About Realign BodyMind

Kathy Way

Thank you for visiting my website.

My name's Kathy Way, and for over 19 years I have helped hundreds of people worldwide to realign their posture, improve their balance, relieve chronic pain, recover from musculoskeletal injuries and improve their performance and lifestyle.

Pilates transformed my life, gave me strength when it was most needed. I know Pilates can do the same for you:)

My Thanks to Pilates

My Approach

I am dedicated to delivering tailormade, carefully designed, and regularly monitored programs that support and empower each individual’s health and wellness journey. The goal is to improve postural alignment, eliminate chronic pain and increase body-mind awareness. This leads to a healthier life and future, and a deepening of the mind-body connection helping to maintain a healthy body and spine at any age.

I believe it is of vital importance to first analyse each individual’s physical and/or pathological history , posture and movement patterns and treat each individual according to the cause of their pain, since everyones’ body is unique and each body responds differently to movement.

I am a very attentive and precise instructor. I have extreme passion for body-mind movement and find great satisfaction achieving positive and profound results. I pride myself in giving clients 100% attention to their total well-being and I like to make lessons fun too.

I am grateful to learn something from each unique body and never stop learning!

Pilates is a journey to well being body and mind , I thank all my clients for enjoying the journey with me.

Kathy Way, Founder of Realign BodyMind

My Expertise

Thanks to an extensive experience with a diverse clientele Worldwide and through on going study and research and collaborating with rehabilitation specialists, I have honed my skills and acquired the knowledge to develop my own method of teaching which goes beyond Pilates and provides clients with a quality , carefully designed and monitored holistic therapeutical exercise program.

I will identify the root cause of your pain and musculoskeletal imbalances and progressively analyse your body’s movement; correcting muscle imbalances and fascial restrictions, improving your posture and balance, relieving even chronic pain and achieving long term results. My goal is to enrichen your wellbeing, body and mind, whether it be to improve athletic performance or to do your general daily activities.

I have worked closely with and taught Pilates to rehabilitation specialists, osteopaths and podologists both in Italy and in the South of France, collaborated with Prestigious Hotels and Wellness Centres in Italy and in Cote d’Azur in the South of France, including the Grand- Hotel du Cap Ferrat and have been and am personal coach to many high profile clients from different parts of the World mainly the South of France, Italy and the Middle East. I have been hired exclusively by renowned figures including Letizia Moratti and family (when she was Mayor of Milan) and families in the Middle East.

My clients range from ages 12 to 90 including professional ballet dancers, athletes, rehabilitation clients, C.E.O’s, pre and post natal and wellness enthusiasts.

Until 2020 when the World was in lockdown, I would never had thought about training clients online. But thanks to my extensive work experience I have continued to obtain excellent results also with rehabilitation clients and clients with chronic pain.

I speak English, Italian, Spanish and French.

My Thanks to Pilates

In 2010 I was diagnosed with a brain tumour, practically half of my brain was being crushed.

When the neurosurgeon told me there was I risk that I could remain paralysed, the tears flooded down my cheeks.

I did Pilates at home every day for the whole month before my operation, it helped me to focus my mind and made me feel strong and in control. I wanted to win.

My craniotomy operation was 9 intensive hours. Luckily my tumour proved to be benign. My recovery in hospital I was told was excellent. Infact I was nicked named “extra terrestrial”

I thank Pilates for helping to keep my mind and body strong and in control. I thank my neurosurgeon every day when I wake up.

I am extremely happy and lucky to be here, fit and healthy, and to help others by teaching them Pilates and sharing it’s benefits with them.

My Journey

My journey as a Pilates Instructor began in 2004, during my years as a fitness and personal coach, whilst working alongside Pilates Instructors from the U.S.A in a famous Health and Fitness Centre in Chianciano Terme, Tuscany then called Spa Deus (owned by Christina Newburg).

This experience inspired me to pursue a career as a Pilates Instructor. Driven by a desire to understand the intricate connections between body, mind, and movement I decided to study with a professional internationally recognized Pilates School.

I tried different Pilates schools and finally chose to study with Stott Pilates. I obtained the Stott Pilates certification in 2007. I have since attended specialist courses including Injuries and Special Populations, pathologies, pre and post natal, myofascial meridians, the nervous system, the propriocepitive system and numerous update workshops and continue to do so, also with other institutes. Above all, I carry out lots of independent study and research on body movement and rehabilitation.

