Looking back, my career before Pilates was really quite successful! I spent over 15 years in the fitness industry, teaching aerobics and step choreography classes in Central London and Sydney, Australia. I presented master classes, appeared on National and International TV, featured and presented in bestselling videos and dvds as well as acting as Group Fitness Manager in two of Central London's Premier health clubs.
To me, back then, movement meant complicated choreography, fast thinking, fast footwork and basically throwing myself around the room until I was drenched in sweat and my body ached. My class participants loved it, and needless to say my classes were really popular. It was about looking fit, and as long as I looked the part- that was what mattered. Looking back I was operating from the place of the ‘ego’. I didn’t really ‘listen’ to what my body was telling me. I don’t think a day went by when my body didn’t ache, but I kept going, pushing through my pain. My chiropractic treatments became more regular and I was advised to give up teaching.
I started attending Pilates classes to help manage my ongoing back pain and here I learned to move with a new awareness and started to notice subtle changes in my posture which in turn reduced the pain in my lumbar spine. I realized that this type of movement was more about ‘listening’ to what my body was telling me rather than ignoring it. It was more about how I felt inside rather than what I looked like on the surface. A great shift had occurred in my outlook towards exercising.
Recognizing the benefits, I decided to learn more about the Pilates Method of movement and went to Toronto, Canada to engage in my teacher training at the world renowned Stott Pilates studio. I never looked back! Realizing how much there is to learn, I embarked on another teacher training program with Polestar Pilates in London. I continue to regularly update my knowledge and am grateful to have trained and worked with some of the most inspirational teachers in the industry. I see Pilates as a deep learning experience and a life changing awakening of the body in which the benefits and possibilities are endless.
I fill my time now by tutoring and assessing Pilates Matwork courses for Future Fit Training, teaching Pilates Matwork classes in and around Nottingham and working with one to one clients on the Reformer. I am also Group Exercise Coordinator at Virgin Active, Nottingham and teach Pilates to the players of Nottingham Forest Football Club.
