OUR INSTRUCTORS

During this time Sarah became a founder member of the Pilates Foundation, now one of the leading bodies of the Pilates world. When pregnant with her second child the necessity to move the studio out of home increased, and Pilates Plus was opened in St Margarets in October 2001. In September 2003 Sarah qualified as a GYROTONIC® teacher, followed shortly by GYROKINESIS® qualification.

In May 2012 Sarah opened Studio 117, a studio dedicated to the GYROTONIC® method where she also provides GYROTONIC® Pre-Training courses.

CANELLE BRICOUT

Canelle studied GYROTONIC® whilst training at The Martha Graham School for Contemporary Dance in NYC. She experienced first-hand the healing effects of GYROTONIC® as a result of using the method to recover from her own injuries during her dance career. She has taught a diverse range of clients, including professional dancers, musicians and those recovering from chronic injuries, personalising each session to ease pain and blockages, restore movement efficiency and structural integrity. Committed to furthering her professional development within GYROTONIC®, Canelle has received additional certifications in therapeutic applications for the pelvic girdle, shoulder girdle, pre and post hip replacement, psoas principles, dynamic trunk stabilisation and scoliosis.

DOMINIQUE MCCONNELL-WOOD

Dominique started professional dance training at Arts Educational School receiving a Diploma, Honour’s in Modern Dance. Dominique was introduced to the Pilates Method after sustaining a lower back injury. With the help of physiotherapy and Alan Herdman Studio Pilates, she spent two years rehabilitating from injury, eventually becoming pain free and gaining valuable experiential knowledge of working with back pain. She trained as a Pilates teacher with Alan Herdman and taught at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance for 10 years, where her classes included Pilates Mat classes for dance students and sessions in the bespoke apparatus studio for the general public, she also provided remedial exercise for dancers. Having an interest in movement on a deep level she recently trained in GYROTONIC® Method and is a Licensed GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® Trainer.

ANGELO ZANFARDINO

Angelo Zanfardino is an osteopath registered with the General Osteopathic Council as well as a certified GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® instructor. He uses osteopathy for clinical diagnostics combined with GYROTONIC®-based movement to optimize strength and rehabilitation. After a severe ankle injury whilst dancing professionally, he became a certified GYROTONIC® trainer in 2007 and a certified GYROKINESIS® trainer in 2009. He then continued to build upon his therapeutic credentials with five years of study at the British School of Osteopathy in London, graduating with a Master in Osteopathy in 2016. Since then he has undertaken numerous courses to enhance his training including those focused on visceral Osteopathy, cranial sacral therapy, specialized GYROTONIC® courses, and he became a BodyCode System instructor in 2019. He works holistically and pragmatically blending his clinical skills with years of disciplined study of movement and function.

KARRIE DENE

Karrie danced from an early age and knew that a stage career was for her but, while training at London Studio Centre, that dream was almost shattered when she sustained a back injury that meant she may never dance again. Devastated, Karrie began to do studio Pilates daily help her rehabilitation. Her diligence and determination paid off and she graduated with a Performing Arts Diploma and went on to work professionally as a dancer and dance teacher in Asia.

Whilst managing a gym in Singapore, Karrie began to teach matwork Pilates. From here she began her education with Polestar Pilates and is a qualified Mat, Allegro and Studio Instructor. She continued her movement education in other modalities and is also GYROTONIC®, Xtend Barre® and Core Align® trained, bringing lots of variety to her classes. Karrie is also Pre/Post Natal certified

Karrie's goal is that her clients have a positive movement experience and learn to carry this into their everyday life. She is excited to join the team at Pilates Plus our team and add a little spice to the mix! She may seem all sweetness and light but her class will give you that extra little kick!