(Pre requisite for Matwork Classes)

The first steps on your Pilates journey with us! Learn the basic principles and exercises that are fundamental to the STOTT PILATES® method, the world leaders in Pilates education! Create a foundation of good body awareness, alignment, core stability and increased flexibility.

Build on the foundations and develop your core strength and stability in order to move onto the more challenging levels. Props may be incorporated to add variety such as toning balls, stability rollers, flex bands, fitness circles and chi balls. Participants are encouraged to stay in the Essential class until they feel confident enough with the basic exercises and principles to progress to the additional exercises in the Essential-Intermediate and more co-ordinated and challenging Intermediate levels.

(Pre-requisite for Group Reformer Classes)

These sessions are not timetabled. Please see our notice board for dates of the next available workshop date. Available for either a) clients with no prior STOTT PILATES experience or b) existing Pilates Matwork clients who just need to familiarise with the Reformer. This workshop will teach you how to set up and safely use the Reformer, as well as learning some basic exercises in the Essential repertoire.

The reformer is a great versatile piece of equipment that is designed to work on integrating all the muscles and provide a full body workout. This fun group class will use your own body weight and resistance springs and pulleys to reform muscular imbalances, tone, strengthen and lengthen the body. We will also include other equipment such as the box, pole and jumpboard for improving cardio fitness and endurance levels.

An ancient form of exercise to calm the mind, increase flexibility and improve balance. In many styles, it’s worth trying a few to see what suits you

• Ashtanga: Energetic with flowing postures, builds heat & strength to detoxify the body through set series
• Power Yoga: Similar to Ashtanga, but a more freestyle version with no set sequences
• Hatha: A good mix of Vinyasa flows and static postures, a well rounded general class
• Rejuvenation: Slower paced, works on breaking down postures, breathing techniques, energy blocks & relaxation. Includes a monthly total relaxation guided meditation Nidra class.
• Iyengar: a traditional form, known for its use of props such as blocks and belts to focus on good body alignment and building strength.

Choose from the calming and agile effects of yoga for ages 2.5-4.5yrs, 4-7yrs, 7-11yrs and Teens or the funky dancing of Teens Street Dance. Term times only.

Jane Lunn
Director and Master Trainer
Jane has been in the health & fitness field for over 20 years and is qualified as an Exercise Instructor, Sports Masseur, Personal Trainer and Pilates Instructor, both from Michael King Pilates Institute and a rigorous training programme in mat work and Reformer by STOTT PILATES™.

Michelle Smith
Studio and Events Manager
Michelle started Pilates in 2001 (after suffering a car crash spinal injury in 1997) and discovered a passion for the Reformer and soon found her body pain free! She trained with Michael King Pilates Institute (and later certified in STOTT PILATES® Matwork) and has been with Breathing Space since it began. Michelle has also worked with players and WAGS from Tottenham, England, QPR, Luton and Watford. Michelle is on maternity leave until April 2011.

Victoria Betts
Vicky trained at the Pilates Institute in London and has been teaching Pilates since 2005. Having practiced Pilates for ten years prior to training she understands the rehabilitative effects that it can have as it aided her own recovery from a persistently bad back. Vicky has recently added the Reformer to her skills.

Jackie Birch
Jackie has been a gymnastic coach, personal trainer and general manager of a fitness club, as well as continuing to teach Pilates. She is now dedicated to full time teaching of Pilates, is certified in STOTT PILATES® Matwork and has also added the Reformer to her skills.

Andrea Gregory
Andrea’s been in the fitness industry for over 20 years. Her teaching experience ranges from step and bodypump to Pilates and the Reformer. Andrea loves dancing and singing and spent most of her youth competing and teaching ballroom dancing in her home county of Yorkshire.

Rachel Bateson
Rachel is qualified in a variety of different exercise classes as well as Pilates. She completed her STOTT PILATES Matwork course in 2006 and fits her teaching at Breathing Space around her other career and passion; nursing.

Paula Dyer
Paula runs a Pilates company with her partner Michael based in Borehamwood and is helping with Michelle’s maternity cover. Paula has many years of training experience and has been so well received when previously covering holidays or sickness for us that we are delighted that she will be more actively involved as one of our regular instructors.

Melanie Ashley
Melanie trained to instruct in Ashtanga Yoga following the RYT200 Teacher Training with Michael Gannon of Ashtanga America.  From this course Melanie learnt the true traditional format of Ashtanga Yoga and came away with the enthusiasm to share this with as many people as she could. She is also qualified with June’s School of Yoga to teach Children’s Yoga and is a big hit with the kids.

Linda Hodgman
Linda discovered yoga after years of dancing taking its toll on her back. She realised that as well as being physically challenging yoga also helped to heal her back, calm and centre her being.

Julia Green
Julia teaches Sun Power Yoga, Aqua Yoga, Yoga for Sport and Specialist Therapeutic Yoga. She is an accredited member of the British Wheel of Yoga and a qualified Yoga Therapist. In addition she is also qualified Herbalist, Relaxation Therapist and holds a diploma in nutritional therapy.

Tina Hardy
For Tina the benefits of a yoga practice are as much about the mind as they are the body. Tina’s teaching places strong emphasis on anatomical alignment and core strength to provide a firm foundation from which we can safely open our body and ultimately the mind to the endless benefits that yoga brings.

Martin Forsyth
Martin thought yoga was for girls and abnormal men, until he found it has amazing powers and helped him lose weight, tone, help a bad back and be less stressed. With 8 years of experience under his belt, Martin is qualified in Ashtanga Yoga.

June Rowlands
June began her teaching career with children over 30 years ago. Her love of yoga led her to develop a unique children’s yoga programme called JUNE’S YOGA. She now travels to schools all over UK and overseas training teachers to integrate yoga into the curriculum.

Melanie Ashley
A firm favourite in our adult classes, Melanie has now developed her yoga into the world of children’s classes. Having undertaken the rigorous training with JUNE’S YOGA, she is a big hit with the kids.

Miranda Palmer-Merrett
Miranda is a classically trained ballet dancer and a professional instructor/choreographer in ballet, street dance and salsa. She is a personal trainer to up and coming ballet professionals as well as running our popular street dance classes.

Heidi Shott
Heidi has joined our children’s yoga team specialising in 2 to 4 year olds following training with our team leader and nationally recognised authority in the field of children’s yoga – June Rowlands.

If you are recovering from injury, pregnancy or under medical supervision, please ask your Physiotherapist, Osteopath or GP if you are ready to commence a Pilates programme. In some cases, we would recommend an initial course of 1:1 sessions before you begin on classes. Our Studio Manager is available to help you with your questions.

We also run sports specific courses in Pilates: skiing/snowboarding in January and golf in April as well as regular workshops to develop your Pilates and Yoga skills. Call reception on 01582 462223 to find out more or to ask about any of our classes.