At Balanced Body®, we believe movement has the power to heal, body and mind. Few stories capture that truth more deeply than that of Charlene Abdul, founder of the Pilateso Studio in Dorking, UK, and creator of the Tyler Abdul Foundation (TYFO), an organisation who’s mission is to prevent youth suicides by inspiring hope, resilience and purpose in young people.
A year ago, Charlene’s life was suddenly thrown into turmoil when her 15-year old son, Tyler, took his own life. In the wake of that unimaginable loss, she turned to Pilates, not only as a source of strength and solace but as a way to honour his memory and help others.
Today, through Pilates and the TYFO (Tyler Abdul Foundation), Charlene is using movement, community, and the power of Pilates to bring hope and healing to teenagers and families navigating mental health challenges.
We sat down with Charlene to hear her story.
DISCOVERING PILATES
How did you first find Pilates?
It all started about ten years ago when a doctor recommended my mum try Pilates for her sciatica, and I tagged along because she didn’t want to go alone. Neither of us had a clue what Pilates was! But with every movement I made on the mat, I began to feel a new found strength and awareness in the body that I hadn’t experienced before. By the end of the class, I was captivated – not just by the movement and how good it made me feel, but by the philosophy behind it.”
When my instructor suggested I train to teach, I jumped at the opportunity! During my training, a lady on the course mentioned Reformer Pilates, which at that point (in 2017) I had never heard of. Once I looked it up, I knew I had to give it a go and I was instantly hooked! Pilates became my happy place, my huge exhale at the end of a busy day in my demanding job. Pilates became my passion.
BUILDING THE PILATESO STUDIO
How did Pilates come to life?
It began small, just six Balanced Body Reformers in a garden studio I’d built. But it quickly became so much more than a workout space. Within five years, we’d created an incredible community. We workout, talk, laugh, and sometimes cry. Clients would often say, “This is my therapy,” and honestly, they were right.
At that time, I was running eight classes a week alongside my accountancy job. My Pilates classes became a space where like-minded people came together to move, connect and put the world to rights. I had no idea just how much I would come to rely on that community.
In November 2024, I suddenly lost my son, Tyler. There are no words to convey the depth of devastation and turmoil I found myself in. My mind, body and soul were completely crushed and I could not see a way out of the depths of this dark pit.
My Pilates community wrapped their arms around me, and together, they lifted me up and carried me, the outpouring of support was overwhelming: meals, messages, generosity and love I didn’t even need to ask for. They were more than clients; they were friends. They held me through the darkest time and kept showing up for me consistently, without fail.
The attempt to return to my finance job proved futile. I felt like an athlete whose limbs had suddenly been lost but was still expected to run in the 100m final. I needed to work on healing. Losing my son also led me to focusing my energy on things that truly mattered to me.
When I left that job, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to prevent young people taking their lives and I wanted to share my passion for Pilates, and the positive impact it has physically and mentally. That’s how the Pilateso Studio was born.
CREATING A SPACE FOR HEALING
What does the Pilateso Studio look like today?
It’s a safe, welcoming space where people come to move, connect and breathe. We have ten Balanced Body Allegro® 2 Reformers, and I absolutely love them! They’re so adaptable. One moment we’re teaching classes, and the next, I can stand them up, freeing up space to host workshops or community events.
My friend Sam and I run sessions for adults, teens, and parents & teens together. Once a month, I also invite local instructors to enjoy a class for themselves, a moment to move, pause and recharge. My husband Mikey and his son Sam maintain the Balanced Body Reformers so it’s truly a family affair.
MOVEMENT AS MEDICINE
How has Pilates supported your own healing?
Movement saved me, truly. When you’re in grief, your mind can feel trapped, but when you move, you start to breathe again. Pilates gives me focus and balance, and is helping me rebuild one small piece at a time.
It’s not just about physical strength, it’s emotional resilience too. Pilates teaches you to show up, even when you don’t want to. It also teaches you perseverance, you keep going even when you know the instructor’s counting is a little slow on those final pulses!
That’s what I want to share with every young person we work with: that movement can be a lifelong tool for coping, grounding and growing. And that you’re not alone, our community is always here for each and every one of them.
GRIEF INTO PURPOSE
What inspired the TYFO Foundation?
If Pilates is one of my passions, The Tyler Abdul Foundation is the other. I started it in his memory, to turn my grief into something that could help others.
Every week in the UK, at least four teenagers take their own lives, and 75% of them are boys. We can’t ignore that reality.
At tyfo.org.uk, we run free Pilates-based classes for teens – no cost, no questions asked. We also offer Parent & Teen classes, where parents pay and their teen joins for free. More recently, we’ve added sessions for teachers and parents supporting children with ADHD and Autism.
It’s all about giving young people tools for resilience, through movement, laughter, and connection. Watching them leave class standing taller and smiling wider – that’s everything.
Some of Tyler’s friends have even become young mental health ambassadors, supporting others through peer-to-peer guidance. Young people are at the heart of TYFO, and often, they’re the ones best placed to help each other through the challenges of the teenage years.
So far, we’ve raised over £17,500 through events like a 24-hour Pilates marathon that alone brought in £11,000. Every penny helps us reach more families.
LOOKING AHEAD
What’s next for Pilates and TYFO?
We’re dreaming big. I hope to expand the studio, grow TYFO’s reach, and explore funding opportunities to continue offering as many free classes for teenagers as possible, while keeping the business sustainable.
We’re also hosting a Remembrance Service on November 9th at Crossways Baptist Church in Dorking, a gentle, open space for anyone who’s lost a loved one to come together, remember, and find hope.
At the heart of it all, Pilates and TYFO share the same belief: that movement, community, and compassion can change lives.
At Balanced Body®, we’re proud to support instructors like Charlene who bring healing and humanity to their communities through intelligent movement.
To learn more about Charlene’s work, visit pilateso.com and tyfo.org.uk, or follow on Instagram @pilateso_dorking @thetylerabdulfoundation
All ideas and assertions expressed in The CORE are those of the individual contributors, offered to spark conversation, enrich understanding/inspire growth and share diverse perspectives within our community. They may not necessarily reflect the views of Balanced Body®.
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