Meet the Team

Cathy
Pilates Instructor

Cathy Rees-Slawson trained at the distinguished Alan Herdman Pilates Studio in London in 2002/2003. (Alan established Britain’s first Pilates studio in 1970). In January 2004 Cathy opened The Pilates Centre, Wrexham.

Cathy initially trained as a dancer but hindered by a back injury she pursued other interests, with dance and fitness remaining an integral part of her life. In Australia, she qualified as a fitness instructor/personal trainer. Back in London, struggling with a knee injury, Cathy discovered Lesley Ackland’s Pilates studio. She found Pilates a highly effective way of keeping supple and strong without compromising the knees or back. On Lesley’s recommendation, she enrolled on Alan Herdman’s teacher training course.

Pilates has long since been a passion of Cathy’s, helping her through three pregnancies and getting back into shape afterwards. She works with physiotherapists, chiropractors and other medical professionals in Wrexham and North Wales. Her attention to detail, knowledge and thorough application of the Pilates technique in a straightforward and honest style make her classes fun and appealing.

Laura
Pilates Instructor

Laura trained with Cathy in 2014/15 and qualified in mat Pilates with the fitness professionals "PFE" in 2015.

Pilates was recommended to Laura by her chiropractor, to alleviate her lower back problems. After attending Cathy’s classes in Wrexham and feeling the fantastic benefits of Pilates, she trained as a Pilates instructor. During her training she became a new mum and had her second child in 2018. Laura taught throughout her pregnancy and found Pilates extremely beneficial both during and after her pregnancy.

Laura runs the beginners courses, several mixed ability classes and the advanced Pilates class on a Thursday evening. She has continued her development as a Pilates instructor by attending courses with APPI, including Pilates with small equipment, Antenatal & Postnatal Pilates and Pilates for Hypermobility.

Laura’s calm, friendly manner and attention to detail have made her classes extremely popular.

Sarah
Pilates Instructor

Sarah trained with The Pilates Centre and gained her Pilates instructor qualification through Futurefit in 2023.

Recommended to try Pilates by her Osteopath, she started classes at The Pilates Centre in 2005 and has been practising with the studio ever since. Sarah also found Pilates hugely beneficial after both of her pregnancies and with her shoulder rehabilitation.

Coming from a retail management background, Sarah is a real people person and has a great rapport with all her clients. She runs the Sunday Chill Pilates class along with mixed ability mat sessions and is currently training in Reformer Pilates.

Emily
Pilates Instructor

Emily is the most recent addition to our team. She started her Pilates journey whilst training as a dancer, gaining a BA (hons) at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Throughout her time studying dance Emily developed a special interest in Pilates because of the beneficial effects on posture, strength and flexibility.

Emily qualified as a Stott mat instructor in 2022 and reformer instructor in 2023 and joined our team in 2024. She is also qualified to teach pre and post natal pilates. Emily’s reformer classes include strengthening and stretching of muscles to promote correct posture and ease of movement and are extremely popular.

Jane
Yoga Instructor

Jane joined us in June 2021. She has been working in the NHS as a Specialist Mental Health Dietitian for 13 years and practicing Pilates, Yoga and Mindfulness for over 10 years. Jane started teaching Yoga in 2018 after gaining her British Wheel of Yoga qualification. She studied Yoga therapy with United Yoga Education and qualified with Yoga Alliance Professionals.

Jane teaches Hatha Yoga, incorporating Vinyasa flow and aims to inspire individuals to practice Yoga, regardless of age, ability and physical shape; to promote the benefits of Yoga and make it accessible to everyone. Her classes currently run on Monday and Saturday mornings and are suitable for anyone from beginners to experienced Yogis!

Kim
Yoga Instructor

Kim's yoga classes are light-hearted and fun. Kim creates sequences designed to link breath with movement and she encourages her yoga students to feel into the asanas/forms to cultivate an embodied self-awareness. These classes are suitable for all levels and particularly beginners as we might also break down key asanas/forms and learn how to make them work for each individual body.

Kim has a special interest and experience of working with individuals with long-term health conditions and persisting pain in her yoga work and professional counselling services. Kim also teaches a successful mindfulness meditation group and belly fit classes.

Jane
Holistic Therapist

Jane is a somatic (body based), qualified, trauma informed, Certified Conscious Connected Breathwork Facilitator, also currently studying to be a Functional Breathing Instructor with The Oxygen Advantage and a Professional Children’s Breath Coach with School Breathe.

Breathwork helps release mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual blocks within the body which helps alleviate anxiety, grief, fear, anger worry and much more. It reduces stress and creates feelings of openness, peace, gratitude, clarity, communication, creativity, and connection.

Jane invites you to learn how to breathe fully into your body with Breathwork, Meditation, Coaching and Reiki.

Tracey
Class Co-ordinator

Tracey previously worked in local Government, management and consultancy services and as a Practice Manager for GP surgeries in North Wales. She now works as a virtual assistant at Venture Virtual, which she co-founded in 2009. She joined us in 2013.

A valuable member of our team, Tracey is responsible for co-ordinating the beginner’s courses, social media, client bookings, handling enquiries and generally ensuring that everything runs smoothly! Our clients appreciate her friendly demeanour and efficient handling of their queries.