Our Story
Welcome to P.I.LATES, where our story is rooted in a deep passion for wellness and a commitment to helping individuals achieve their health goals. Founded by Pip Barker and Isla Thomson, experienced Pilates practitioners and instructors, P.I.LATES was born out of a desire to provide a welcoming and nurturing space for people to transform their bodies and minds through the practice of Pilates. Our journey began with Pip and Isla's shared belief in the power of Pilates to improve strength, flexibility, and overall well-being. With a foundation in classical Pilates techniques combined with contemporary approaches, we offer a holistic and personalised approach to each individual's fitness journey. At P.I.LATES, we foster a sense of community, forming lasting connections with our clients and creating a supportive environment that encourages growth and self-discovery. Our dedicated team is here to guide you on your path to a healthier, happier you. Join us at P.I.LATES and become a part of our story today.
Meet The Team
Founder and Teacher
Pip Barker
Pip Barker is a skilled and passionate Pilates teacher , who's lifelong commitment and holistic approach to movement has helped clients to reach their long term goals. As a co-creator of our studio P.I.LATES, her strong and calm manner helps individuals to transform their bodies and achieve optimal wellness through the practice of Pilates. With a love interest of anatomy and a keen eye for technique, Pip provides personalised guidance to clients of all levels, ensuring correct alignment to maximise the benefits of each session. With a warm and encouraging approach, Pip creates a supportive environment where clients feel empowered to reach their fitness goals. Pip is a keen runner, hiker, enjoys anything outdoors and is a self professed free spirit. Join Pip at P.I.LATES and embark on a transformative journey to a healthier and stronger you. Get strengthened and lengthened building your best self with Pip.
Founder and Teacher
Isla Thomson
At P.I.LATES, Isla is dedicated to Inspiring a healthy relationship with exercise for all. With a background in professional dance, her classes are classically structured with a contemporary twist, in turn creating the perfect combination of strength, mobility, and balance. Isla's happiest moments are spent forming friendships and connections with clients, making their well-being a priority. Amidst the chaos of life, Isla finds solace in Pilates, using movement as an expression of emotion. Each class is tailored to individuals, ensuring comfort and offering alternatives. Isla encourages listening to your body while gently motivating you to reach your full potential. Having turned her hobby into a career, Isla provides a safe space at P.I.LATES to exercise, unwind, and usually have a sing song. Join her and experience her passion and infectious energy firsthand.
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Level 3 Mat Pilates & Reformer Teacher
Lorna Pike
​Lorna, our powerhouse Pilates instructor who likes to bring the glitz and glamour of her theatrical and dance background to her classes. By day, she crunches numbers as an accountant, but by night, she is all about building strong bodies, minds and connections through the power of movement ( and a little bit of house music). Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, Lorna's classes are designed to challenge and inspire you to reach your full potential. Expect to feel empowered and energised through Lorna’s dynamic classes.
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Classical Mat & Reformer Pilates Teacher
Lisa Cooper
Lisa is a passionate, accomplished and highly skilled pilates practitioner with over 20 years of experience in the field. Lisa originally studied and practiced through SwissBody pilates whilst living in Geneva Switzerland, a methodology renowned for its emphasis on precision, alignment, control, breath and efficiency of movement. Her classes focus on developing core strength, flexibility, balance, and mind-body awareness through a classical flow of exercises.
Lisa thoroughly enjoys horse riding, skiing and spending time outdoors, reaping the benefits that Pilates has brought in her own practice, to her other hobbies and interests. She looks forward to sharing her love of pilates with you.
Level 3 Mat Pilates Teacher
Jen Smith
​After recovering from a broken and dislocated collarbone at the start of the pandemic, Jen found that her normal movement routine no longer supported her body. Jen rediscovered her joy for Pilates; kind movement that protected her body post injury but still challenged her and built some serious strength. Jen wanted to share the amazing benefits with others, so trained and qualified in 2022, left her full time office role and hasn’t looked back since. Jen is an upbeat and positive person, and you’ll experience this energy in her classes! Jen is also pre and post-natal qualified.
Level 3 Mat Pilates Teacher
Karen Turner
Teaching is Karen's passion. Her dynamic, hands on approach will help you build a strong foundation in your pilates practice.
Karen encourages her clients to take Pilates into their everyday lives by highlighting the benefits of correct form and technique learned in class.
She will support, encourage and challenge you on your pilates journey.
Reformer Pilates Teacher
Amber Inker
Amber is an experienced and fully certified STOTT Pilates Reformer instructor. With a passion for all movement modalities, she has also certified as a CrossFit Coach, ISA Surf Instructor, 200hr Yoga Teacher, Personal Trainer and Les Mills Group Exercise Instructor. She brings a wealth of teaching experience and knowledge to her classes with over 20 years in the Health & Fitness industry both here in the UK, and overseas in Dubai where she lived for almost 30 years.
Amber is all about moving well and staying strong. She is passionate about helping people of all ages and abilities reach their goals and experience the multiple benefits that Pilates and the Reformer brings, in a fun and engaging approach.
When Amber's not teaching, she loves weights lifting, and improving her own health and wellbeing, an avid traveller and also a bit of a movie buff …all things Disney are her favourites.
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Mat and Reformer Teacher
Emma Fieldhouse
Emma is a strong believer that fitness isn’t about looking good - but feeling good - inside and out. She has a passion for group exercise classes, not only for the fitness benefits, but the positive impact on mental and social wellbeing you get from training with others. With a warm and encouraging teaching style she creates a welcoming, inclusive environment inspiring clients to reach their full potential.
With a degree in Biology, Emma loves delving into the mechanics of each exercise - understanding the muscles being used, their impact on posture and how to tailor exercises to maximise their effect.
A lover of hiking, spin, HIIT and bouldering, Emma loves strength based exercises to enhance her performance on the climbing wall and so is excited to start her Reformer training with us and share her passion with you all!
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Level 3 Mat Pilates Teacher
Liz Burns
Teaching is Karen's passion. Her dynamic, hands on approach will help you build a strong foundation in your pilates practice.
Karen encourages her clients to take Pilates into their everyday lives by highlighting the benefits of correct form and technique learned in class.
She will support, encourage and challenge you on your pilates journey.
Level 3 Mat Pilates Teacher
Charlotte Woods
Charlotte recently left the corporate world behind, to fully embrace her role as a Pilates and Yoga Teacher.
Her classes are designed to challenge, strengthen and uplift you, whilst having a wonderful (perhaps sometimes shaky) time in the process.
Charlotte is pre and postnatal qualified and will soon be teaching in our reformer studio also.
In her spare time she loves to be outdoors (ideally by the sea - true Aquarian), or hiking with her dog, gardening, kayaking, and simply enjoying the beauty that nature has to offer.
You'll leave Charlotte's classes feeling stronger, more aligned, and Zen.
Level 3 Mat Pilates Teacher
Amy Long
Amy is passionate about helping people feel and move better. She believes Pilates is the secret to keeping injury and pain free and everyone should do it!