For anyone discovering you for the first time, tell us a little about your journey and how Body by Lara came about.
I’m Lara Hassan, originally from Lebanon. I moved to the UK in 2000, which is when I began my education in the science of the body and movement. Before that, I studied literature, humanities and philosophy. That was really the beginning of my curiosity and exploration into what makes us essentially who we are. Over the years, I trained in a range of fitness and dance-based modalities, including Pilates, Gyrotonic, Garuda, barre, yoga and Gyrokinesis, alongside resistance training, conditioning, biomechanics and kinesiology and developed my method BODYBYLARA. The name Body by Lara actually came from Sting. After a training session, he was jokingly and proudly showing off his physique by the pool and said it. It stayed with me.
The method is the outcome of my extensive training, curiosity, research and exploration. I kept asking myself: if I were to do one workout that included elements of everything I had learned and experienced, what would it be? A complete workout needs to support the things we require in daily life: better posture, strength, stretch, mobility, muscle building, neural training and adaptation. It should support the lymphatic and cardiovascular systems, maintain joint health and help reduce injury risk. Ultimately, it is a method that nurtures what we already have and helps practitioners connect with their bodies and understand how they work.
Was there a particular moment when you realised you wanted to build a business around movement and wellbeing?
My business is my world; it is a part of me. There was never a moment when I felt separate from it. A space that hosts what I do is simply an extension of what is happening in my mind, so in that sense, it has always been there. Body by Lara Core workout concepts are workouts I have done for years with my private clients. My previous studios were much smaller than Core, but my aim has always been to offer people what was once considered niche fitness. I used to work mostly privately, whereas now it is the opposite; I take private clients by request only. The idea of growing it to where I am now has always been there.
What did you feel was missing from the fitness and wellness space when you started?
We have developed technologically, and very quickly. A lot has changed: the science, the technology and the availability of data. The fitness world was very different; In London, some gyms did not even open until 10am on a Sunday. Boutique fitness was not really a thing then. We have so much more choice now, although that does not necessarily mean studio offerings or teaching quality are always better. The industry has grown enormously in recent years.
Body by Lara has grown into a real lifestyle as well as a fitness brand. What does “wellness” mean to you now?
Wellness is the ability to move freely without tension and to have a strong body that helps us not only live, but achieve our goals in life, whatever they may be. It is about consuming only when necessary, in every sense: food, information and everything around us. It is understanding the impact of our choices on the mind and body. It is knowing the importance of rest when needed, saying no when needed, adapting to change, training our memory, expanding our knowledge and connecting with nature. It is also understanding that we have a duty to create a healthy environment for our spirit , and to give it the respect and acknowledgement it deserves. That, to me, is wellness. It is a lot, I know, but it is how I live.
September has that lovely feeling of a fresh start. Do you personally see September as a time to reset?
September is a month I look forward to every year. For me, it is more of a mental reset than a physical one: a chance to return with renewed focus, energy and inspiration. I love the feeling of the city when everyone comes back looking radiant and rested, when the leaves begin to change colour and there is a sense of momentum in the air. London Fashion Week, dance, performances, art and theatre all return. Everything I enjoy doing in a city comes back to life, I approach it with immense excitement.
After the freedom and spontaneity of summer, what are the rituals you like to return to?
My personal rituals never stop, but they adapt depending on the weather and where I am. For example, I spent the summer on a volcanic island in Italy, so I was not concerned about using my red-light panels, which is a daily ritual of mine. Instead, I immersed myself in thermal water. I do love my infrared sauna, so that is something I make sure I return to as soon as I am back.
If someone feels like they’ve completely fallen out of their routine over the summer, where would you tell them to start?
Start by supporting your liver. Nutrition and hydration. There are natural tinctures and drops that can be added to a daily routine to support the body’s natural detoxification process. If the holiday has been particularly indulgent, I may add occasional water fasting during the week. Start from within; the energy changes.
