I was born into a family of PE teachers and acrobatic coaches in Poland. From a young age, I was involved in sports, observing and experiencing it both at grassroots and high-performance levels.

In my twenties, I completed a BA degree in Yoga and Pilates, followed by a Master’s degree focusing on flexibility. As part of these studies, I gained my teaching qualifications.

I have been involved in many disciplines, including gymnastics, athletics, team sports, contemporary and classic dance, yoga and tai chi. I have trained acrobats who went on to perform with Cirque de Soleil.

I have also undertaken numerous training courses focusing on bodywork and massage techniques.

For the last 15 years, I have been working as a primary school PE and games teacher. Alongside this, I have been teaching Pilates for 20 years.

Pilates is still a part of my daily routine - the older I get, the more I appreciate its benefits! It complements my love of cycling, wild swimming and spending time in nature.

Pilates is a low-impact form of exercise that focuses on core strength, flexibility, balance, and postural alignment. Developed in the early 20th century by German physical trainer Joseph Pilates, it coordinates precise body movements with controlled breathing to strengthen the deep, stabilising muscles.

Initially called ‘Contrology’, Pilates emphasises the mind-body connection, encouraging you to execute every movement with concentration and deliberate precision.

Because it targets deep, foundational muscles, Pilates offers many benefits:

• reduced back pain: by building deep core strength around the spine and hips, it relieves structural strain
• enhanced posture: it encourages optimal spine alignment to prevent slouching
• injury prevention: balanced muscle training keeps joints functional and stable
• increased flexibility: exercises focus on simultaneously strengthening and lengthening muscle tissues
• increased relaxation and wellbeing: by bridging physical movement with mindfulness and a focus on breathing, stress hormone levels reduce. Unlike high-intensity workouts, Pilates focuses on controlled, precise exercises that release physical tension while calming the nervous system.

I teach my students how to use their bodies correctly in everyday life, to avoid injury and pain, and also encourage them to notice unhelpful movement habits (such as picking up heavy things incorrectly) and find better techniques.

My philosophy throughout is to listen to your body and to do less rather than more. The slower and more precise the movements, the more you will notice and learn. This also gives you the chance to be aware of your breathing - and how we breathe is vital to our health!

I like to offer variety in my classes, so no two weeks are the same. However, we will repeat some exercises, which will build up your understanding and confidence.

I also encourage students to take the ‘tools’ that suit them best and practice them at home. I offer handouts to support you with this.

I am keen to have an ongoing dialogue with my students so encourage questions, comments and feedback during the class. I like my classes to be fun and relaxed, so there’s usually quite a bit of laughter!