The studio · Bilbao, Bizkaia
One room, six reformers named after the rivers of Bizkaia, two teachers, six hooks on the wall and a pencil card taped under every footbar.
History
Movelara opened in 2018 in the back room of what had been a haberdasher's shop in Bilbao. Lara had spent six years teaching mat classes and wanted a room where she could set a machine to a person, instead of asking a person to fit a mat. She bought three second-hand reformers, took each one apart on the floor of that room, replaced what was worn, oiled what was left and put them back together herself. They still work there, and so does she.
By 2021 there were six machines, which is as many as the room holds with space to walk between them, and Iker had joined to teach the evenings. Until this website went up in the summer of 2026, the whole timetable lived on a single sheet of paper taped inside the window. This page replaces the paper. The room stays exactly as it was.
The six reformers
Each one is named after a river in Bizkaia. The number on each card is its pencil tally: class-hours since its last new straps.
The first machine Lara restored, stripped back to the bare frame on the floor of this room in 2018.
Nervión · on the card188 of 400
Original three
Second of the three originals. It stands nearest the window, so it is the first machine the morning sun reaches.
Cadagua · on the card247 of 400
Original three
Third of the originals. It reached 400 early this summer, had new straps fitted that Sunday, and its card started again from a single stroke.
Ibaizabal · on the card96 of 400
New straps
The fourth machine, bought when the early mornings began to fill. Next in line for new straps.
Butrón · on the card371 of 400
Straps due soon
The machine Lara uses to show a new spring setting before class, so it does a little more than its share.
Oka · on the card312 of 400
Demonstration machine
The sixth, the one that made the room full. Iker's evening classes began the same year.
Artibai · on the card154 of 400
The sixth
Counts copied from the cards at the start of July 2026. The real numbers are under the footbars, in pencil, and go up by one every class-hour.
The pencil card
Taped under the footbar of every reformer is a small card with a pencil on a string. At the end of each class-hour, whoever taught adds one stroke, in gates of five, the way you would count anything by hand. When a card reaches 400 strokes, the straps come off and new ones go on, whatever they look like.
A strap that looks perfect can still have stretched a few millimetres, and a few millimetres is the difference between a carriage set for you and one set for somebody slightly taller. Lara fits the new straps herself on a Sunday, when the room is closed, then tapes a fresh card under the footbar and makes the first stroke on Monday at 07:30.
Oka · 312 of 400
Straps replaced at 400
Teachers
You will only ever meet two teachers here. Whoever sets your springs on Tuesday morning has read the note on your card from Monday evening.
Opened the studio in 2018 after six years of mat teaching. Teaches the mornings, Friday and Saturday, takes newcomers through their three Arranque privates, and restores the machines herself. The pencil cards were her idea.
Joined the year the sixth reformer arrived. Teaches the evening classes from Monday to Thursday, reads the note on your card before you lie down, and keeps the evening pencil strokes honest.
Before you come
There are no lockers, only six hooks along the wall, labelled with the same river names as the machines. Hang your things on the hook that matches your reformer and you will always know where they are.
Questions about the room, or about an injury, go to hello@movelara.com. Lara or Iker reply within one working day.