What does your ideal morning look like when you’re feeling your best?
My ideal morning is about creating energy without overstimulating myself. It’s to wake up and have time to hydrate and just be. I like to review my schedule with gratitude rather than stress. I listen to music on my way to the studio and start my day. It feels so great to be doing what you love. I am quite energetic in the mornings. On holiday, it is a swim. I wake up and go straight for a swim.
And what about your evening routine?
My evening routine is non-negotiable: a shower, body scrub, body oils and creams. A few times a week, I use my lymphatic drainage massager. Before sleep, I use red-light panels with my eyes closed and focus on breathing. I will use a face mask when I feel I need one. I switch off all electronic devices and, recently, I have trained myself to read books that are not related to work. It helps my brain rest rather than continue thinking through the night. I also have a small frequency device that supports healing and rewiring.
Do you believe in a “reset” or do you think we put too much pressure on ourselves to constantly reinvent our lives?
I do believe in a reset, but I do not think it should mean constantly reinventing yourself or feeling that you need to become a different person. For me, a reset is about returning to yourself. It is a moment to reflect, rest, reassess what is no longer serving you and reconnect with the habits that help you feel well. I think we put far too much pressure on ourselves to make dramatic changes, especially at certain times of year. Real wellbeing is not about radical transformation; it is about adapting, being honest with yourself and making small, sustainable choices that support your mind and body. A reset should feel positive and nourishing, not punishing.
What does your own weekly movement routine look like?
I am very active. I do two or three weight-training sessions each week: heavy, slow and controlled. My sculpt workouts use weights two or three times a week and can involve springs, a slant board or simply a mat. I do Pilates once a week, twice if I can, although all my workouts are Pilates-based. For cardio, I do rebounding, either on the Reformer jumpboard or on my rebounder, which is also great for the lymphatic system. Whenever I can, I also enjoy a good long run.
What is the one type of movement you think almost everyone would benefit from doing more of?
Pilates-based strength workouts.
Has your definition of health changed as you’ve gotten older?
It has not really changed. My habits are still the same, nutrition, sports, the only thing I added is hyperbaric oxygen sessions and infrared heat. I began researching cellular health, mitochondria, exercise and human growth hormones in 2006. For me, it is never about radical change. It is about adapting.
What’s something you used to do because you thought it was “healthy” that you no longer do?
Excessive cardio. For example, going to. Hiit class one day and then doing an intense boxing session the next. That type of intensity can increase cortisol in the body, which can contribute to holding fat around the midsection, especially for women. I love cardio and will never stop doing it, but I have reduced boxing. I love it for the mind and coordination, but I do not want my body to remain in a constant fight-or-flight mode.
When life gets particularly busy, what is the first thing you notice slipping and how do you get yourself back on track?
Meeting friends and taking breaks. I can work excessively, and I consider taking breaks a healthy and necessary habit. We need them for our mental health and social bonding. I ask my friends to tell me off when I disappear into my world. I now plan, at least theoretically, when my next long trip will be. If I do not plan it, it will not happen.
What’s the best piece of wellness advice you’ve ever been given?
Trust your gut feeling and never compromise who you are.
Your go-to healthy breakfast?
Two boiled eggs, or cottage cheese with flaxseeds and berries.
Early night or late night?
Early nights.
Cold plunge or hot bath?
Hot bath.
Pilates, strength training or cardio?
Strength training, because it can be Pilates-based. My Pilates itself is classical, so I do not add weights to it.
Walk in nature or gym session?
It depends where I am. In the city, a gym session; in the countryside, definitely nature.
One thing you do every day for your mental wellbeing?
I call my mom.
One habit you’re leaving behind this September?
Definitely reducing screen time.
One habit you’re taking into autumn?
Read literature and fiction books again, not just science and books related to my work.
And finally, if we all did just one thing this September to feel better in ourselves, what would you recommend?
Sponsor an animal.
