Who's Who

PILATES

Jane Lunn
Director and Master Trainer

Jane has been in the health & fitness field for 18 years and is qualified as an Exercise Instructor, Personal Trainer and Pilates Instructor, both from Michael King Pilates Institute and a rigorous training programme in mat work and Reformer by STOTT PILATES™. She is the senior trainer at Breathing Space and overseas the monthly training sessions the team meets for. Jane is also a trained Sports Masseur having qualified with the London School of Sports massage in 1993 and is a member of the Sports Massage Association. “Our aim is to help bring balance, whether it be physical, mental or spiritual to our clients”

Michelle Smith
Studio and Events Manager

Michelle started Pilates in 2001 in Australia where she lived, after suffering a car crash spinal injury in 1997 at just 18yrs old. She found a passion for the Reformer and soon found her body pain free! Upon her return to the UK in 2003 she left behind her media career and trained with Michael King Pilates Institute so she could show other people the wonderful benefits she had experienced. She later trained in Fitness Yoga and has worked with Jane since Breathing Space began, having taken on development training under Jane’s wing in Reformer and also certified in STOTT PILATES® Matwork. Her work has also taken her into the world of professional footballers, having worked with players and WAGS from Tottenham, England, QPR, Luton and Watford. 

Victoria Betts

Having trained at the Pilates Institute in London, Vicky has been teaching Pilates since 2005. This was a major career change from the design industry where she had previously been, but after the birth of her second child, she decided that it was time to get out of the commuter rat race and find a new way of life. Having been practicing Pilates for ten years herself, she had experienced first hand the rehabilitative effects that it can have as it aided her own recovery from a persistently bad back. Compelled to spread the word about this and the many benefits of Pilates, she continues to work in and around Harpenden, enjoying the calming environment and friendly clientele at Breathing Space! Vicky has recently added the Reformer to her skills.

Jackie Birch

Jackie started in the fitness industry as a gymnastic coach worked her way through from personal trainer to general manager of a fitness club, while all the time teaching pilates, over the last three years has decided to give up the suit and go back to full time teaching her passion pilates, and weight management programmes. Jackie has added the Reformer to her skills and is also certified in STOTT PILATES® Matwork.

Andrea Gregory

Andrea's been in the fitness industry for 17 years. She loves dancing and singing and spent most of her youth competing and teaching ballroom dancing in her home county of Yorkshire. She works in health and fitness centre's around the area teaching step, conditioning, bodypump, aerobics, stretch, ball and added pilates to the list 3 yrs ago. Andrea has recently added the Reformer to her skills.
She loves the variety of the job and all the interesting people she meets, even those who are always lurkiing in a supermarket aisle checking to see what she's putting in her trolly! Her new passion is golf, very enjoyable but extremely frustrating at times! Andrea's one ambition left is to be the oldest instructor in town!

Colin Peerman

Having competed in elite-level cycling events and Ironman triathlon, Colin turned to Pilates in 2002 to rehabilitate from a back-injury. When an opportunity arose for a career change, Colin decided to train to become a STOTT PILATES™ instructor and is able to teach both matwork and reformer Pilates. With his knowledge of sport, Colin is able to tailor a programme for both athletic and rehabilitation goals, as well as fulfilling the needs of Pilates for everyday lifestyle.

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 now teaches at Breathing Space on Saturdays, fitting it around her other career and passion; nursing. She is an enthusiastic teacher who is passionate about health and exercise and enjoys meeting and inspiring people to make exercise part of their healthy lifestyle.

YOGA

Melanie Ashley- Rejuvenation Yoga/ Ashtanga / Teens / 4-7yrs 

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.  In addition, Melanie realised just how powerful this yoga programme is as it actively integrates the use of synchronised breath with a structured physical practise designed specifically to help the mind and body open - physically, emotionally and energetically in a particular and safe way.  When practised regularly Ashtanga brings many rewards and challenges. She is also qualifed with June’s School of Yoga to teach Childrens Yoga and is a big hit with the kids.

