Cowbridge Nub News aims to support our community, promoting shops, businesses, charities, clubs and sports groups.

We will be profiling some of these businesses and organisations in a feature called 'Up Close in Cowbridge'.

This week, a tale of resilience and friendship with Lula Wellness.

A qualified dietician, Frances Healer began her career with the NHS and then public health, leading MEND, the initiative tackling childhood obesity in Wales.

Fran always loved sport and exercise, completing triathlons and a solo cycling challenge around Ireland.

After the birth of her twin daughters seven years ago, Fran encountered new challenges in life and decided to combine her nutritionist background with exercise.

"There weren't many jobs available that were flexible for me as a single mother or that really captured my passion," said Fran.

"I had some pain and issues with pelvic floor muscles following labour, and there were very little opportunities for me to exercise as a single mum.

"I was directed by a physio to go to a Pilates instructor and I would get my dad or brother to drive with my girls in the car for an hour while I was in the class.

"She helped me build my core back. I really enjoyed it and it has had a huge impact on my life," she said.

Fran found somewhere in Cowbridge where she could get her Pilates qualification and "never looked back".

After a year of training, she passed her course and set up Lula Wellness, offering Pilates classes and wellness workshops where she supports people to listen to their bodies and become more aware of healthy behaviours they enjoy.

"I really wanted to empower people to live their lives more fully," she said.

"I work with a gentle approach, through hunger cues and fullness. There's less focus on the external goal of weight loss or fitting into a dress size.

"Our bodies and lifestyles change, but we can adapt to that to still feel good

"Giving people the power and skills to be more in-tune with their bodies. What movement makes them feel good and what food makes them feel good?

"It's about the satisfaction of food and movement, not guilt or shame that we see a lot of in the fitness sector.

"We shouldn't think of it as 'burning calories' or being in pain, we should be asking if you feel like you can work more, or move with more coordination? How do you feel during and after?," said Fran.

The first lockdown scared Fran, who like many of us, wondered if life would ever return to normal. She recalls cancelling her classes and driving home in tears.

"When everything changed it was quite upsetting. I'd come this far with the business and established so many good classes," she said.

"It wasn't the loss of business it was losing those connections with people."

With her daughters, Fran moved back in with her Dad, fearing that she wouldn't be able to pay rent. Her loyal clients encouraged her to keep classes running online, something she had never done before.

"My ladies, who in their seventies, were really supportive and asked for a weekly session and then another session in the week like we would normally do," said Fran.

"I could have just buried myself under the cover and panicked, but they didn't let me.

"For the first two or three weeks I did it for free online, but they said they wanted to pay me again.

"I let them lead it because I felt like they were the driving force on how to move forward through this period.

"It felt great to be doing something, and so I added a post-natal course and a course to help new runners, or runners recovering from an injury," she said.

Fran also wrote articles for nutrition magazines and did various webinars on diet and wellness.

"Some people I teach are elderly and I wanted them to stay well throughout all of this. I did some nutrition classes about maintaining weight and the importance of probiotics, especially for those who were isolated and maybe going off food," said Fran.

"I wanted to keep up their social interactions and keep connected with everyone. We have friendships in the class.

"We'd do a session and then end up talking for 45 minutes afterwards, and that led onto a weekly quiz as well."

With another set of lockdown restrictions in Wales, Fran says maintaining routines and keeping active is crucial for looking after ourselves.

"Activity has always been important for our minds, but never has there been a more important time for us to be aware of what our mind is going through," said Fran.

"I've found people have been very anxious, from being so socially isolated, but the sessions are really helpful for people to get away from everything and quiet their minds.

"Often, we take the time after the session to say if we're feeling down, or just to rant about the situation.

"I've been very mindful of not making too many changes, because people need that regularity and routine. It gives you the structure and focus to keep moving forward."

For those nervous about joining a new exercise class during lockdown, Fran had some advice.

"Pilates is for everyone, all shapes, sizes, and abilities," said Fran.

"We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and we're never going to change that. Why should we? I can't keep the beat when I do aerobics, for example.

"We have a laugh when we do the co-ordination exercises, and we're all struggling. It's all part of feeling good.

"Sign up for a taster session or pay as you go, so there's no commitment. Then let the instructor know how you're feeling. Often, we're not the only ones feeling self-conscious in a class.

"Give it a go and be proud of yourself for making that first step. Then if you like it, do it again!," she said.

Find out more about Lula Wellness by visiting the website or Facebook page .