I was introduced to Pilates in the early 1990s during my dance training at Laban Conservatoire of Movement and Dance. After failing rather impressively to make a career on the stage, I began to train to be a Pilates teacher in a traditional studio in North London. As an apprentice I learned on the job and fell in love with what was at the time a weird and wonderful way to exercise, that felt controlled and yet invigorating. The equipment was awe-inspiring, the movement challenging and the results convincing. This movement system that integrated fitness and well-being felt so empowering and completely won me over.
The lack of official Pilates Schools at the time led me to fill in the gaps of my education and I qualified as a personal trainer. Whist enjoying many years running around London’s Regents Park with my clients, I began to see the benefits of a multifaceted fitness program that combined cardio with strength and mobility training, breathwork and mindful movement. I never stopped teaching traditional Pilates, and although it wasn’t exactly on trend like it is today, I made a happy career teaching and travelling with clients worldwide.
On the education side of Pilates, I eagerly worked my way up to teacher trainer status and before long found myself as Education Director at one of the leading Pilates Education Schools. I enjoyed many years certifying Pilates teachers all over the UK, Europe, South Africa, and Canada.
In 2012 I established my own Academy for Teachers, which offers developmental training to Pilates teachers who wish to explore movement possibilities and improve their skills. Cobham Pilates in Surrey offered me a beautiful space to carry out my training and I continue to teach in this wonderfully supportive Pilates community today.
I am a self-confessed Pilates nerd, and I love nothing more than sticking my nose into an anatomy book and learning as much as I can about movement and biomechanics. This led me recently to undertake a yearlong Diploma in Clinical Pilates, a life-changing experience that has given me the knowledge and confidence to deal with a multitude of injuries and conditions, and I love nothing more than helping people to regain their fitness and rehabilitating bodies back to pain-free functional movement.