Instructors

MANAGING DIRECTOR & SENIOR TEACHER (BSc Hons, REPs Level 3)

Ben is the Founder of Pilates Works. After schooling in Edinburgh he went to Loughborough University studying Physical Education, Sports Science and Recreational Management. Ben set up Excel Sports Academy in 1996 which offers childrens sports camps in Edinburgh. After a brief spell in leisure club management he trained with the world famous Lynne Robinson of Body Control Pilates in London graduating in 2001.

Ben works with many rehabilitation clients and is passionate about helping Scottish athletes perform to the best of their abilities. He has worked with Olympic Skaters John and Sinead Kerr and The Heart of Midlothian Football Team, and both amateur and professional golfers. He is the trainer for the Lothians Elite boys golf team. He also works with the NHS Dental postgraduate education programme to teach back care courses throughout Scotland. He had a brief glimpse of t.v. stardom appearing on UK Living for t.v. personality and GMTV resident nutritionist Amanda Hamilton’s Detox camps.

Ben is rugby enthusiast having represented Scotland while at school. He is also a keen amateur golfer although for one with such a good posture and balance he still finds it difficult to keep the ball on the fairway.

A fitness enthusiast and entrepreneur Ben has recently started Room 4 Health which offers pilates, yoga and mum and baby classes along with a host of practitioners from Massage to Physiotherapy and Osteopathy to Cognative Behavioural Therapy. Room 4 Health is based in the Tiso headquarters on commercial street, Leith.

STUDIO AND MATWORK INSTRUCTOR (REPs Level 3)

Brett discovered Pilates after a fifteen-year career as a chef in his native Australia and the UK. He was inspired to become a teacher after Pilates helped him manage longstanding back pain gained from years working in the harsh physical environment of the kitchen.

He trained in London with the co-founder of Body Control Pilates, Gordon Thompson, and qualified in March 2004. He has since achieved both Intermediate and Advanced Classical matwork certification and is qualified to teach clients on the Reformer in the studio. He is also trained in pre and post-natal Pilates and works with many mums-to-be both in the studio and matwork classes.

As his clients know Brett is no stranger to pain and has a natural empathy with rehabilitation work. He is equally well known for his love of tough core stability and balance work on small apparatus. He is a fan of the Franklin method and now incorporates release, self-massage and challenging co-ordination exercises into his sessions.

Brett attends many workshops for continuing development and has been particularly inspired by the teachings of Lolita San Miguel, one of Joseph Pilates’ original ‘disciples’. Brett hopes to be moving with half as much grace and vigour for life when he hits 73.

PHYSIOTHERAPIST STUDIO AND MATWORK INSTRUCTOR (MSc REPS Level 3)

Cameron is a musculoskeletal physiotherapist who trained as a Pilates teacher with Body Control in 2003 after being introduced to the technique clinically whilst working with performers.

Cameron has gone on to complete his Pilates reformer course with Stott Pilates. He has extensive experience in bodywork, performance and rehabilitation. Widely travelled as a physiotherapist and athlete he has taught pilates in some very different locations, whilst Ben gets to Italy, Cameron taught in Iraq and Afghanistan!

Cameron has an MSc in Ergonomics and is able to apply suitable exercise and advice to enhance how we live our lives in all areas. He is always looking to allow people to get the best out of themselves through movement and body awareness.

He has proved himself completely mad having completed Ironman Triathlon in the past (enough said). Whilst embracing the traditional work of Joseph Pilates Cameron also brings his own unique blend.

MATWORK INSTRUCTOR (BA Hons)

Discovering Pilates in 1999, Gill was captivated from her first session. As a competitive swimmer in her youth and one with knee problems, she felt it was important to find a method of exercise which maintained her physical fitness without putting impact on her joints. Pilates was perfect. After 10 years of being a dedicated Pilates student, Gill decided to do her matwork training with The Pilates Foundation. She found she loved to help other people get the very most from their bodies.

