About Us

Helping you to build or re-build your strength through movement and tailored support.

A woman with dark hair and red lipstick smiling next to a young girl with curly hair, both showing teeth, in a room with curtains and a window behind them.

My Story

Hello, Joyce here - Chartered Accountant by day, trainee Body Control Pilates Instructor (not by night...) and proud mother to little Nalu (who is not so little anymore). 

Pregnancy & birth

I enjoyed my pregnancy and it was deemed low risk. I would have liked to have a water birth with some of my favourite tunes in the background, that was the plan. Unfortunately, the birth was traumatic and I am not sure I have come to terms with that yet.

Nalu was born via  emergency c-section and we stayed in hospital for a further 5 days due to suspected infection. That was the beginning of my postpartum story…and I wish it were different. I had lots of support from my partner, friends and family and NCT crew, and still found it challenging, I can imagine how much harder it is for mothers with little or no support.

Early postpartum

Outside of the usual newborn struggles, the main struggle I had was with my body - it just didn’t work as well as it did before. Aches and pains long, a bulging belly that made me look like I am still pregnant months after birth (gather here my diastasis recti friends)…navigating postural challenges of breastfeeding with c-section recovery and all round weak tone was difficult, I am still working on it today. 

My experience, and that of close friends and family highlighted just how little structured support there is in the postnatal pathway for mothers. If you are a recent mum you will no doubt be aware of the ‘6 week check up’ - I think that’s about it, and that’s if you’re lucky enough to get a thorough review. 

That’s how Viva Core was born - If I were to do it all over again, what structures would I like to have in place? How could I help others to reduce the pain and have better information during a very vulnerable period of life?

How can I help you?

To my fellow mothers and mothers to be, I want to help you by providing you with guidance and support, a listening ear and linking you with the right professionals where necessary, so that you can get right help as early as possible.

One thing I have learnt is the importance of movement (in the right way) and I will support you through this with Reformer & Equipment Pilates training. It is helping me to regain core strength and I continue to practice because this is about the long-term. I can’t promise Meghan knees but maybe we will get close? Here’s hoping…

So join me in building a community where we support one another and help to eradicate the harmful rhetoric of ‘this is just how it is now’, pain should not be ignored and we deserve to be happy and whole in our bodies and not have our problems ignored or minimised.

Our philosophy

  • Trust & Transparency

    We promise to work in a way that’s truthful and respectful.

    There will be a mutual trust and understanding, and if at any point something doesn’t feel right, please speak up.

  • Community

    As the saying goes ‘If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together’.

    Join us on our mission to improve postnatal care and outcomes for women.

  • Research led

    What we do is evidence based and we will continue to partner with women’s health professionals to bring you credible support.

    We focus on movement to prepare, heal and strengthen the body through all stages of motherhood.

  • Innovative & Responsive

    This is just the beginning.

    We will keep investing in research, listening to your experiences and adapting to better understand the lifelong impacts of childbirth on the body.