About me
For me, Pilates is a continuous journey of discovery. A great teacher isn’t defined solely by their qualifications but by their dedication to personal growth and learning.
My journey began after a lengthy career in magazine publishing, when I chose to retrain as the industry shifted to digital. Movement has always been my passion; I earned my black belt in kickboxing, completed my first marathon, and participated in various events, including the women’s doubles at Hyrox. While I thrive on challenges, I’m not fond of the aches and pains that often accompany them. My personal Pilates practice has been crucial in alleviating these discomforts, aiding my recovery from postural issues related to a stressful desk job, and supporting a swift recovery from collarbone surgery and other injuries.
My ambition is to help others experience the transformative benefits of Pilates, guiding them at a pace that is safe and comfortable for their bodies.
I now focus on teaching classical Pilates, emphasising the importance of finding length in the body through a strong centre. My journey took a transformative turn when I entered the comprehensive studio certification program with Amy Kellow at Everybody Pilates. This experience helped me appreciate the difference between my initial training in a contemporary style with Body Control Pilates and the authentic, classical style rooted in the original teachings of Joseph Pilates, passed down from first-generation instructors.
Working with me in the studio provides a unique opportunity to experience Pilates as it was originally intended. I teach the method as a cohesive system, utilizing the mat, reformer, tower, chair, and barrels. This approach helps you discover a two-way stretch from a strong centre, allowing you to lengthen and strengthen simultaneously
Whether contemporary or classical, Pilates offers incredible benefits. With training in both styles and expertise in addressing specific conditions like low back pain and osteoporosis, I can help you achieve your goals while ensuring each session is tailored to your unique needs.
Qualifications
L4 Certified in Pilates Matwork
In 2009 I started my Pilates journey and qualified as a level 3 instructor, I continued this journey and qualified as a level 4 instructor in 2022. A Level 4 certificate represents the highest level of achievement within the health and fitness industry. It demonstrates that you have the advanced knowledge and skills to teach Pilates across a very broad spectrum of clients, including special population groups. You have the skills required to undertake an accurate assessment of the clients physical and technical performance; to develop client-specific exercise and session plans drawing on the full Pilates matwork repertoire and to adapt these based on a dynamic assessment of the clients performance.
L4 Low Back Pain, Specialist Instructor and Back4Good Practitioner
More than 80% of the adult population suffer from low back pain at some time in their life. It is one of the most common reasons why people take time off work and may be distressing and frustrating as quality of life often suffers. Yet gentle effective exercise, delivered by a properly trained exercise professional, can often help with the prevention and management of low back pain. This is underlined by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommending that people with persistent non-specific low back pain should be actively encouraged to stay physically active and take up exercise. All Back4Good® Practitioners are experienced Body Control Pilates teachers, having been certified by Europe’s foremost Pilates organisation. They have undertaken additional training for low back pain to become a Back4Good® Practitioner. This training is endorsed by BackCare, the UK charity for healthier backs; by leading medical practitioners; and by the independent bodies who oversee quality and standards for the UK health and fitness industry. The qualification held by Back4Good® Practitioners sits at Level 4 on the UK Register of Exercise Professionals.
L3 certified in Pilates for Bone Health
Three million people in the UK are estimated to suffer from Osteoporosis, that’s one in three women and one in twelve men over the age of 50. Fragility or osteoporotic fractures are also estimated to cost the NHS around £4.4 billion per annum, with mature adults being the fastest growing segment of our population this number will inevitably grow. In childhood our bones need to grow in length, density and strength. To achieve this our bone building cells work at a higher rate than our bone breaking down cells. This process is called bone remodelling. Then around our mid 20’s - 30’s our bone remodelling rate stabilises as our bones no longer need to grow in length. Finally, at around 35yrs the scales tip the other way with the cells that break bone down working at a higher rate as part of the natural aging process. We can’t stop bone loss, however we can influence it by building a good bone bank as early as possible. Being level 3 certified means, I have undergone further training to enable me to work with this specialist group, ensuring the classes are safe and adapted to better suit the client’s needs and deliver focused results.
L3 certified in Pre and Post natal Pilates
As Pilates teachers we have a privileged opportunity to work closely with pregnant women to ensure that they remain healthy, fit and confident with their bodies, before and after labour. We can also help with the baby’s positioning ready for birth, along with many of the aches and pains associated with pre and postnatal pregnancy. Being level 3 certified means, I have undergone further training to enable me to work with this specialist group, ensuring the classes are safe and adapted to better suit the client’s needs.
Qualified to teach Pilates Reformer
Pilates is not just about the matwork, there is apparatus! The Pilates reformer is one of these amazing pieces of apparatus like no other, it helps you to find length and space in the body whilst working with resistance from multiple start positions. Far from just a workout for your core, this piece of apparatus teaches you how to work with the machines resistance (springs and pulleys) to distribute the loading evenly throughout the body, elongating the spine, joints and muscles which then leads to greater flexibility, strength, endurance and a more balanced posture. It invites the length you want to create in the body whilst balancing the load evenly, strengthening whilst lengthening.
