Our Pilates Holidays Instructors

Isabelle Russo

Isabelle was introduced to Pilates while studying dance at university. With a strong background in classical modern dance and ballet, it was a natural transition to channel a passion for movement and the body into teaching Pilates. Originally from New York, Isabelle did her classical training through USPA. She loves working with the Classical Pilates system, alternating movements of strength, with movements of flexibility, to strengthen and lengthen the body. Isabelle’s sessions provide a dynamic workout that engages the mind and body to help clients feel good, strong, and confident.

Hannah Plom

Hannah is a warm, passionate, and enthusiastic Pilates instructor with over 12 years of experience teaching both private and group classes. As a Body Control Pilates Matwork and Studio Master, she’s fully trained in using all the equipment, from the smallest to the largest. Hannah loves nothing more than motivating her students and giving them the tools they need to perform at their best, no matter their experience level or medical history. Having personally overcome back pain and undergone hip surgery, she brings a deep sense of compassion and empathy to her teaching, understanding firsthand the challenges her students may face.

Susie Gale

Having worked in a stressful marketing job and constantly plagued with back and neck pain, it was suggested that Susie tried practicing Pilates. From the outset she was hooked and became such an avid student, she dropped out of the corporate world and retrained as a Body Control Pilates teacher, at one of the foremost ‘schools’ of Pilates.

Some 16 years later, Susie has a thriving business, teaching group classes, and private and corporate clients across the UK and Europe. She relocated from Cheshire to Dumfries & Galloway in 2012 and works in her garden studio teaching mat work and Reformer sessions, overlooking the Solway Firth.

Her classes are taught with precision but most importantly with a sense of humour. Susie says ‘ I can’t promise you a new body in a week but I can introduce you to the joys of Pilates and hope to share my passion with you that could start you on your own Pilates journey. I can also encourage existing Pilates devotees to think in a different way to enhance their practice.’

Jo Davenport

Jo Davenport is a former athlete and fitness enthusiast. She discovered Pilates in 1995 following an injury. She quickly realised the benefits of the method, finding that her overall strength, flexibility, and general well-being increased. After training with the Body Control Pilates Association in Covent Garden, she qualified as a mat work teacher in 2000.

Jo was one of the first to establish Pilates classes in Taunton,  Somerset. She developed an interest in movement dysfunction and went on to comprehensive training with internationally renowned Polestar Pilates and is fully qualified to teach Pilates studio equipment.   

She is an accomplished Pilates instructor and movement coach with more than 23 years of experience.  Jo is now a movement teacher of the highest calibre, confident with assessment techniques, mat exercises, movement sequences, and the application of Pilates principles.  She teaches a range of clients from beginners to advanced, including rehabilitation and high-performance athletes.

Jo is a qualified therapeutic and Swedish massage therapist and holds diplomas in Anatomy and physiology and Swedish Massage.   She also holds the Complete Bodyworker Diploma after training at the School of Bodywork in Exeter. She is currently in her third year of study as a Shiatsu practitioner.

Jo has taken courses on back pain, spinal surgeries,  ante-natal, osteoporosis, older populations, osteoarthritis, and Parkinson’s disease.  She is one of a few Pilates teachers in the UK who have completed the Pilates for Amputees Course. She is also a qualified Madeline Black Movement Specialist.

Kathy Calderbank

Kathy has been teaching Pilates and Yoga in health clubs and gyms across the Cheshire area for over six years. She also teaches private clients and online classes.

She comes from a sporting background, she used to run at county level and now enjoys tennis and horse riding.

She is constantly developing her knowledge. Understanding the individual and their needs is at the heart of her teaching.

Kathy loves Italy and teaching Pilates…and can’t think of a better combination!

Diane Parrilla

Diane formally trained with the Royal Ballet School in London. After an injury in 2002, she trained to become a qualified Body Control Pilates instructor and has continuously developed her knowledge since then.  “The great thing about a Pilates holiday is that it’s not just about Pilates. Besides high-quality lessons, you will have the opportunity to see beautiful sights and learn how to cook fabulous Italian food.”

Catherine Crompton

Catherine discovered Pilates after being diagnosed with prolapsed discs in her lumbar spine, the prognosis was either surgery or help herself. She chose to try the latter, to rehabilitate herself with the help of gentle Pilates exercises. Having suffered back pain for many years, she decided to train to become a Pilates teacher, knowing that the method really can help with many types of medical conditions including stress and anxiety for people at any stage of their life.  Having lived in Italy makes teaching there the perfect scenario, combining two of her great loves, Italy and Pilates. “There’s nothing better than telling my clients to float their arms up to the bright blue sky and really meaning it.”

Rebecca Methley

Rebecca has been practising Pilates since 1997 after being directed towards Pilates following a back injury. Her favourite activities include running, swimming, and golf. She decided to qualify to teach pilates following recovering from breast cancer and finding pilates the key to returning to full strength and activity. Rebecca enjoys seeing clients develop strength and flexibility and incorporate pilates into everyday life.
“Pilates in beautiful surroundings is food for the body and soul and I love passing on all I have learned about keeping myself healthy and strong enough to face whatever life throws at me.”

Amanda Parr

Amanda is a highly experienced Body Control Pilates instructor and a firm believer in incorporating Pilates into your daily routine so it becomes a way of life.

“I have been teaching Pilates since 2003, having qualified as a teacher after a car accident caused a neck injury. I soon found Pilates addressed the whole body and not just helped my neck injury. I enjoy teaching, and running a small studio at home, working closely with local physios in the area. Teaching Pilates in Italy, is the best, a chance to get to know the guests and structure lessons to suit everyone, and exercising outside in the glorious sunshine”.

