Instructor profiles M-Z

Nicola began practising Yoga at home in her bedroom when she was 12 years old. Growing up she practised in whatever Yoga classes she could, in church halls and school gyms, until she finally came across a Yoga shala in Dublin and began practising Ashtanga Yoga in 2000.

Moving to London five years later she stumbled upon Jivamutki Yoga at a Clapham gym class. Through the classes Nicola met her main teacher and friend, cat Alip-Douglas, and become a practitioner of the Jivamukti practice and method.

In 2007 Nicola trained as a Jivamutki teacher and taught in New Zealand for over a year before returning to Europe.

My adventures with Spinning® started in 2006. At my first class I thought all the people who were doing this were "nuts". After the second class slowly, slowly I started to become "nuts" too.

First I fell in love with the music, later - after picking up the technique - with the whole idea and workout. Spinning® became more than simply exercising: meditation, opening heart and soul, enjoyment of life, finding edges, giving, receiving, strengthening body and mind.

I have been teaching since 2007. In my classes one of the key points is the music. With different music styles I will take you on a complete journey and lead you through different terrains. I also have an interest in Pilates, functional and weight training and holistic therapies and am a Reiki practitioner.

Formerly an avid class participant, in 2005 I took the plunge and trained as a Group Exercise Instructor myself. As soon as I qualified as a BodyCombat instructor I started teaching for Soho Gyms at the Camden and Earls Court sites. In the following 12 months I trained as a BodyPump and BodyAttack instructor. I absolutely love teaching the three programmes and find it gives a nice balance to my professional life as, by day, I’m a Civil Servant. The members are fantastic, always giving it their all – a real pleasure
to teach!

I currently teach at Borough, Clapham Common and Waterloo but can often be found enjoying other people’s classes at the various Soho Gyms sites.

Pashenka began practicing yoga asana in 1996 as a way to help her transition from the world of classical ballet to university (where she studied to become a speech and language therapist). The profound physical, mental and emotional effects this had, left her curious and keen to find out more. This interest has been nurtured through the Jivamukti Yoga Centre London, The Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Training Program and her additional 800-hour apprenticeship certification.

Pashenka is blessed to have known and grateful for all teachers she has met along her path, especially students – a constant inspiration and the best teachers. She looks forward to continuing the journey of teaching Jivamukti Yoga and hopes to selflessly serve and inspire students to take the leap and view yoga as more than movements on the mat…to be the positive change in the world.

Patricia Slapp was a successful gymnast in her teens, competing at both a State and National level in Australia before transitioning into the field of Sports Aerobics. Her vast athletic experience, combined with a Degree in Sports Science has provided a solid foundation for a highly successful career in the fitness industry. A highly sought after instructor, she has been a UK Les Mills National Trainer for over 8 years, training & assessing instructors in the field of BodyPump & BodyAttack.

When she is not inspiring people to achieve their fitness goals Patricia enjoys flexing her creative muscles in the fashion industry. She has recently launched a range of handbags and over the past 4 years her brand of fitness clothing, Bordoni Sport has developed a cult following amongst instructors and fitness enthusiasts across the UK (www.bordonicreations.com)

Patrick qualified as an Exercise to Music instructor in 1995 and has been teaching regularly in London's premier gyms since then. He has an energetic, entertaining and creative teaching style which has built him a loyal fitness following. He teaches several types of classes including abs, aerobics, aqua, body conditioning, BodyPump, circuit, core conditioning, spin, step and stretch. He has a particular strength in freestyle instruction. A former City solicitor, Patrick's full-time job is as Global Head of Learning and Development in one of the UK's largest elite law firms.

Qualifications:

• Exercise to Music
• Aqua
• Body Pump
• Spin

Richard has been practising Yoga for nearly twenty years and teaching for six. Prior to this he was a Buddhist monk. Essentially he believes that Yoga should be accessible and enjoyable to all. There's a variation or modification for everybody in every posture. I just want to use my training and experience to guide you to a more open body and peaceful mind and I want you to see how that improves every facet of your life so that you get hooked on yoga practise and make it a part of your world...Simply relax and enjoy: Yoga's not a performance and only clowns think you have to be an acrobat to do it.

Class description: ''In this class I want to stop your mind and open your body. We'll go through a range of exercises - some gentle, others more vigorous. All of them will have options to meet your physical needs and respect your present physical limitations - nobody gets injured in these classes or leaves feeling like they can't do yoga. Put simply, in a time when we spend so much of our life in isolation there are great benefits in taking part in group activities like this. Your body will get a nice workout. Your mind will get a much needed rest. Emotionally you will feel more balanced and, after this early morning class, you will be much better placed to meet the demands of your day whatever they might be. Now, where else can you get all that in 45 minutes?''

Rob has been involved in the fitness industry for 4 years as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor. He is also Les Mills UK National Trainer, Presenter and Assessor for BODYATTACK and BODYSTEP.

Qualifications

• Level 3 Personal Trainer
• Exercise to music
• PTTLS teacher training
• CYQ assessor
• Les Mills International
• Bodyattack
• Bodystep
• Bodypump
• Bodycombat
• Bodybalance
• RPM
• CXWORX

Roger has been working in the industry for over 15 years now, qualifying in exercise to music and gym whilst working as a social worker. In 1997 he started working for the YMCA, working in the gym and as a studio manager. He is currently employed by YMCA Fitness Industry Training as a tutor, training and qualifying people to become gym instructors and personal trainers, which gives him a broad knowledge of fitness and opportunities to meet a vast range of people from all backgrounds. He thoroughly enjoys working in the industry and firmly believes that working out should be fun.

