About Me

About me

I qualified as a Pilates matwork instructor with Polestar Pilates UK in 2022, after an intense year of training, study and apprentice teaching. Now I am excited to be able to share the benefits & joys of the Pilates method with many more people in Levenshulme and beyond.

I’d already been a movement instructor for over a decade before I began training in Pilates, so I bring a wealth of skills from my previous work to my Pilates teaching. As a performer and teacher of Egyptian raqs sharqi (also known as ‘bellydance’), I have taught dance technique to hundreds of people, ranging in experience from adult complete beginners to lifelong dancers.

And whether I’m teaching dance or Pilates, I enjoy finding creative ways to make even the most complicated or subtle movements clear and easy to follow for everybody – even those who are used to thinking of themselves as uncoordinated!

I am also Autistic, which means that as well as being good with noticing tiny details (very important in Pilates!), I am keenly aware that we all have different natural ways of communicating and learning, and of the need for teachers to adapt instructions to make sense for each person’s unique mind and body. I strive to make my classes an accessible and welcoming experience for everybody – and if you’re also neurodivergent & looking for a movement instructor who “gets it”, I’d be especially delighted to work with you.

When I’m not teaching Pilates or dancing, I enjoy spending time with my partner and our ex-racing greyhounds, stength training, running with Levenshulme runners, and spotting interesting fungi. I’m fascinated by all the ways human movement, art & creativity, and the natural world come together, so most of what I do reflects this in some way!

Get in touch

Whether you’re interested in taking classes with me, or are a local venue or organisation interested in collaborating, I’d love to hear from you. You can email me at rachael@levenshulmepilates.uk

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