Injury Recovery and Pain Prevention

Hello, I'm Nikki

I am a Pilates Instructor, and Holistic Therapist, specialising in foot dysfunction.  Helping woman (over 40) run, walk and play pain free, from the feet up, through Pilates, and Deep Relaxation Foot Based Therapies.

I have been in the health and fitness industry since 1997.

Gaining many qualifications, nearly 30 years experience and more importantly lots of friends along the way. 

My superpowers are empathy, inquisitivity, intuition and problem solving.  Which enables me to take a deep dive into the underlying causes of your aches, pains and injuries to give YOU the exit route from the endless cycle of recurring pain.  

I also believe in taking a proactive approach to pain prevention,  minimising the risks of further injury.

I am a Pisces and my favourite place is by the sea, it soothes my soul (and soles) and recharges my introvert energies.  Living in the South West of England, Cornwall is a short journey away, and we certainly take advantage of that.

Book The Release Ritual Today

'Nikki is a fantastic instructor, never makes you feel stupid if you can’t do something she just adapts the exercise to you. She also makes sure your form is correct to make sure you are getting the most out of the movement. I really enjoy my sessions and they do help with my chronic pain, I certainly know if I’ve missed a class.'

Liz Meechan

Getting to know me:

  • My love for the Cornish Coast is deep routed and you may start to notice a nautical theme emerging.  My ancestors left Cornwall in the late 1800's and headed to the North East, of England for work.

  • My favourite hobby is collecting foot prints in the sand, and analysing the foot strike, toe configuration and anything else I can discipher. I will share these with you, it's very interesting.

  • I am married with two adult children, three adult step children and  one step grandchild.  And two little dogs, Coco (10 years old) and Daisy (3 years old)

  • I have lived in Gloucestershire my whole life, surrounded by the beautiful Cotswold Hills and Villages.

  • I have a foot pain story that started in 1980's with a gymnastics injury, plantar fasciitis on and off since 1998, and the discovery of accessory navicular in 2011 - I have extra bones in my feet!!! I have had ZERO foot pain since 2019 when I began learning about the importance of our feet. Also my lower back pain vanished after 5 years.

Pilates withNIKKi

BOOK NOW

Nicola Beard is a Pilates Instructor and Holistic Therapist with 28 years' experience in the health and fitness industry. Nikki specialises in correcting foot dysfunction and addressing its impact on the whole body. After overcoming 20 years of recurring plantar fasciitis through her proven Recovery Strategy™, she's been pain-free since 2019. Nikki also successfully resolved persistent lower back pain and embarrassing leaks (no more peeing when sneezing!), bringing relief and confidence back to everyday life.

The Recovery Clinic

NEW - NEW - NEW

The Recovery Clinic is Opening

29th April 2025

Introductory 25% Discount Offer

The Release Ritual

  • Benefits of The Release Ritual
  • A focused foot and lower leg treatment supporting emotional and physical reset.
  • Emotional release
    Helps the body let go of stress, tension, and emotional overload — no talking required.
  • Nervous system reset
    Encourages a shift from fight-or-flight into rest and recovery, supporting overall calm.
  • Foot and leg relief
    Eases aching feet, calf tightness, and built-up tension from standing, stress, or busy days.
  • Mental quiet
    Creates space to slow down, reduce mental noise, and support clearer thinking and better sleep.
  • Grounding, supportive touch
    Ideal for those feeling disconnected, overstimulated, or in need of stillness and safety.

When you think about important joints in your body, your big toe probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But if you’re dealing with hallux …

Read More
When someone presents with pelvic floor dysfunction, the most common advice they receive is to start doing Kegels. The assumption is that weakness is …
Read More

Not everyone enjoys the gym—and that’s completely valid. There are many ways to build strength, support your body, and feel good in your skin—and Pila…

Read More
Nikki Trail Running

The Before & After

May 2019 - May 2020

These are my feet, 2019 are behind and 2020 are in front. Can you see the difference?

They are wider, you can see the improved circulation and muscle definition.

This is me and Ian my husband at a local 10km Trail Run

Not ready to join just yet?

Subscribe to News withNIKKi - For top tips, quick wins, other 'good stuff' and be the first to know about additional products and services withNIKKi.

How straight are your toes?

Spoiler: It’s not just about looks.

Those little tootsies tell a much bigger story — about balance, gait, posture, and even pain patterns in the hips, back, and beyond.

Wonky toes (we’re talking drifting, curling, overlapping, or hammering) often signal deep-rooted compensations. They’re not just a toe problem — they’re a whole-body clue.

Here’s what can happen when your toes don’t align:

🔹 Balance takes a hit – Your toes play a key role in grip, proprioception, and stability. If they’re squished, clawed, or out of sync, your brain gets fuzzy signals from the floor.

🔹 Push-off becomes inefficient – Toes help propel you forward when walking or running. If they’re not straight and mobile, that force gets dumped into the wrong places (like your knees or lower back).

🔹 Glutes disengage – Yep, really! If your toes can’t do their job, other muscles step in… and often the glutes go off duty.

🔹 Pelvic floor and core suffer – Your foot function impacts the whole kinetic chain. Think of your toes as the start of the story — dysfunction flows from the feet up.

So if your toes are wonky, curled under, or pointing in odd directions, it’s not just a cosmetic thing — it could be the silent saboteur behind recurring pain or injury.

I help people restore function from the feet up — because pain-free movement starts at the sole.

Have you ever really looked at your toes?