My interest in Pilates as post –rehabilitation drew my attention to the Delos Postural Proprioceptive System in 2009. In 2010 I studied the Riva Method (Professsor Riva, Turin, Italy) and became a Delos Certified Expert and in 2013 a Delos Certified Advanced Expert. (Delos is a revolutionary system for proprioception and posture). In 2019 I became a Certified Total Barre Instructor and a Certified Garuda Instructor.

As well as having had my own Pilates studio I have been personal Pilates coach to renowned families. At present I am studying Osteopathy.

Testimonials

Barbara Tirinnanzi

Italy

I met Kathy by chance. A very providential meeting. I am 46 years old and have a history of about 30 years of pain behind me. At age of 16-17 following an injury I had to undergo an experimental disc operation between L5-S1 which led to decompressing my left and right sciatic nerves, taking away my ability to walk and causing me severe pain.

I have 6 protrusions, a hernia, 4 deformed discs, coxarthrosis, degenerative disc disease, spondylodiscitis, beginning of stenosis... so a woman, still young, but in the body of an old woman. I've always had a lot of pain, limited range of motion, and suffered several major blockages that forced me into bed for very long periods...I'm talking months before I got back on my feet and with the help of physiotherapists and medication.

That is how I met Kathy, depressed, without hope for the future, certain only that it would only get worse. After 30 years, she was the first (and I mean the first after so many doctors, specialists, and physiotherapists, osteopaths) to explain to me in detail what had happened to my back and, above all, what the future could have been if I had not done something, and she was the only one to understand, first of all, how I could feel physically and psychologically. I cried, because no one had ever taken what I was experiencing to heart (constant pains, limitations, but above all, I repeat pains, also paresthesias in the legs, tremors, blockages...), but they always told me ‘unfortunately it's a worn out back, you can't do anything about it’.

So Kathy introduced me to her Pilates method. I'll be honest, at first I didn't believe in it at all, because I've been seeing different physiotherapists for years with the result of ‘plugging’ situations, but not solving them. So I thought it was the usual speech. Not very convinced, I started the first sessions. To date 30 sessions with Kathy and I can testify that I no longer have any pain, I am gaining elasticity in my movements again, even those I could not do for a long time. This week, which is really unbelievable for me, I have started to do some real abdominals! I walk faster, I can sit and drive without pain again, do the food shopping for my family, do some housework again and so many things that are normally taken for granted in everyday life, e.g ..put on my socks without difficulty, pick up a book from a higher shelf... I am excited to write this, because now I have so much hope and I see the future differently.

I feel I have a new body, I am full of energy and slowly that apathy, caused by the heaviness and fatigue I used to endure, has disappeared. This is why I say that ‘personal pilates coach’ is reductive, because Kathy is helping me, through her rehabilitative pilates method, to renew my body and with her I have had the opportunity to have a new life!

Fleur Richards

Online Lessons

Pilates online with Kathy has proved vital to realigning my postural imbalances and recovering from old injuries. I have a long-standing bone condition, Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), and I suffered many falls and injuries when I was a child which led to imbalances in the body.

My Pilates journey with Kathy began following a fall and I was very unstable and unable to stand up or walk without crutches . Kathy is so understanding and knowledgable about anatomy, biomechanics and musculoskeletal injuries - she zeroed in on the exact problem with my injured right knee and was totally unfazed by my rather complicated medical history! Thanks to Pilates with Kathy - my right knee, which hadn't been quite straight since injuries in adolescence, is now coming back into alignment; and postural weaknesses in my back and shoulders have been corrected. My Cranial Osteopath has witnessed a huge difference in my postural alignment and is amazed by these shifts, as well as my new-found strength.

My core strength and my balance is now much improved, which has helped to re-build my confidence. I can now stand up from sitting in a chair which I had never been able to do (I also do repetitions) and I walk around my villa without using crutches anymore and when I go for walks outdoors it feels like I am carrying the walking sticks not depending on them. I love working with Kathy and am experiencing hugely positive changes in my body, as well a new mind-body-spirit connection, which feels wonderful! Working with you Kathy has given me a new self-image too - I now see myself as someone physically capable and with good co-ordination, which is wonderful!

