If you thought pilates was just for women think again. Professional athletes have been using pilates, yoga and apparatus for years as part of their rehabilitation and pre-habilitation program. My first professional rugby league team was the ‘Saints’ (St.Helens) back in 1997. The strength and conditioning coach was Nigel Ashley Jones who had arrived from Australia with some new ideas. From then on, I was fortunate to follow through to Sale Sharks (Rugby Union) and many football teams along the way including my first one which was Oldham Athletics FC and then progressing to many others including Everton FC. I now see players privately at the studios for apparatus and travel to clubs to do group conditioning when requested.
When we are passionate about something it raises the bar for other teachers and studios. England FC has an outstanding Pilates teacher working with them called Suzanne Scott. Back in the day when we had Pilates conventions, Suzanne delivered the most amazing presentations of movement, sports and Pilates combined. The England FC squad have been working on Pilates apparatus including reformer, chair and ladder barrel plus doing group rehab as in the video below.
Following over a year of lockdowns, many pilates studios have either closed down or are on their last legs. I am eternally grateful to Suzanne for bringing awareness to this incredible movement method which will help teachers get their studios going and help them enter into the world of sport.
Whatever your opinions are on Football matches during COVID, the feelings of union, comradeship, joy, happiness and focus all help to boost the immune system, as we pull together and share a passion. (NCIB:
10.1177/0022146510383501)
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.