QUALIFICATIONS

• B Tec Social Care
• Certificate in Education ( PGEC)
• RSA Exercise to music
• YMCA Step
• YMCA Aquacise
• RSA/YMCA D32 Assessors Award
• YMCA Circuit Training
• YMCA Gym Training
• YMCA Core Stability/Coreball
• Polar HR Own Zone Training,
• Reebok Flexible Strength
• Reebok Core Board
• YMCA Supple Strength
• YMCA Cardio Kick
• YMCA Sculpt
• YMCA Group Rowing
• YMCA Group Cycling
• Startrac Jonny G Spinning
• YMCA/Keiser Cycle,
• YMCA Strike!
• YMCA Advanced
• Teaching Skills
• Les Mills Body Pump Instructor
• Stott Pilates Matwork
• Urban Funk
• YMCA Personal Trainer Award – Client Lifestyle and Fitness Assessment
• Exercise Nutrition
• Advanced Gym
• Client Retention
• Training in Different Environments
• Business And Marketing

Sarah has a background in MMM Dance, which has foundations in yoga, Pilates, and contemporary dance. She toured briefly with an amateur dance group in the 1980’s before becoming a biologist and environmental biologist. She studied metabolic biochemistry, human physiology and epidemiology (Health of Man) as key elements of her degree.

It was Step that brought Sarah back into the dance studio seventeen years ago. People assumed she was an undercover instructor, so in 2000 she chose studio fitness as a professional hobby to complement her career in wildlife conservation – and proved them right!

Since then she has trained in Body Balance and Body Pump, opened a poledancing school, been the dance model for a 3D animated character in a pop video, contributed to BBC London, had her DJ-Aerobics venture featured in TimeOut, danced with The Bays and The Egg, choreographed a dance show, smashed a Guinness World Record and raised £5,000 for charity. Not bad for a professional hobby!

Freestyle Step remains her closest passion, and she is thrilled to stand in for John Shehan and Michael Steel at Soho Gyms whenever they need her. Her permanent classes are Total Body Conditioning and Body Pump at Soho Gyms Borough. She’s an energetic instructor with a reputation of pushing you hard.

Simon took up Yoga in his teens and after spending time in India, qualified to teach in 2003. His Hatha classes draw on a mixture of yoga styles and influences but are suitable for all levels of practitioner, from complete beginner to seasoned yogi. Emphasis is placed on body alignment and precision in each posture, and holding the postures (or "asanas") until their full effect is felt, with intensity, but without pain!

Simon is also a qualified Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor and Pilates Teacher and his classes bring together classical yoga postures and practices from the ancient art form of yoga with modern exercise physiology, anatomy and sports science to deliver a class that strengthens, stretches and tones the body, rehabilitates injury, and sets you on the path to building the body you want.

Simon teaches at Soho Gyms Waterloo, Thursday lunchtimes from 1pm till 1.45pm; and Soho Gyms Clapham Common on Saturdays from 9.15am till 10.30am

Sophie has been part of the fitness industry for 10 years. She started her career teaching group exercise whilst completing a degree in English Literature. After enjoying the freedom and challenge of teaching whilst doing her degree, she continued in the fitness industry with a role as studio co-ordinator at a club in the city.

Since qualifying for her exercise to music, Sophie has added numerous class formats to her repertoire, including Body Pump, Body Combat, Body Balance, Body Attack, spinning, aqua and step. As a freelance fitness instructor, she is enjoying teaching a regular Body Pump class at Earls Court.

Vivi started as a runner & football player in Sweden when she was six. Later she became a Professional Dancer and graduated from Laban University in 2002. Her class has a strong focus on Gentle Breathing and Alignment as the motivation for movement.

The aim is to draw on diverse sources to emphasise healthy body mechanics and efficient use of the body weight. The class is open for everyone and welcomes pre and post natal clients. It is highly recommended if you suffer or are recovering from a serious injury, disability or illness and, most generally, for common stiffness, pain and aches.

Vivi has a wide knowledge in sport practices acquired by following Professionals. Her qualifications from the Pilates Foundation were completed at the Scott studio in 2004. She has enriched her knowledge by learning from world renowned teachers which has contributed to her unique style of teaching. Vivi has taught extensively in London, France, Italy and Sweden.

"What makes a good work is not the aesthetic but the context"- Jean Prouvé

Will has worked in the fitness industry for over 10 years, beginning his career at Les Mills World of Fitness in Christchurch, New Zealand before moving on to teach BODYATTACK, BODYPUMP, BODYSTEP and RPM (Spin) at the home of Les Mills in Auckland.

Will was a national trainer and presenter for Les Mills in New Zealand before moving to London in 2007, and has presented on a number of instructional DVDs and at conventions across Australasia, Europe and North America.

Will works full-time outside the fitness industry as a media lawyer.

Zamir has been teaching group fitness classes for over 21 years in Australia and the UK. He is involved in training and assessing new instructors and is passionate about the ability group fitness has in improving people's health and fitness. Zamir teaches a variety of class styles including Les Mills programmes BodyPump, BodyAttack and BodyCombat and freestyle step and conditioning.