Jo Luckman

Until 2002 Jo had a very successful career as a nurse specialising in Renal nursing but suffered from chronic lower back pain as a result of years of lifting heavy patients and equipment around.

She discovered the wonderful world of Pilates and fell in love with it. Not only did it change her body shape, but it well and truly sorted out her back pain.

She loved it so much, she decided to train as an instructor with Body Control Pilates. She has continued to develop and extend her skills by attending courses run by Body Control Pilates as well as workshops in the Franklin Method under the New Pilates School amongst others.

Jo teaches in and around Dorking in Surrey. Her clients have included Olympic athletes and international equestrians.

Jo loves wild swimming and playing tennis

Her other passion is playing saxophone and gigs regularly with a couple of Big Bands in the South of England.

“What I love about teaching Pilates on a Flavours retreat is seeing my guests improve so much over the week as they develop their technique and strength, as well as seeing them relax and enjoy themselves. My classes are all about having fun as well as working hard!”

Jackie Lindsay

Jackie has over 30 years of Nursing & Midwifery experience. She trained as a fitness instructor with the YMCA in 1996, studied Sports & Remedial Therapy in Dumfries in 2000 & qualified as a Pilates teacher with Rachel Holmes in 2006. She is also a trained phase IV instructor in Cardiac Rehabilitation & an Aqua-cise teacher. Recently, she trained in Diamond Pilates with Cherry Baker & now delivers Pelvic Health workshops in her area. She has her own business as a Sports & Remedial Therapist, also teaching 8-10 Pilates classes a week. Having attended Pilates holidays in the sun for the past 4yrs… ‘there is nothing quite like doing Pilates outside in beautiful sunshine.’

Ann Chester

Ann Chester worked in fitness for several years before qualifying with Body
Control Pilates in 2003.

She has 20 years of experience teaching a spectrum of clients from
professional sports people and actors to ‘Back Care’ patients referred by local
physiotherapists.

Ann Chester says – “I love teaching people to move their bodies more healthily – to feel stronger and more confident.”

Sharon O’Hanlon

I have been teaching Pilates since 2008. Like many teachers, I discovered the amazing benefits Pilates can offer following an accident which lead to a complete lifestyle change. Having worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 11 years as well as being a holistic therapist and trainer, I knew I needed to find something that would strengthen both the body and mind without the need for medications and surgery. Pilates works! As a Reiki Master, I like to meditate daily and would love you to join in.

Louisa Harris

Pilates became a lifeline for Louisa during a mentally and physically stressful Human Resources Management career. Corporate life has caused many literal and metaphorical headaches, and shoulder and neck pain. Help from various practitioners brought a quick fix of short-term relief but Louisa began to realise that unless she changed her ways and movement habits longer term nothing could change significantly. Pilates helped to ease aches and pains and provided a welcome relief from everyday stress. It made her feel so much better physically and mentally and she wanted to learn more and be able to help others benefit too so began teacher training with the prestigious Body Control Pilates in 2008. Since then Louisa has had the honour of helping hundreds of people learn to move and feel better, either working in person (in and around Milton Keynes, UK) with studio equipment or matwork classes or online. Empowering them to rediscover the power of their mind and body connection, providing the tools to tune inwards to address their needs to ultimately move better and feel better.

Jules Hardman

Jules discovered the benefits of Pilates back in 2001 when she was working as an art director for a fashion mail-order company. Long hours in front of a computer, frequent long-haul flights, and staying in hotels, Jules found Pilates helped her to relax, and improve her posture and flexibility. Best of all she could still carry out the exercises in the comfort of her hotel room whilst away on location shoots. Jules became seriously addicted and passionate about Pilates and in 2009 when she was thinking about a change of career realised that it seemed the natural choice to spread the word and train to be a Pilates teacher. She’s based in Cheshire and teaches 14 classes per week as well as 1:1 private lessons. The great thing about teaching Pilates for Flavours Holidays is every guest has a 1:1 private lesson as well as daily group lessons. Getting to know the guests and watching them progress during a week is very rewarding.

Ruth Partington

Ruth initially trained as a nurse in London, before moving into the fitness industry, qualifying in gym instruction, exercise to music and personal training. She’s also worked in health club management and instructor education.

Ruth’s been teaching Pilates for over 20 years, qualifying with Body Control Pilates® in 2003. She loves its precise, intelligent approach and the great results it delivers across all ages and fitness levels. Ruth currently runs her own Pilates business in Cheshire, teaching in person and online. Her clients range from the very fit, to those recovering from injury or with chronic health conditions. She aims to make her classes enjoyable, effective and safe for everyone.

She loves teaching on Flavours holidays, where guests can immerse themselves in the benefits of Pilates, in beautiful, relaxing surroundings without the distractions of daily life.

Madelaine Rourke

Madelaine has been teaching Pilates for more than 12 years. After going to weekly classes for about 3 years she decided to give up her sedentary day job and train to be a Body Control Pilates Mat teacher. Having previously run her own studio she now teaches at a Physio Therapy clinic where she continues to teach mat Pilates and one-to-one sessions with patients who have a wide range of injuries, and illnesses and they all share the desire to be the best version of themselves. Madelaine has had the privilege of having lots of experience teaching clients living with and beyond Breast Cancer, those with Osteoporosis, SpinalScoliosis and is currently delving deep into how the stages of a woman’s life can change their bodies and the way we need to exercise.

In one short sentence…she loves Pilates, and loves teaching Pilates, especially in the sunshine!