International Yoga Day represents a beautiful reminder that movement and mindfulness belong to everyone, regardless of background or body type. Over the years of using yoga as a dancer to stay flexible and create shapes as a modality to improve my physical ability, my relationship with yoga has shifted from viewing it as just another form of exercise to understanding it as a foundational practice for total wellbeing.
Drawing from my training in Strala yoga and years of experience in pilates and personal training, I developed the Louisa Drake Method as a comprehensive approach that weaves together the best of all these modalities. I've learned that yoga isn't about achieving perfect poses – it's about creating space in your body and mind. The Strala philosophy of "moving with ease" has deeply influenced how I approach not just yoga, but all movement within the LDM framework. It's taught me that when we stop forcing and start flowing, we discover our body's natural intelligence.
The Louisa Drake Method has always been about finding balance in fitness, health, and wellbeing, and yoga enhances this holistic framework with its mindful approach to movement and breath.
Whether I'm incorporating pilates precision, personal training strength work, or yogic flow, the principle remains the same – true strength comes from the inside out. This integrated approach is what makes LDM so effective, whether you're in a high-intensity sculpt session or a gentle restorative flow.
You often speak about yoga as more than just physical movement. How do you help people, especially those new to the practice, connect with the mental and emotional benefits?
I start by helping people understand that their breath is key to everything deeper. In my classes, I always talk about the breath because when you consciously connect with your breath, you're automatically connecting with your nervous system, your emotions, and your mental state.
The breathing techniques in pilates and yoga differ significantly, so I move between both depending on the class style and ultimately what we are trying to teach and achieve. In pilates, we use lateral thoracic breathing to engage the core and maintain stability, whilst in yoga, we might focus on deeper diaphragmatic breathing to calm the nervous system. For stress and anxiety specifically, I guide clients towards longer exhales and slower, more intentional breathing patterns that activate the body's natural relaxation response.
The mind-body connection is a key mechanism behind yoga's benefits. Enhancing your mind-body and body-mind connection increases your ability to self-regulate and improves resilience. With mindful movement you can reshape your brain. Neuroscientists are now studying the brain during spiritual states, and whilst exercise is the most common reason people are firstly drawn to yoga, through meditation practices we can see evidence of the therapeutic benefits yoga offers.
My approach teaches clients to notice how they feel rather than how they look. I'll ask questions like "What does that feel like in your body?" or "Where do you feel tension releasing?" This shifts the focus from external achievement to internal awareness.
When someone is new to yoga I like to give them "permission to be imperfect." I share that yoga isn't about touching your toes – it's about what you learn on the way down. When someone realises they can modify a pose to feel better rather than look better, that's when the mental shift happens. They start to understand that yoga is a practice of self-care, not self-judgement.
The emotional benefits often surprise people. I've had clients tell me they've cried in child's pose or felt anger release in a hip opener. It's important to normalise these experiences and help them understand that our bodies store emotions, and movement helps us process and release what no longer serves us.
I start by helping people understand that their breath is key to everything deeper. In my classes, I always talk about the breath because when you consciously connect with your breath, you're automatically connecting with your nervous system, your emotions, and your mental state.
The breathing techniques in pilates and yoga differ significantly, so I move between both depending on the class style and ultimately what we are trying to teach and achieve. In pilates, we use lateral thoracic breathing to engage the core and maintain stability, whilst in yoga, we might focus on deeper diaphragmatic breathing to calm the nervous system. For stress and anxiety specifically, I guide clients towards longer exhales and slower, more intentional breathing patterns that activate the body's natural relaxation response.
The mind-body connection is a key mechanism behind yoga's benefits. Enhancing your mind-body and body-mind connection increases your ability to self-regulate and improves resilience. With mindful movement you can reshape your brain. Neuroscientists are now studying the brain during spiritual states, and whilst exercise is the most common reason people are firstly drawn to yoga, through meditation practices we can see evidence of the therapeutic benefits yoga offers.
My approach teaches clients to notice how they feel rather than how they look. I'll ask questions like "What does that feel like in your body?" or "Where do you feel tension releasing?" This shifts the focus from external achievement to internal awareness.
