About – Our Teachers
Clare Axon-Saunders - Founder & Head of Teacher Training
Clare’s Pilates journey started almost 20 years ago when she took a Pilates class to improve her horse riding and unexpectedly fell in love with the Method. After becoming hooked on the benefits of Pilates – increased strength and flexibility, but more importantly, an improvement in her horse riding – she underwent contemporary Pilates training. After some time, she found Classical Pilates and found that it connected all the missing pieces, further deepening her knowledge and understanding of Pilates.
Dedicated to continued growth and improvement, Clare continuously refines her expertise. She recently completed training in evidence-based Pilates, integrating the latest scientific insights with traditional Pilates principles. This unique blend makes Clare possibly the only Classical, evidence-based Pilates teacher in the UK, offering an unparalleled depth of instruction.
Clare possesses an eye for detail, ensuring her classes are both challenging and progressive. Yet, her support throughout your Pilates journey is unwavering. Expect her sessions to be filled with laughter (and the occasional F-bomb), as she firmly believes that working hard should always be enjoyable. Her kind manner and engaging teaching style consistently make her classes exceptionally popular.
Clare works closely alongside leading Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, and other healthcare professionals. This ensures clients with ongoing health conditions receive the most comprehensive and integrated support possible, fostering holistic well-being.
Beyond the studio, Clare finds balance with her two horses and two dogs. She’s also a passionate enthusiast of Calisthenics – a demanding form of body-weight training – and a regular at music festivals, truly embodying her philosophy of working hard and playing hard. Join our vibrant community on Facebook or Instagram and be part of our journey towards better health and fitness.
Clair - Senior Pilates Instructor
Clair’s journey into Pilates began almost 20 years ago, following a back injury. As a former gymnast, she quickly discovered how profoundly Pilates resonated with her body, finding both recovery and renewed strength in regular classes. After years as a dedicated client, and following the birth of her children, Clair decided to pursue this passion, transitioning from a successful career as a TV producer to become a fully certified Pilates instructor.
Her comprehensive training began in 2014 with Stott Pilates. Driven by a desire to deepen her understanding and broaden her expertise, Clair then embarked on advanced classical training at Pi Studios in Battersea in 2018, completing full comprehensive certification across all Pilates apparatus.
Further underscoring her commitment to specialized care, Clair is also expertly trained in pre & postnatal Pilates with Carolyne Anthony at The Center for Women’s Fitness, making her an invaluable resource for clients at every stage of their life.
Clair’s profound love for Pilates is evident in every class she teaches. Her sessions are both fun and challenging, designed to ensure you not only feel the full benefits of Pilates but also genuinely enjoy your journey to greater strength, flexibility, and well-being.
Ellen - Senior Pilates Instructor
Ellen lives in North Hertfordshire with her husband, daughter and furry friend.
Ellen has been teaching Pilates classes and personal training Pilates sessions for 14 years. She started her teacher training with a contemporary system of Pilates and then, after specialist training in pre-and post-natal Pilates based exercise, pelvic health and diastasis recti healing exercise, went on to study classical Pilates with Pi Studios in London.
Ellen loves how Pilates is for all bodies and how, with a will to learn, we can help clients achieve their goals to bring them a positive movement experience and confidence in their bodies.
She has years of experience in teaching all populations. Ellen is always keen to evolve her teaching whilst keeping up with the latest sports science.
Rufina - Senior Pilates Instructor
Rufina has been passionate about Pilates for a long time and her energy in the studio is infectious! It wasn’t until she came to the UK in 2015 that she decided to take a Matwork course at Pi Studio in Battersea.
After she had her first daughter she took the full comprehensive classical Pilates training course, and following a year’s apprenticeship, completed the course in December 2019.
Rufina is also trained to teach pre/postnatal classes having qualified with Carolyne Anthony at the Center for Women’s health.
In 2021, Rufina had her second daughter, and it was then she noticed how different her body was and how her pregnancy was compared to her first. Though she had a very straightforward pregnancy with her first daughter, she was stronger and leaner with the second one. And much to her surprise, her body recovered much quicker and bounced back within a few months.