Having worked for 14 years in the computer games industry, she can fully relate to the ‘sitting at a workstation’ culture and says it was great to help so many of her previous colleagues improve their postures, increase their concentration levels and help reduce their neck and back tensions.

Gill’s classes offer an energetic, dynamic and client-centered approach, which motivates her clients and addresses their individual needs. Her approach is ‘hands on’ with the aim that the client leaves the class feeling nurtured and revitalised.

Alongside her passion for Pilates, scuba diving is way up there, and then closely followed by Ashtanga Yoga and exercise to music classes and has most recently fallen head over heels with the Pilates Reformer.

MATWORK INSTRUCTOR (REPs Level 3)

Jan joined Pilates Works as a matwork instructor in January 2007 after qualifying with the Body Control Pilates Training Academy in London. She is also qualified in Pilates for pregnancy and enjoys helping clients of all ages, abilities and fitness levels to gain strength and make the most of their physiques.

Jan discovered Pilates after over 20 years sitting at a desk and juggling phones as a marketing and press officer. She credits the method with keeping her own shoulder problems at bay and improving strength and posture. Those close to Jan would agree she advocates it to anyone who will listen. She understands the negative effects of sedentary work first-hand and believes Pilates is the ideal exercise programme for rebalancing mind and body.

She is also a keen rock climber who will fasten into her harness at the first opportunity. She is passionate about the benefits of Pilates for fellow climbers and is currently developing a specialist programme with Pilates Works.

Jan’s favourite piece of Pilates equipment is the Toning Circle or, as she puts it, the ‘Torture Ring’.

STUDIO AND MATWORK INSTRUCTOR (REPS Level 3)

Laura joined Pilates Works as a mat work & equipment instructor in May 2007, after completing her comprehensive Matwork and Equipment training at Total Body Approach in March 2006. Laura discovered Pilates after her remedial and sports massage training lead her to Total Body Approach where she worked for 3 years as Reception Manager / massage therapist and Pilates instructor. Laura has worked along side health professionals such as Osteopaths, Physiotherapists, and other massage therapists and is a NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming ) & Master NLP Practitioner.

Laura is keen to adventure into all new areas of mind body fitness and already works with athletes such as Edinburgh Tri-athletes and golf professionals. She loves learning anything new.

Laura’s favourite piece of Pilates equipment is the Foam Roller

MATWORK INSTRUCTOR

Nora discovered Pilates 7 years ago during rehabilitation from a running injury. She has been hooked ever since and is convinced Pilates balanced her marathon training and helped her over the finish line all 3 times. Nora firmly believes Pilates is for everyone and went on to train as a teacher with Body Control in London.

Having previously spent 11 years in Corporate Finance, Nora understands the pressures of the modern work environment and everyday life. She believes that the focus and concentration required for Pilates makes it the ultimate mind-body workout - allowing the mind to ‘switch off’ from the outside world and providing a physical challenge to create a strong, balanced and supple body.

Nora combines Pilates with her other role as a Massage Therapist and believes the two complement each other perfectly. Her clients are always ensured that the whole picture is considered and that small changes to posture and movement can make a world of difference. Nora continues to be inspired by the variety and progression the technique offers, which means she can ensure her clients will find what they need from Pilates……and have fun on the way!

PHYSIOTHERAPIST AND MATWORK INSTRUCTOR BSc (Hons)

Pamela qualified as a Physiotherapist from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh in 2002. She has worked for the NHS, Spire Murrayfield Hospital and Boroughmuir rugby club; and now works for Physis in Edinburgh as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist and Pilates instructor.

Pamela discovered Pilates initially as a treatment technique for back pain and has completed post-graduate training to become a certified instructor in Modified Pilates through the APPI (Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute).

Pamela incorporates Pilates into her rehabilitation programmes for clients with a range of conditions and loves the way that exercises can be tailored to individuals’ needs. She enjoys the variety that classes can offer and benefits from participating as well as teaching. Pilates keeps Pamela strong and supple to stay fit for her work, which can be pretty physical at times; and has improved her overall fitness. As a novice surfer, she one day hopes it will help her to stand up properly on her board!