My story

A Passion for Pilates

I’m Rachel and I’ll be your personal guide to getting the most from Pilates. I trained in California with two of the world’s leading Pilates Practitioners, Rael Isacowitz and Karen Clippinger, so that I could bring that expertise back to the UK.

YouTube Channel

I started making videos for my YouTube channel because I wanted to bring the highest quality Pilates to people wherever they are in the world because everyone deserves to feel good in mind and body. Little did I know then that a worldwide pandemic was coming and it was during the two years of lockdowns that viewing surged and I found my place as a regular presenter of Pilates and dance-based fitness online. It is my proudest achievement because it enables me to help anyone and everyone with no barriers to where they are, where I am and it’s FREE so no one need miss out.

Since then I have won a YouTube Creator Award, gained over 200,000 Subscribers, been featured in Forbes online magazine and chosen by Sport England as their recommended Pilates Instructor. I host a LIVE weekly Pilates class every Friday at 10am UK time, a monthly Live session for Seniors and create weekly workouts for all ages and abilities. Subscribe Today and help support this work that is for everyone.

The journey of a Pilates devotee is a never ending one so if you're willing to put in the work I'll be with you every step of the way.

The Future

I want to continue to grow our wonderful online community to reach more people, provide more expertise and give you more content that includes not just Pilates but all aspects of living a healthy, happy lifestyle.

And I don’t want to forget about the personal contact so I plan to present LIVE face to face classes in both London and Brighton and other exotic places around the world. So why not Subscribe to YouTube, follow me on my socials and join my Pilates Family. Everyone is welcome and I’ll do my best to help you become a fitter, healthier, happier version of you.

Rachel x

Where it all began

A dance career cut short

Having trained in dance and theatre arts from childhood, I was a professional dancer from the age of 17 until a knee injury brought my dance career to an abrupt end.

Turning my hand to documentary making, it was while filming in New York, that I first heard the name Pilates. An osteopath suggested it would help strengthen my back and might even help to rehabilitate the knee injury that had cut short my dance career.

The power of Pilates

From the very first class I was hooked. The combination of intelligent, focused movement, the attention to detail, and the fact I could feel the positive effects in my body the next day persuaded me that it was a great exercise regime. Most of all though, it was the changes I saw and felt in my own body that convinced me of the power of Pilates.

Within a few months of regular classes, I had no back pain and I was able to return to dance class, something I hadn’t done since my injury. I also had the added bonus of a longer, leaner look to my body. I had flatter abdominals, more toned arms and legs, and an overall more youthful and athletic appearance that I loved.

A life changing experience

I knew I never wanted to give up Pilates, and such was my passion for it that after nearly ten years of regular practice, I made the life changing decision to train as a Pilates practitioner. I wanted to pass on the benefits I had experienced to others.

Determined to be the best that I could, I sought out the highest quality, most innovative and dynamic form of training. Established in 1989, Basi Pilates in California was founded by Rael Isacowitz. This approach to Pilates honours Joseph Pilates' legacy while at the same time integrating contemporary scientific developments and advancing the method.

As luck would have it, a contemporary of Rael’s, (and co-writer of the renowned Pilates Anatomy book), Californian Dance Scientist, Kineseologist and Pilates Leader, Karen Clippinger, was offering a Basi Comprehensive Teacher Training Course that summer for professional dancers with an additional Dance Specialisation programme. As an ex-dancer it was the perfect opportunity. I signed up immediately and spent the summer in Los Angeles undertaking all my training. It was one of the most demanding but rewarding experiences I have had.

A fully certified instructor

On returning to the UK, I became fully certified to teach both Pilates Matwork and Pilates Equipment sessions. I quickly built up a client list in West London, as well as guest teaching for both Lululemon and Sweaty Betty. I now divide my time between teaching live classes in London, teaching free classes for all on my YouTube Channel and writing about Pilates, health and fitness for Basi and other media.

I continue to make regular trips to California to keep up with the latest trends and scientific innovation in Pilates based fitness. And in 2013 was honoured to be awarded the Kathy Grant Memorial Scholarship by Basi Pilates, which saw me returning to California to be personally mentored by Rael Isacowitz - here’s a great interview with him from a film about Joseph Pilates, the creator of Pilates.

The Basi Mentor Program is a prestigious and coveted training course “for the seasoned professional who wants to hone their teaching skills and study at the highest level of the method”.

Since then I have won several awards for my classes in London including Best Pilates Class in West London in 2015 and Best Pilates Class in London in 2017.