Thanks to Classical Pilates, now in her 40s, she feels happier, fitter and healthier, more coordinated and focused both physically and mentally, than when she was younger.
Michaela - Pilates Instructor
Michaela has recently completed a full comprehensive, evidence-based, classical Pilates course with Clare. Michaela has a background in nursing and a passion for mindful movement.
Michaela first discovered Pilates 8 years ago when she was pregnant with her first born. She was looking for a way to build strength, and support her body through pregnancy. Michaela came to realise that Pilates does not just offer a way to improve physical conditioning, but it also became her sanctuary – a moment of calm and focus in an otherwise busy life. After having her son, Michaela decided to take a career break to focus on raising her family. Fast forward 6 years and with her children now at school, she felt inspired to pursue her long-standing interest in Pilates, and began her journey into teacher training. The practice offered Michaela a powerful connection between strength, control, and well-being.
Training in classical Pilates has been a transformative experience for her, and she is excited to share
this method with others. With her nurturing healthcare background and a thoughtful, supportive approach, she aims to help people move with greater awareness, confidence, and vitality.
Whether you’re new to Pilates or returning to your practice, Michaela looks forward to welcoming you.
Richard - Pilates Instructor
Richard has recently completed a full comprehensive, evidence-based, classical Pilates course with Clare. Richard’s job as a Postman first led him to Pilates. He had always suffered with back pain but since starting Pilates, initially as a client, he was amazed to discover that his back pain went away. More importantly, attending regular classes kept it away!
Having felt the benefits for himself, Richard was inspired to do his teacher training. He found a love for teaching he didn’t know was there and is an enthusiastic and passionate teacher.
Richard loves helping people to move fearlessly, to gain strength and confidence in their body, and help them get back to doing the things they enjoy. Richard’s classes are fun and energetic, his enthusiasm is infectious and you cannot help but leave his classes feeling happier!
In his spare time Richard is a keen runner, regularly taking part in 10k events and enjoys spending time with his dog, Rocco.
Vicky - Pilates Instructor
Vicky decided to bring together her two loves of training and Pilates and has recently completed a full comprehensive, evidence-based, classical Pilates course with Clare. Vicky has a background in training in a variety of areas including Parenting, Baby Massage, Protective Behaviours and family support.
Vicky first discovered Pilates 15 years ago and since then has continued to develop a deeper understanding of its benefits to mind and body. She became more aware of the benefits of Pilates when recovering from a Herniated disc and sciatic pain. Pilates was the one programme that helped manage pain, increased her movement and built her confidence in what her body could do and continues to do so on a daily basis! Vicky is passionate in sharing this knowledge and experience with others, by inspiring fearless movement and confidence.
Vicky is keen on continuing training and expanding her knowledge in a variety of areas and is currently completing a Diet and Nutritional Adviser Course
Vicky’s other big passion is her two dogs, Ronnie and Marley, and she enjoys daily longs walks with them.
Fiona - Pilates Instructor
Fiona was introduced to Pilates at her local gym almost 20 years ago. Out of curiosity and with a great teacher she was introduced to the Matwork – the goal of Pilates. Living with Scoliosis Fiona did ballet as a child and athletics during her teenage years. The intentional repetitive nature of Pilates meant a deeper understanding developed and the physical benefits grew.
During a career in education Fiona’s curiosity in the method continued and she undertook a 13-month classical comprehensive apprenticeship qualifying in 2021.
Fiona gets to know her clients, what their goals are and how Pilates can really help them to feel the benefits in their day-to-day lives. She also has experience of working with clients with neurological conditions, including dementia, which she is particularly passionate about.
Clients feel confident in her classes as they love the detail Fiona provides. She loves seeing the smiles and sense of achievement they exude as they leave the studio, and the feedback she gets when they share their experiences of how Pilates enables them to live a better quality of life.
Besides her passion for Pilates, Fiona is an amateur cellist and enjoys playing chamber and orchestral music.
Heidi - Pilates Instructor
in Harpenden & St Albans