Julie Rose Godkin

Online Lessons

After regular Pilates lessons with Kathy, I have noticed significant improvements with my back particularly pertaining to my scoliosis. I have suffered with severe back pain and bad posture for most of my life. However, since I’ve begun training with Kathy my posture has improved greatly as well as the curvature in my back.

I didn’t realise that Pilates with the right instructor could provide such visible and tangible results. Kathy is not only an excellent coach but she’s kind, patient, and warm. I highly recommend her to anyone that is looking to make gentle but profound changes and improvements with their musculoskeletal health and fitness levels. Her expertise, experience and professionalism is evident. You won’t be disappointed!

Elizabeth Brown

Monte Carlo, Monaco

Now and again, someone comes into your life and transforms it. Kathy Way has been that someone, not only for me personally for the past 12 years — but also in transforming the lives of my clients.

Professional beyond measure, her passion for Pilates is infectious. Kathy has trained and taught around the world and her experience and track record shine through. She has a well-honed skill of pacing her teaching to your personal abilities and when appropriate, injuries or pathologies, and she brings about extraordinary transformations — the removal of pain being one of them. Perceptive and incisive she has an ability to go straight to the cause of the issue with remarkable results: her knowledge of human physiology and anatomy is exceptional. With clients I have referred to Kathy, chronic pain has disappeared, spines are realigned, posture is optimised, walking sticks are discarded, anxiety is reduced. In short, I would recommend Kathy in a heartbeat.

Author “DOWSING The Ultimate Guide for the 21st Century”
www.causativediagnosis.com January 2025

Adele Galasso

Italy

Let me preface this by saying that I am a Craniosacral practitioner (Upledger method), as well as a Shiatsu practitioner, so I listen well to my body and am very demanding.

I have tried Pilates several times in my life, but unfortunately it was never a good experience... until I met Kathy! With her I solved old posture problems in just a few individual lessons and after 4 years the results are still stable.

In addition, I was able to resolve a lumbar stenosis that was causing me severe pain in one leg, all the way down to my foot... Nowadays, when I have a problem that requires the intervention of an osteopath, I go to Kathy and in just a few sessions we solve everything!

You are a magician Kathy! Thank you for existing!

Jessica Willard

London

I have numerous issues with my joints including back, neck and shoulder pain after an accident I had a few years ago. I have recently started having Pilates lessons in a Physio-Pilates Studio in the UK to rehabilitate and was thrilled to find out Kathy was holding private lessons at my hotel whilst on holiday.

Kathy’s lessons were so much better than my previous sessions, with her care and attention providing a personalised session. She was so helpful in giving me several exercises to support and strengthen my body in order to reduce pain and most importantly, how to practise these at home safely.

Kathy’s passion for Pilates was evident and as a result she gave me the most valuable lessons I have had!

Thank you Kathy!

Joanna Kenner

Eze-Sur-Mer, France

Pilates (with Kathy) has been a bit of a revelation for me. In the past I've have tried lots of different exercise classes, alongside running and swimming. Now, having done pilates for over two years, I can say I've found it the most beneficial exercise I've ever done. Re-connecting with my body! Working muscles I didn’t know existed, but also getting control and balance.

In the first 6 months I saw huge changes in the way I was moving and when I was pregnant I saw a whole new side to the discipline. It’s amazing how Kathy was able to adjust all the exercises to keep me strong and working!

Its improved my strength, flexibility, balance and physical awareness - aside from benefits to my body shape. I really enjoy my classes and Kathy takes the time to personalise and vary the classes, keeping it interesting and helping you to see your progress.

I can't recommend enough!

Enrico Dato

Turin, Italy

I was born with a scoliosis and leg length discrepancy. I tried many different kinds of specialist treatments over 10 years to try and resolve my postural problems, but I still had no profound results. My neck and back pain returned and continued. I had given up doing sport for over 10 years and couldn’t study well with the pain. Then Dr. Cetani a Physiatrist from Turin, Italy adviced me to do Pilates with Kathy Way.

After the first Pilates lesson with Kathy I understood I was finally on the right track to healing my spine. After 4 months I had no more pain, I regained a natural (physiological) lordosis, and was able to move all of my body in all planes of motion.

Kathy made me love Pilates.