Our teachers
Rhona Gemmell
master matwork teacher, studio master certification, pregnancy, bone health, Back4Good practitioner
A Pilates instructor since 2007, Rhona holds Body Control Pilates' highest levels of accreditations, Master Matwork, Studio Master and is a supervising teacher for BCP matwork and reformer students. Alongside her studio and online teaching, Rhona teaches for the National Theatre of Scotland, holds regular back health workshops for the NHS and runs the studio on Otago St.
Mariana Da Silva Parreira
master matwork teacher, studio master certification, pregnancy, bone health, Back4Good practitioner, HIP Pilates, scoliosis, hypermobility, Pilates for children, KCR practitioner
Mariana first came to Pilates to see if it could help with a back problem. She had great results and fell in love with the method, going on to train with Body Control Pilates as a teacher, completing the level 3 mat work course in May 2013. She also holds a Master Matwork Certificate and a Comprehensive Studio Certificate as well having completed training in HIP Pilates (High Intensity Power Pilates). Mariana is also a supervising teacher for Body Control Pilates.
To broaden the quality of her teaching Mariana trained further to include KCR (Kinetic Chain Release) and Hypopressive practitioner (a method to improve the pelvic floor and core health and strength).
Mariana is a keen rock climber and has found that her Pilates practice has helped her improve her sport along with other outdoor activities including surfing. She enjoys teaching to all level and abilities at Otago Street Pilates
Lorna Cochrane
matwork, reformer
Lorna started coming to Pilates in 2013 following deteriorating back problems which had resulted in complete cessation of a previously active lifestyle and chronic pain. Pilates was recommended by her Physiotherapist and Osteopath and she was attracted to the “Body Control” description. She was greatly impressed with the initial assessment and practice thereafter and, for the first time in several years, began to make real progress to becoming pain free and active once again. It is not an overstatement to say that Pilates has completely transformed her situation and she has enthusiastically embraced the training to become a Body Control Pilates qualified teacher in level 3 matwork early in 2016.
Nicola George
matwork, reformer, cadillac, chair, barrels, pregnancy
Nicola George’s love of movement started at a young age when she excelled in the equestrian field in both dressage and eventing for many years in South Africa. Her passion for sport and physical training led to her pursuing a personal training qualification with the Exercise Teachers Academy (ETA) in SA and discovering the power of Pilates.
Inspired by the profound effects Pilates has on posture, injury rehabilitation and prevention and sport-specific strengthening, Nicola completed comprehensive training under renowned South African Pilates instructor Renee Watson of Conscious Movement Education. She furthered her studies to become Body Control Pilates® (BCP) certified, and also became a certified Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) member.Nicola is comprehensively trained in prenatal and postnatal Pilates.
Nicola has been teaching for 12 years and owned her own bustling Pilates studio in central Cape Town, Arc movement Studio, before moving to Glasgow in 2017 with her Scottish husband and their daughter. An avid runner, she continuously endeavours to remain up-to-date by upgrading her Pilates and movement education.
Leigh Garden
matwork, reformer, cadillac, chair, barrels
After retiring from dance school, Leigh wanted to find a form of training that kept her core strong and maintained her flexibility. She found Pilates and loved it. Leigh qualified as a teacher with Polestar Pilates 13 years ago and has been teaching busy classes in and around the west end ever since, including working alongside physiotherapists at Achilles Heel specialising in rehabilitation. She teaches beginners, intermediate and advanced mat classes and is also qualified in equipment, pregnancy and post natal.
Jenn Forbes
All studio equipment and matwork private sessions. Reformer Pilates and mat group classes.
Jenn teaches Pilates for all bodies and goals. She is particularly experienced with the highest level of professional football performance enhancement, similar sports and skill sets, pre/post surgery rehabilitation after physiotherapy sign off, as well as general mobility and quality of life! Her aim is to ensure you gain the best benefits from Pilates in order to improve and optimise all aspects of your body, life, and goals.
With a solid understanding and high level university education in science and body function, plus over 10 years full time coaching Pilates alone. Jenn listens and adapts to the needs of all ages and stages, and currently helps train wonderful people from 18 to 98 years old.
Available am/pm 5 days Sunday through to Thursday.
Jason Thomas
master matwork teacher, reformer, cadillac, chair, barrels, pregnancy, bone health
With a background in gymnastics, Jason first discovered the Pilates method in the late 1990s whilst living in California. His belief in this revolutionary fitness method led him to train as the apprentice and protégé to Paul McLinden (PDTC, Royal Academy of Dance and the first Head of Teacher Training for Body Control Pilates). Jason and Paul co-founded Ocean Wave Pilates in Brighton and Hove and during his 20+ years of teaching, Jason has trained side by side with some of the biggest names in the Pilates industry. He's taught classical Pilates apparatus to fellow instructors during residencies in Argentina, Thailand, Australia, and the USA, as well as acting as a guest lecturer at the University of Chichester's Department of Dance in 2008, setting up the University's first classical Pilates studio and instructing MFA students in cirriculum-based Pilates repertoire. Most recently, Jason joined holiday experts Yoga Explorers, teaching Pilates poolside at the world famous Tigmi Retreat in Marrakech and the 5-star eco-resort Prana del Mar on the Mexican Pacific coast. Jason brings both his experience and enthusiasm for teaching the Pilates method, from Ante/Postnatal rehabilition to high-intensity strength conditioning.
Becky Biarese Catterson
matwork
Becoming a Pilates teacher had been an idea of Becky’s for a while, working as she did for years in the Film & TV industry within the Art Dept. Practicing Pilates always made her feel so much better, stronger and provided a new appreciation of her body. It also took her away from the stresses of work. Driving all day for her job created problems within her body, stiffness, sciatica and problematic movement patterns which Pilates could address and correct. When the pandemic hit in 2020 she felt like this was the time to take something she loved doing in her free time and study to become a Pilates teacher. This experience taught her so much about the body and just how much Pilates can transform someone’s life. Becky qualified to become a certified Body Control Pilates Level 3 Matwork Pilates teacher in 2022. She can’t wait to work with you and enlighten you on your own body and how good it can feel when you move well.
book with Becky here https://gymcatch.com/app/provider/5355/events
Marge Hendrick
matwork
Marge is a Principal dancer at Scottish Ballet. She started Pilates during dance training in Paris and has not stopped practising since then. This technique has helped her a lot through her career (and still does). Marge believes it is a wonderful tool for everyone so wanted to learn how to teach so that she can pass on her love and knowledge of Pilates and movement. She qualified as a Pilates teacher in Matwork Level 3 and is looking forward to welcoming you for private tuition.
Instagram : @pilatesenmarge
Fabrizio Medinelli
Fab wasn't always an exercise lover, in fact he hated exercise and struggled with obesity in his younger years. Fab finally managed to push himself to the gym and found a a love of weight lifting. He'd always heard of Pilates as a good "core" workout and wanted to try it, when he finally did he became completely hooked and knew very quickly he wanted to teach it.
Fab qualified in matwork with Body Control Pilates in January 2022 and has since gone on to do training in intermediate and advanced matwork. He loves how incredibly challenging Pilates can be, even for the strong and fit, and is fascinated by the change it can bring to the body. Fab believes practicing Pilates can and should be enjoyable, and he always tries to bring an element of fun to all his lessons.
Book with Fab here; https://gymcatch.com/app/provider/5273/events