Sarah and Ali’s Story
Want to know more about your Pilates In Your Home teachers?
When we’re not teaching Pilates - a note from Ali and Sarah
In case you get the impression that we’re slaves to our fitness regimes - clad in lycra from morning until night, counting calories and downing kale smoothies - let’s throw in a reality check!
We’re both huge believers in looking after ourselves…
So that we can live our lives the way we want to for as long as we want to. So we can enjoy all of our favourite things. Which include great food, a glass (or two!) of wine and a movie marathon once in a while.
Life is for living. We just know, from our own experience, that it’s far more enjoyable to live with a strong, flexible, pain-free body. And that’s exactly why more people want to discover the amazing benefits of Pilates!
Meet Ali and Sarah and find out how they discovered the power of Pilates for themselves and why they’re so passionate about sharing what they know with the world.
Ali’s story
“I am not your typical Pilates teacher. Most have some sort of dance or movement background but not me. In my mid-30s, I was a small cog in a big corporate wheel in London. I was stressed out, unfit and miserable - and desperately wanted to do something more meaningful with my life.
“Around the same time, I noticed a change in my Dad. He had taken up Pilates to help him with persistent back pain and the results were amazing. This piqued my interest and I soon became a regular in Pilates classes, finding them beneficial not just physically but for my mental wellbeing too.
“Eventually, I trained to become a Pilates teacher with BASI Pilates, opened my own studio in Bristol (where I met and became chums with the delightful Sarah) and have helped countless people discover what Pilates can do for them. I had finally found my calling!
“Images of Pilates on the internet would have you believe it’s just for young women who can put their feet behind their head without breaking a sweat. But Sarah and I are on a crusade to change this outdated image! We passionately believe that Pilates can help anyone and everyone.
“Truth be told, I am not the most graceful mover… I’m not naturally that flexible, have very tight muscles, bunions, aches and pains. But Pilates makes my body feel looser, freer and more alive. It helps me to focus on the things my body is capable of rather than lamenting its limitations. Sarah and I can’t wait to help you discover its virtues and see what a difference it can make to your life too!”
Sarah’s story
“I was a typical, precocious 5-year-old, according to my mum. She said I was a ‘fidgety Phil’ with ants in my pants so she sent me to ballet classes - and I loved it. The pink satin ballet shoes, the piano music, the chance to perform. Very soon it became part of my daily life, what I wanted to do when I grew up. So as soon as I could leave school, I did, winning a place at the London Contemporary Dance School. I never looked back.
“My work as a professional dancer took me around the world and back again and in between performing contracts I qualified as an aerobics and step aerobics instructor. After several amazing years, I suddenly found myself living in Japan, happily married, with a son and working as a translator - how did that happen?
“Then a few years ago I came back to Britain and discovered yoga. Hungry for more physicality, I added in Pilates classes and realised how much I'd missed movement as a part of my daily life. When a Pilates instructor friend asked why I didn’t teach, it seemed like a no-brainer and I decided to train with BASI and start out on my own.
“Ironically, Pilates was part of the curriculum at dance college but it's as I've grown older that I've really begun to appreciate its value. Since I hit the half-century mark and the menopause kicked in it's been Pilates that has enabled me to stay physically strong and flexible, and keep my sanity!
“I first met the wonderful Ali as a student in her classes and we hit it off straight away. Once I was qualified, we started covering each other’s classes. When lockdown came, she said, “Let’s Zoom” - and now here we are, on our own big web adventure.”