CASA DE AURA IN HORSHAM

Millions of us were captivated by England’s journey to the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup in July. However, Horsham business Casa De Aura could be forgiven for supporting the  Spaniards too, as they became World Champions for the second time. That’s because defender Marc Cucurella, who plays for Real Madrid and Spain, has been a regular client of the Reformer Pilates studio in Middle Street. 

Casa de Aura was even featured in Episode 2 of Destination World Cup 2026, a documentary series which followed Marc and other professional footballers as they prepared for the FIFA World Cup. Marc would go on to have an outstanding tournament, starting every game in a Spanish defence that conceded a solitary goal across eight games. The exposure the documentary provided had special meaning for business owner Megan Ells, known as Megs, with filming having taken place exactly one year after Marc first attended a Reformer Pilates session at the Horsham studio with his partner, Claudia Rodríguez.

Megs said: ‘Marc and Claudia found us when they were walking along the High Street on their way to a local café. They sent us a message later that evening, as they thought Reformer Pilates sounded like fun and were interested in booking a session. I held a private session for the two of them and our relationship developed organically. Sometimes, I would see them once a week, but Marc’s schedule as a Chelsea player (he signed for Real Madrid in June) was very demanding and there were periods when he couldn’t visit regularly, with Claudia occasionally coming along without him.

‘Claudia sent me a message about the documentary and asked how we would feel about them filming at the studio. The idea was to record footballers as they went about their daily lives, and something Marc and Claudia love to do together is Pilates, usually followed by a coffee or a meal in Horsham. They’ve supported many local businesses and love trying out new restaurants in town. Marc has a very distinctive haircut, and people often do a double-take when they see his long, curly hair. We will miss them both, following Marc’s move to Real Madrid.

‘I was thrilled to be involved in the documentary and it was great having cameras here during a session. I actually felt sorry for Marc, as he would be doing a plank or some other Pilates move, and there would be a camera right in his face as he tried to hold his form! But he took it all in his stride!

‘As a professional athlete, I think Marc understands the benefits that Pilates offers. Footballers often suffer with tight hamstrings, and Pilates improves elasticity and flexibility, as well as building core strength. There is a common misconception that Pilates is mostly for women of a certain age, so it’s great when people smash down stereotypes and make Pilates more inclusive. The Pilates community may be dominated by women, but when personalities such as Marc, as well as Ed Sheeran and Ronaldo, express an interest, it helps to break down barriers. We hope more men will follow their lead and come along. We know it can be un-nerving when the rest of the class are women, but they will feel the benefit and love it once they’ve tried it!’

REFORMER BOOM

Megs opened the studio in December 2024, at a time when Reformer Pilates was expanding rapidly across the world. She had previously worked in a marketing role in Education Technology, commuting to London early in the morning to enjoy Reformer Pilates before work. After six years in EdTech, she needed a change and decided to launch her own business. Megs liked the word “aura” as a representation of energy, so experimented with possible business names around the theme. Eventually, she hit upon Casa De Aura, encapsulating the feeling of a “home away from home.”

Megs said: “I loved Reformer Pilates from my first session. You can fall in love with it quickly, as it’s addictive! At the time, London was really the only place offering Reformer Pilates, and even when I stopped working in the city, I would still regularly travel for an hour to get my fix of Pilates. I felt there was growing demand in the suburbs too, so began searching for a premises in Horsham.

‘I looked at several different units but they were not quite right. I was beginning to lose hope, and considered opening anywhere I could, just to get the business up and running. But as soon as I saw the unit in Middle Street, I knew it was perfect. There was enough space for six Reformer beds and the central location ensured easy access for clients. We added curtains for privacy and after decorating were ready to launch by Christmas 2024. When we opened, there were two Reformer Pilates studios in West Sussex, but it has boomed since, with around 30 now open.’

‘While we have competition, we have a fantastic team and recently won a Muddy Stiletto’s award for best Pilates studio in Sussex, while I was also named best fitness instructor. This success is also testament to my fellow instructors Abi McGee and Ella Laws, as well as the rest of the Casa De Aura team.’ 

Reformer Pilates offers dynamic, resistance-based exercises, adding another element to the flexibility and posture-focused exercises of traditional – or mat – Pilates. Reformer Pilates utilises a spring-based “bed” with a padded platform that you can lie, sit or kneel on, which glides back and forth along a sliding carriage. There are three-coloured springs that can be altered to increase or decrease resistance. White springs offer the lightest resistance, with blue representing a medium setting, and red providing the toughest workout. 

Megs said: ‘One of the good things about the spring system is that the whole class can do the same exercises and movements, yet work at their own level. You can have someone on a lighter spring tension working to their goals, and someone else on a red spring, with much more resistance. The machines also offer scope for different exercises, as they have straps and ropes for upper body work and a foot bar for lower body strengthening. Even people who have been coming to us for two years are still discovering exercises that offer a new flow or work the body in a different or interesting way.’

Casa De Aura offers classes seven days a week, with some sessions held outside office hours to suit all lifestyles. These start as early as 6:15am and as late as 9pm, suiting those whose only chance for fitness comes after putting children to bed. 

Megs said: ‘We have two main class types: Energise and Zen. Energise is based around upbeat music and recreates the feel of an urban Reformer Pilates class. Zen has a more chilled-out ambience and suits those looking to unwind. We also host ‘Feel Good Friday’ evenings, where we put on disco lights and play music, which can be anything from ABBA to Boy Bands. We also have ‘Baby and Me’ classes, which are a great way for mums to exercise without needing childcare, and an Over-50s class, where people work-out alongside others of a similar age. There’s a strong social element to these classes and many friendships have been formed. Our most recent introduction is the Power Aura class, an exciting development that incorporates weights, offering a more intense flow of movement. We’re even hosting a retreat in Mallorca this summer, enjoying both Mat and Reformer Pilates at a villa with a spa and cold plunge, with a lovely beach close by too. It’s going to be a wonderful trip and demonstrates the fantastic community that we’ve developed.’

Further information: Visit Casa De Aura at 4B Middle Street, Horsham, RH12 1NW or online at: www.casadeaura.co.uk

First published in AAH Magazine on 2nd August 2026. Photos: Alan Wright Photography. Words: Ben Morris