‘It is something completely outside my normal life and my comfort zone,’ the Death Valley and Hollyoaks star said, adding that her signature move could best be described as ‘freestyle’.<\/p>\n
She also admits to some apprehension about learning the routines.<\/p>\n
‘I\u2019m nervous about my head saying, “Yes, I can do that move”, but my body disagreeing!’<\/p>\n
Melanie’s Pilates background gives her an advantage<\/p>\n
Melanie’s self-deprecation belies her years of experience in movement and fitness.<\/p>\n
Away from the spotlight, the actor is a successful Pilates<\/a> teacher and studio founder, having started practising more than 20 years ago.<\/p>\n She originally turned to Pilates to help support her back.<\/p>\n ‘I took up Pilates originally because I had been told it was very good for improving posture. I had started to notice that my back was getting quite curved, a bit like those signs you see for old people,’ she told Wales Online<\/a>.<\/p>\n She noticed improvements almost immediately.<\/p>\n ‘It helped my upper-body strength.’<\/p>\n She also saw changes in her physique.<\/p>\n ‘My body started to change shape, [it] slimmed me down in my centre…and I’m no longer barrel-shaped!’<\/p>\n ‘I took to it really easily…I absolutely loved Pilates from the very beginning,’ she said.<\/p>\n That passion eventually led her to found her own studio, Pili Pala<\/a> \u2013 originally called Practical Pilates \u2013 in Swansea.<\/p>\n According to the studio’s website, she is ‘an advanced instructor CYQ level 3’ and holds qualifications from The Pilates Institute in London in mat-based Pilates, back care Pilates, clinical posture, Pilates in pregnancy and functional rehabilitation.<\/p>\n She is also ‘an advanced personal trainer’, with qualifications in gym and circuit training, nutrition, exercise programme design and fitness testing.<\/p>\n Want to train like Liz Earle? Get the plan<\/a><\/p>\n Why Melanie is such a Pilates devotee<\/p>\n She has spoken at length about Pilates’ benefits.<\/p>\n ‘I am obsessed with it. It\u2019s all about rebalancing the body and I can see how it really helps people with bad backs,’ she told Arts Hub<\/a>. ‘I see [that in] people in the workplace as well as the over-60s.’<\/p>\n ‘The great advantage with Pilates is that everyone can do it,’ she added to Wales Online<\/a>. ‘There is no age limit. It\u2019s very low impact, so it is suitable for everyone.<\/p>\n ‘It is wonderful for improving mobility and flexibility…It is also good for rehabilitation after an injury or fall,’ she continued. ‘Pilates helps give a strong core, stability for everyday physical challenges and a supple body that breathes deeply.’<\/p>\n Research backs her up. One review<\/a> of eight trials found that Pilates improved core muscle strength compared with no exercise, while another review<\/a> found evidence that it can improve flexibility and dynamic balance. Those qualities will surely prove useful on the Strictly dancefloor.<\/p>\n![\"liz](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f430398f-b9ba-4e0b-9ee3-38345e356a6b.jpg\" "\\"liz")
<\/a><\/p>\n
Her PT, Michael Garry<\/a> has created a 4-week training plan exclusively for members of the WH COLLECTIVE. It\u2019s designed to remove one of the biggest barriers to fitness: time. You\u2019ll train for just 35 minutes three times a week \u2013 Liz\u2019s exact strategy to build muscle, boost metabolism and support long-term health. Tap the link below to unlock 14 free days of training and start Liz\u2019s plan today.<\/p>\n
![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791078850_9_c0a81ddf-13c4-476f-bd08-395c813cb134_1743083928.file.png\" "\\"Headshot")
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