About Helen
Helen was first introduced to the Pilates Method by Alan Herdman, founder of Pilates in the UK. Helen continued to use the Method as her major form of supplementary exercise during her years as a professional dancer. This continued after she had stopped dancing professionally.
Helen began teaching Pilates in 1993 after completing her apprenticeship in Sydney. The early focus of Helen’s Pilates career was to establish and manage a Pilates studio in the “Solutions for Pain and Injury Centre” (Sydney, Australia 1995). This was one of a few multi-disciplinary centres dedicated to a holistic approach to injuries and special needs.
In 1998, Helen pioneered Pilates Matwork classes in gymnasiums nationally. Now her accredited courses train professional instructors who provide the general public with increased availability to the Pilates Method.
In 2001 Helen opened a professional state of the art Pilates Studio in Double Bay, Sydney, and pioneered the way forward in the Australian Pilates industry establishing group Allegro Reformer and Pre & post Pregnancy Circuit Classes.
In 2001 Helen became the host of Australia’s first Pilates show for Aerobics Oz Style. The television series aired in forty countries worldwide.
Helen and Sally Anderson co-founded the Mind Your Body Conference in 2002, the first conference of its kind in Australia, providing a non-competitive environment for education and collaboration for professionals in the Pilates and other associated industries.
Helen published her first book Beautiful Pilates for Penguin Books in 2005. A coffee table book, it outlines the fluid beauty of the method while showing how it can leave you feeling agile, firm exhilarated, strong & revitalised. Along with acclaimed photographer Greg Barrett’s photographs, Helen reveals the beauty of Pilates poses as you have never seen them before.
After over 25 years in the Pilates industry presenting, instructor training and writing, Helen’s true passion is teaching. She is most fulfilled when she is face to face with her clients.
Background
Classical Ballet – trained with the Royal Academy of Dancing 1974-1988 (ARAD)
Advanced Exam – Honours 1988
Solo Seal Awarded 1988
Gold Coast Youth Ballet 1988-1989
Finalist – Adeline Genee Awards 1988-89 (UK)
Bronze medallion – Adeline Genee Awards 1989-90 (UK)
Royal Ballet School Graduate 1989 (UK)
Royal Ballet Company 1989-1992 (UK – BRB)
Pilates Moves – Freelance Pilates Instructor 1998-2001
Founder – Pilates Moves Studio, Double Bay, Sydney, Australia 2001
TV Presenter Aerobics Oz Style (Pilates) 2001-2006
Co-founder of Mind Your Body Annual Conference 2002 (Now the PAA Conference)
Polestar Studio Level 1-3 Certificate of Attendance 2002
Body Arts & Science Post Graduate Symposium 2003
Author – Beautiful Pilates 2005
Nominated Telstra Business Woman Award 2005
Yoga Synergy Applied Anatomy & Physiology of Yoga – Course 2 Certificate of Attendance 2005/06/07
STOTT Pilates – IMP and Advanced Mat 2015
Qualifications
Dance Medicine Australia – Certified Clinical Pilates instructor (Melbourne) 1995
Australian Fitness Accreditation Council (AFAC) – Fitness Leader 1995
Physical Mind Institute – Certified Teacher Trainer (USA) 1998
Australian Pilates Method Association (APMA) – Founding member & Pilates Practitioner IV 1997
Pilates Alliance Australasia (PAA) – Founding member & Principal Trainer 2003
PAA – Educational Body
Equilibrio & Pilates Moves Certificate – Neuro Linguistic Programming 2004
EFI Sports Medicine – Gravity Trainer in Pilates 2004
Certificate IV Workplace Assessment & Training 2004
Certificate IV Pilates (91121NSW) 2005
International Society of Neuro-Semantics (ISNS) – Coaching Essentials 2007
Neuro Power – Accredited Neuro Power co-facilitator 2008
Licensed Provider of the Fletcher Towelwork 2010
Diploma in Professional Pilates Instruction (91491NSW) 2010
Core Fitness Roller Certification 2012
Xtend Barre® – Xtend Barre® Instructor 2014
Xtend Barre® – Xtend Barre Stick® Instructor 2014
The Center for Women’s Fitness – Pre/Postnatal Specialist Program 2014
Franklin Method – Level 1 Franklin Method Educator 2014
AntiGravity® – Instructor 2015