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guildford pilates place
Let us introduce ourselves...
At Guildford Pilates Place we pride ourselves on having an instructor to suit everyone. We are all completely dedicated to the Pilates method and have either undertaken full comprehensive training across the entire Pilates method, or are working towards these certifications, taking around two years to complete with hundreds of hours of teaching practice and observation (and some rather nerve-wracking exams!) before becoming qualified. And that’s not to mention the ongoing training that we complete each year to ensure we’re up to date with the latest developments in movement practices, conditioning and rehabilitation.
We are continually furthering our education and training, either with our 'home' training institutions or broadening our knowledge by venturing in to other styles. This means we are fully versed in the true essence of Pilates and the breadth of the system, allowing us to offer solutions to all our clients, whether they need injury rehabilitation, management of health and/or musculoskeletal issues, or sports and athletic conditioning.
We are a close-knit team and love to support each other in our own Pilates practice, sharing our experiences and enhancing our development as Instructors. We also simply really value and enjoy working with our Clients, with many having been part of our studio since the very beginning. Our classes are relaxed, informal, fun and most importantly - deliver results.
Zilla Baker
Studio Owner, STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor, Full Certification (Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Stability Chair, Barrels, Injuries & Special Populations)
Zilla had always been aware of aspects of Pilates through the competitive sports she participated in as a teenager and through her classical singing training. The moment it became a lifestyle decision was after having her now-seventeen-year-old son. Left with a facet joint issue and rather painful ribs, Pilates mobilised and strengthened her body enough to leave her pain free. It was from there that the interest in the method snowballed and before she knew it, she had left her job in marketing and had re-trained as an Instructor. Zilla completed her matwork qualification through the Pilates Institute and then went on to do her Full Certification covering all aspects of Pilates Equipment and Matwork with STOTT PILATES®.
Emily Anderson
STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor, Reformer & Matwork
Having originally trained as a dancer at Central School of Ballet in London, graduating in 1998, Emily performed with various different ballet companies, and then went on to appear in musicals such as Cats and Chicago.
Throughout her dance career Emily felt the benefits of a regular Pilates practice, whether it was rehab after an injury or simply keeping in shape, and now enjoys passing this experience on to others.
Ally Crane
Body Control Pilates Matwork Instructor, Lisa Bradshaw Reformer Instructor & Barre (Cover Teacher)
After flying as long haul Cabin Crew for 15 years, Ally had a baby and packed away her suitcase. She discovered Pilates through her pregnancy and loved it so much she trained as a teacher with Body Control Pilates over 10 years ago.
Ally is passionate about Pilates and Barre and enjoys helping clients reach their goals. She has recently completed her Reformer training with Lisa Bradshaw.
Cordelia Dyer
Polestar Pilates Full Certification (Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Stability Chair, Barrels)
Cordelia has worked in the fitness industry for over 10 years, after a successful career in finance and raising three children overseas. She is a qualified NASM fitness instructor, TRX instructor and Polestar Pilates instructor.
Cordelia has actively participated in competitive sports throughout her life including windsurfing, martial arts, netball and triathlon and practices Pilates as the perfect antidote to hard workout sessions as well as building the strength necessary to continue to train.
She has a deep knowledge of anatomy and experience in working with clients with injuries or muscular pain. Cordelia cares deeply about helping people to find strategies and practices to enable them to move without pain or discomfort, while imparting her knowledge to help clients gain more awareness of their own bodies. She strongly believes that there is a place for Pilates in everyone’s lives whatever their age or activity level.
Jo Harrison
STOTT PILATES® Certified Matwork, Reformer & Cadillac Instructor
Jo has practised Pilates for about seven years, originally in an attempt to deal with back pain and then for the love of it. Training to be an Instructor then seemed a natural progression. Changing careers isn’t new for Jo. She worked for over 10 years as a Physiotherapist and then retrained and joined a large corporate business for 12 years, project managing worldwide clinical trials until a busy life with two children led her to give that up and begin her Pilates teaching journey. Jo has been involved in dance and singing training and performance since a child and really connects with the way Pilates marries the dancing discipline with her physiotherapy knowledge.
Jo completed her studies and qualified as an Instructor for Matwork and Reformer with STOTT PILATES® in 2018 and is keen to help train clients whatever their rehabilitation or exercise goals may be.
Hesti Jordaan
Classical Mat and Reformer Instructor
Hesti qualified as a Pilates instructor in 2006 in South-Africa, and has since completed further certification in Stretch Therapy, Nerves and Neurodynamics, Pelvic Floor Strengthening and is now embarking on a course in Classical and Therapeutic Pilates methods on the mat and apparatus.
Kim Postance
BASI Pilates Comprehensive Certification (Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Stability Chair, Barrels)
Bio to follow
Jenny Power-Finch
STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor, Reformer, Barrels & Matwork
Jenny's interest in Pilates came from her dance background, having been training since the age of three. She found that Pilates offered her the strength and conditioning required for the intensity of her training. This appreciation of Pilates lead to training as an instructor in 2007 with Stott Pilates® and she soon became a full-time instructor in 2008. Jenny has extensive experience in teaching both group classes and private sessions, covering injury rehabilitation, pre and post-natal Pilates, Pilates for those with Parkinsons Disease and Pilates specifically for the male client.
Jenny is passionate about teaching and ensuring clients achieve their physical goals.
Aniko Szemzo
Matwork & Dynamic Reformer
Aniko has a passion for movement, having a background in dance. She is Classical Mat Pilates trained and also completed her Dynamic Reformer course in London having fallen in love with the Pilates method. She loves to challenge her clients and keeps her classes fun and varied using equipment, helping clients achieve greater mobility and strength and discover muscles they’ve never felt before! Aniko has deepened her knowledge for specialist needs such as pre-and post-natal and common orthopaedic conditions.
Elli Weeks
Polestar Pilates Full Certification (Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Stability Chair, Barrels)
Elli discovered Pilates in 2008 and with regular practice noticed significant improvements in her posture and overall muscle strength, tone and flexibility and very soon developed a passion for the Pilates method.
It was four years later that Elli realised the true benefits of Pilates for rehabilitation, following a spinal disc injury. Pilates then became an essential part of Elli’s rehabilitation and she experienced its incredible ability to heal and improve lower back pain. Elli was so inspired by the benefits and holistic approach of the method that she undertook the Comprehensive Studio & Rehabilitation education programme with world-renowned Polestar Pilates in London, leaving a career in Intelligence Analysis behind her.
In 2017 Elli was invited to join the Polestar Pilates UK Education Team as a Mentor and regularly supports the role of the Educators in the delivery of education programmes. Elli is passionate about supporting the next generation of Polestar Pilates Practitioners and offers assistance with their development of exercise mastery, teaching skills and theory in preparation for the final assessment.
Elli remains curious about the complexities of human movement and the mind-body connection. She is dedicated to continually further her professional development and has undertaken further training in Myofascial Anatomy & Movement, Neurological Rehabilitation and Women’s Health.
With a focus on promoting functional, pain free movement and through her own experience of back pain, Elli has a keen interest in helping clients deepen their own understanding of movement to overcome restrictions and improve their quality of life through Pilates.