When someone is new to yoga I like to give them "permission to be imperfect." I share that yoga isn't about touching your toes – it's about what you learn on the way down. When someone realises they can modify a pose to feel better rather than look better, that's when the mental shift happens. They start to understand that yoga is a practice of self-care, not self-judgement.
The emotional benefits often surprise people. I've had clients tell me they've cried in child's pose or felt anger release in a hip opener. It's important to normalise these experiences and help them understand that our bodies store emotions, and movement helps us process and release what no longer serves us.
What's the most common misconception people have about yoga, particularly those who think they're "not flexible enough" or "not the yoga type"?
There isn't one type of yoga body. Flexibility is something you develop through practice, not something you need to bring to practice. I often tell my clients that yoga was created for regular people with regular bodies – not for Instagram-perfect poses. The ancient yogis weren't trying to impress anyone on social media! They were using these practices to feel better in their bodies and minds. Western yoga is very different from the origins, yoga is for everybody.
There's no such thing as "not the yoga type." Yoga is for everybody – literally. Whether you're a stressed CEO, a new parent, someone dealing with chronic pain, or an athlete looking to improve performance, yoga meets you exactly where you are.
In my classes, I demonstrate modifications for everything because I want people to understand that adapting a pose to work for your body isn't "cheating" – it's an intelligent movement system. The Strala philosophy emphasises that if something doesn't feel good, you change it. Your body is the expert, not some predetermined idea of what a pose should look like.
I also address the "spiritual" barrier some people feel. You don't need to chant, burn incense, or adopt any particular belief system to benefit from yoga. You just need to be willing to pay attention to your body and breath.
There's no such thing as "not the yoga type." Yoga is for everybody – literally. Whether you're a stressed CEO, a new parent, someone dealing with chronic pain, or an athlete looking to improve performance, yoga meets you exactly where you are.
In my classes, I demonstrate modifications for everything because I want people to understand that adapting a pose to work for your body isn't "cheating" – it's an intelligent movement system. The Strala philosophy emphasises that if something doesn't feel good, you change it. Your body is the expert, not some predetermined idea of what a pose should look like.
I also address the "spiritual" barrier some people feel. You don't need to chant, burn incense, or adopt any particular belief system to benefit from yoga. You just need to be willing to pay attention to your body and breath.
Yoga is incredibly powerful
For someone dealing with anxiety or stress, how can yoga specifically help, and what would be your first recommendation?
Yoga is incredibly powerful for anxiety and stress because it works on multiple levels simultaneously – physical, mental, and nervous system regulation. When we're anxious, our bodies are in a state of chronic tension, our breathing becomes shallow, and our minds race. Yoga addresses all of these symptoms.
My first recommendation is always breathwork – specifically 4-6 breathing or calming breath. Simply breathing in for four counts and out for six counts activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is your body's natural relaxation response. You can do this anywhere, anytime, and it immediately signals to your body that it's safe to relax.
The Louisa Drake Method combines the best of pilates, yoga, and personal training to create a comprehensive approach to movement and wellbeing. This integrated methodology means I can offer everything from precise pilates core work to flowing yoga sequences, strength-building personal training exercises to restorative practices – all designed to work synergistically for optimal results.
For movement, I recommend starting with gentle, flowing sequences that emphasise releasing tension rather than building it. Within the LDM framework, this might include pilates-inspired spinal mobility work, yoga poses like cat-cow stretches and gentle twists, or simple personal training movements that focus on breath and alignment. The key is moving slowly and listening to your body, regardless of which modality we're drawing from.
Child's pose is my go-to recommendation for acute anxiety moments. It's like giving yourself a hug whilst grounding into the earth. Staying in child's pose for at least two minutes, breathing deeply and allowing your nervous system to down-regulate.
The beautiful thing about yoga for anxiety is that it teaches you to stay present in your body instead of getting lost in anxious thoughts. When you're focused on how a stretch feels or counting your breaths, you're anchored in the present moment.