Linda Hodgman- Hatha

Linda came to yoga after injuring her back after years of dancing and being an aerobic animal back in the day!  She then realised it was just as physically challenging but also helped to heal her back and calm and centre her. Linda's style of yoga is vinyasa based with strong postures to help heat and heal the body

Julia Green - Sun Power

Julia teaches Sun Power Yoga, Aqua Yoga, Yoga for Sport and Specialist Therapeutic Yoga in groups and one to one. 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 - Power

From her very first yoga class Tina knew that she had discovered something very different from all the other types of exercise she had participated in. For Tina the benefits of a yoga practice are as much about the mind as they are the body. Her approach to teaching is to inspire the student to delve inside themselves and discover the stillness and peace that is within each of us. 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- Ashtanga

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. He began learning yoga from Breathing Space in it’s first week of opening and now with 8 years of experience under his belt, he is qualified in Ashtanga Yoga.

Martin says “Yoga is an amazing gift you can give to yourself and the benefits are limitless.

His personal teaching style favours a Traditional Ashtanga practice focusing on the breath and deep asana to release the highest benefits for the mind, body and spirit.”

Gary Ward- Vinyasa Krama

Gary was drawn to yoga out of pure curiosity. His introduction was through Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in which he practiced for many years and for a short, but intensive time under the guidance of Hamish Henry of Ashtanga London. Due to an injury, Gary was forced to alter his practice and he found a way into yoga through the practice of Vini Yoga, a therapeutic approach and more recently and specifically through Vinyasa Krama, in which he passed his teaching training under the guidance of Srivatsa Ramaswami. Gary believes that a consistent yoga approach will bring stillness of mind and an awareness of self.

CHILDREN

June Rowlands- 7-11yrs

June Rowlands began her teaching career with all ages of children over 30 years ago and because of her love of yoga developed a unique children's yoga program called JUNE'S YOGA. She now travels to schools all over UK and overseas teaching her Yoga to teachers, who integrate yoga into the curriculum. Her heart is still with the children and loves nothing more than her sessiones working directly with them but feels secure that all teachers using JUNE'S YOGA will be imparting a great gift for their future.

Melanie Ashley- 4-7yrs

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- Street Dance

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 and hold regular street dance classes at Breathing Space, Harpenden. Miranda has an undeniable passion for dance, and knows how to get the best from her students.

OTHERS

Steve Barrick

Steve specialises in two key areas: Sport & Remedial Massage Therapy and Personal Training. As a Sport & Remedial Massage Practitioner his expertise lies in treating all kinds of soft tissue injuries (muscle, tendon, ligaments.)

Steve excels at delivering personal training to suit all ages, abilities and fitness levels and over the years has achieved unparalleled results.

His fun approach to exercise, using functional games and practical "hands on" techniques ensures his clients not only move and feel better, but also take more responsibility for their own bodies.

It’s this sound knowledge and understanding of nutrition, lifestyle improvements, in addition to the latest training techniques that will ensure you achieve your fitness goals – FAST!!  Call reception 01582 462223 to book, or see Steve’s website for more info. www.body-iq.co.uk

David McGill -
Premier Master Trainer

David gained his Master Trainer status with Premier Global in 2008, following 6 successful years experience as a freelance personal trainer.  He offers expert, state-of-the-art knowledge and bespoke programme design to fit his clients’ specific needs. He has contributed on an advisory basis towards published articles in national fitness magazines including Zest, Health & Fitness and Ultra-Fit.  David’s expertise enables him to design safe exercise programmes for pre & post-natal women.  His specialist knowledge also covers the safe and effective training of people affected by diabetes, arthritis, obesity, osteoporosis & hypertension.  One of David’s specific areas of expertise is Kinetic Chain Assessment.  This revolutionary technique is used by experts to assess and correct body postural faults.  This area is commonly overlooked or not understood by the majority of trainers in the industry and can have clear, long-term health implications.  David is an expert trainer in this field and gives his clients sound, specialist guidance. Whether designing personal programmes or personal training, David understands how to care for clients’ long and short term health objectives.  www.davidmcgill.com