Matthew received a life-changing kidney transplant in April 2015 following eight years of poor health due to kidney failure. During these eight years daily life was tough and sports near impossible and for Matthew who had always been a keen sportsman the loss of his health and fitness was a major blow.
Following transplantation, Matthew discovered Transplant Sport, an organization who encourage transplant recipients to get healthy and compete at national level in the British Transplant Games. As a former sprint swimmer, Matthew was determined to regain his fitness and enjoy the thrill of competition once more.
Swim training began in Spring 2016, in preparation for the Liverpool Transplant Games, during the tournament Matthew excelled in the pool and won 2 gold medals in sprint swim events, these times were good enough for Matthew to be selected to swim for Team GB & NI and compete in the World Transplant Games in Malaga 2017. As Matthew increased the intensity of his swim training in preparation for Malaga he began to struggle with shoulder pain, to overcome this obstacle to training he turned to pilates taught by Nisha Srivastava.
Nisha is a certified level 3 Chek practitioner and holistic lifestyle coach specialising in Pilates and Yoga. Her journey started when a visiting Laban teacher introduced her to Pilates at Dance College in a contemporary class during her first year.
Its effects were forgotten but she then re-discovered Pilates through Michael King eleven years later whilst running her dance school.
Her background spans over 32 years with formal training in classical ballet, modern dance, tap, national choreography, stage production and theatre.
Her formation includes Pilates, Thai bodywork, Yoga, GYROTONIC, GYROKINESIS, Garuda and anatomical studies. Her particular interest is fascia, and the connective lines and movement patterns that allow a full moving structure rather than the isolation of bones and muscles.
Her fascination with questioning the traditions of modern medicine and fascination with searching for meaningful answers has taken her in many different directions and has offered her an abundance of opportunities gaining a wealth of knowledge. “I tried many movement modalities and extended my search after experiencing fascia, because of its connection of movement. Quickly, I noticed my own body changing, as well as the bodies of my own clients. In the last 32 years of teaching I’ve developed my own movement and lifestyle philosophy".
Throughout her studies Nisha has done numerous dissections with Julian Baker, Mel Cash and Cery Davies and has the opportunity to take lectures and courses from James de Silva, Robert Schleip, Joanne Avison, Tom Myers, Matt Wallden, Leigh Brandon, Emma Lane, Gary Carter, Paul Chek, Dan Hellman, Peter Blackaby plus many more.
Nisha's teaching method promotes reflective self-discovery and provides the requirements to integrate a shift in consciousness for attaining individual goals.
Nisha teaches in her own studios in St. Helens and Manchester, plus she also has an online following. Throughout her career she has also taught Sting, Sir Ian McKellen, Cirque de Soleil, Will Young and Belinda Carlisle. She has also worked in professional football and both Rugby League and Union for over 20 years. Players she has provided a specific program for were former Manchester Citys Vincent Kompany, Everton's Steven Pinnear and goal keeper Jonas Lossi.
She maintains that an attitude of compassion, consistency and joyous humour are excellent components to growth and expanded potential.
She welcomes all level of movers from the beginner to the seasoned athlete who have a desire to increase their skill potential, also teachers and students. Her specialties include assisting post rehabilitative back pain individuals, injury prevention for athletes and spine health for everyday people.