Yoga is incredibly powerful for anxiety and stress because it works on multiple levels simultaneously – physical, mental, and nervous system regulation. When we're anxious, our bodies are in a state of chronic tension, our breathing becomes shallow, and our minds race. Yoga addresses all of these symptoms.
My first recommendation is always breathwork – specifically 4-6 breathing or calming breath. Simply breathing in for four counts and out for six counts activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is your body's natural relaxation response. You can do this anywhere, anytime, and it immediately signals to your body that it's safe to relax.
The Louisa Drake Method combines the best of pilates, yoga, and personal training to create a comprehensive approach to movement and wellbeing. This integrated methodology means I can offer everything from precise pilates core work to flowing yoga sequences, strength-building personal training exercises to restorative practices – all designed to work synergistically for optimal results.
For movement, I recommend starting with gentle, flowing sequences that emphasise releasing tension rather than building it. Within the LDM framework, this might include pilates-inspired spinal mobility work, yoga poses like cat-cow stretches and gentle twists, or simple personal training movements that focus on breath and alignment. The key is moving slowly and listening to your body, regardless of which modality we're drawing from.
Child's pose is my go-to recommendation for acute anxiety moments. It's like giving yourself a hug whilst grounding into the earth. Staying in child's pose for at least two minutes, breathing deeply and allowing your nervous system to down-regulate.
The beautiful thing about yoga for anxiety is that it teaches you to stay present in your body instead of getting lost in anxious thoughts. When you're focused on how a stretch feels or counting your breaths, you're anchored in the present moment.
If someone reading this has never tried yoga before but feels curious after today's session, what would be your gentle advice for taking that first step?
Start exactly where you are, with what you have. You don't need special clothes, expensive mats, or perfect flexibility. You just need a willingness to explore.
The Louisa Drake Method offers multiple ways to access effective movement and wellbeing practices. You can join us for classes and 1:1 sessions at The Sloane Club where we're partnered to bring LDM to their members, book directly with us for private sessions, or access our comprehensive online platform. We're excited to announce that our Virtual Studio is relaunching on 30th June, bringing the full LDM experience directly to you – creating communities everywhere and making effective movement accessible both in-person and online.
Whether you're drawn to the flowing elements of yoga, the precision of pilates, or the strength-building aspects of personal training, LDM meets you where you are. Our classes range from restorative yoga sessions to our signature Sculpt and Stretch – a dynamic fusion of pilates, strength training, and yoga combined for a comprehensive workout experience.
Be curious about what your body can do today, not what you think it should do. Be compassionate with yourself when things feel challenging or unfamiliar.
The beauty of the Louisa Drake Method is that it's not about being perfect in any one discipline; it's about showing up for yourself consistently and allowing the integrated approach to support your unique journey to wellness.
Start exactly where you are, with what you have. You don't need special clothes, expensive mats, or perfect flexibility. You just need a willingness to explore.
The Louisa Drake Method offers multiple ways to access effective movement and wellbeing practices. You can join us for classes and 1:1 sessions at The Sloane Club where we're partnered to bring LDM to their members, book directly with us for private sessions, or access our comprehensive online platform. We're excited to announce that our Virtual Studio is relaunching on 30th June, bringing the full LDM experience directly to you – creating communities everywhere and making effective movement accessible both in-person and online.
Whether you're drawn to the flowing elements of yoga, the precision of pilates, or the strength-building aspects of personal training, LDM meets you where you are. Our classes range from restorative yoga sessions to our signature Sculpt and Stretch – a dynamic fusion of pilates, strength training, and yoga combined for a comprehensive workout experience.
Be curious about what your body can do today, not what you think it should do. Be compassionate with yourself when things feel challenging or unfamiliar.
The beauty of the Louisa Drake Method is that it's not about being perfect in any one discipline; it's about showing up for yourself consistently and allowing the integrated approach to support your unique journey to wellness.
As the session came to a gentle close, the energy in the room felt noticeably different - softer, lighter, and a little more grounded. Mats were rolled up slowly, matcha cups refilled, and conversations resumed with a renewed sense of calm.
In a world that rarely pauses, mornings like this offer more than just movement - they offer perspective.
Thank you, Louisa, for creating space for exactly that.