“It's time I give to myself before I give to anybody else”—a Pilates instructor shares his weekly routine and explains how morning movement boosts mental health

Instructor James Shaw teaches at a busy Pilates class. We see four clients on reformer machines in a plank position. Shaw is helping position one of the client's head and calves properly, standing next to her to perform adjustments. .

Welcome to Workout Diaries, a series where we ask expert trainers to talk us through what a week of exercise looks like for them, helping you figure out how to develop and maintain an effective workout routine.

James Shaw is a Pilates instructor and the founder of a classical Pilates studio in the UK.