Teacher of the month
Hi!
I’m Esther Haffner,
With a love for teaching and a deep love to help people remember to look after themselves. I live in Manchester with my husband and 4 lovely children.
My first entry into the fitness industry was when I trained to be an Aerobics teacher during one of my high school years! I qualified, and over the following few years while studying, then working, I gave Aerobics classes in my spare time.
I really enjoyed these classes, but at the same time I had a little anxious feeling at the back of my mind... I was concerned as I knew how important it was to be a ‘safe’ teacher. I had a fervent wish to gain the required knowledge to really help my clients and to be competent to give classes to pregnant or postnatal women, to ladies with weak pelvic floor and to those who generally suffered with aches and pains.
A healthy body is of utmost importance and I knew it was my responsibility to help my clients look after theirs!
So I started looking into it: how to deepen my knowledge of the anatomy and the understanding of movement.
This led me to finding Rachel Rafiefar and her great Pilates training.Qualifying in the YMCA Awards Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Pilates, The Thoughtful Body™ Pilates Matwork and Mamas Pilates™ Teaching Pre and Postnatal Pilates, has given me the incredible gift to be a confident yet caring and knowledgeable teacher. Of course life is one big journey and I never stop learning!
Aside from the direct benefits of Pilates, my training has given me the knowledge to teach any person whether they’re a marathon runner, a Zumba dancer, or a pregnant woman, on how to move correctly, work their centre efficiently and look after their alignment.
I am privileged to teach women from all walks of life: The Stay at Home Mamas and Pregnant Women; Lawyers to Optometrists; Ballet dancers to Secretaries… with my key message being: that their bodies are important!
And yes! It’s even possible to sometimes teach them all in one class too! This is the beauty of our career. Such an array of people at different stages and ages, yet still working out together in one class, while challenging them individually to reach their maximum potential!
Since I live in a community with large families I do come across more postnatal and pregnant woman than an average Pilates teacher! It’s very rewarding to see their commitment and attendance to my classes -many times even paying for extra child care- because they feel it’s important to look after their bodies.
I’m super grateful to be able to juggle my teaching hours to fit in smoothly with my family life as I am a big believer in being there for your own family, before anyone else.
I look forward to continue giving people the knowledge about their bodies and help them reach their goals.
Message to Mama’s
You’re in the right place.. or shall we say.. the right website!
Being a mum IS a full-time job! Starting or re-starting exercise might be the LAST thing on your mind, but it’s going to really help your body!
It’ll keep you fit, strengthen your muscles, all whilst helping you switch off and give you that well deserved “me” time!
Whether you are pregnant and need to strengthen your pelvic floor and prepare for birth, or a Mum looking after her kids, this is the place for you. So go ahead and pick a teacher in your area, because any Mamas Pilates™ teacher trained by Rachel is simply a “cut above”.
Message to Teachers
Accomplishing my Teacher’s Training with Rachel has truly been a blessing. Besides for being incredibly knowledgeable with years of experience, Rachel has a unique way of teaching! Whether she’s teaching her clients, or teaching us Exercise Professionals, Rachel has a positive and caring manner which results in you feeling more knowledgeable, confident, competent and perfect the way you are!
Rachel has such a broad spectrum of knowledge and tips, that even if you think you know it all, you will learn so much more! And that’s a promise!
Big Mama Love
Esti
p.s. Feel free to call me for more information about my classes
I’m Esther Haffner,
With a love for teaching and a deep love to help people remember to look after themselves. I live in Manchester with my husband and 4 lovely children.
My first entry into the fitness industry was when I trained to be an Aerobics teacher during one of my high school years! I qualified, and over the following few years while studying, then working, I gave Aerobics classes in my spare time.
I really enjoyed these classes, but at the same time I had a little anxious feeling at the back of my mind... I was concerned as I knew how important it was to be a ‘safe’ teacher. I had a fervent wish to gain the required knowledge to really help my clients and to be competent to give classes to pregnant or postnatal women, to ladies with weak pelvic floor and to those who generally suffered with aches and pains.
A healthy body is of utmost importance and I knew it was my responsibility to help my clients look after theirs!
So I started looking into it: how to deepen my knowledge of the anatomy and the understanding of movement.
This led me to finding Rachel Rafiefar and her great Pilates training.Qualifying in the YMCA Awards Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Pilates, The Thoughtful Body™ Pilates Matwork and Mamas Pilates™ Teaching Pre and Postnatal Pilates, has given me the incredible gift to be a confident yet caring and knowledgeable teacher. Of course life is one big journey and I never stop learning!
Aside from the direct benefits of Pilates, my training has given me the knowledge to teach any person whether they’re a marathon runner, a Zumba dancer, or a pregnant woman, on how to move correctly, work their centre efficiently and look after their alignment.
I am privileged to teach women from all walks of life: The Stay at Home Mamas and Pregnant Women; Lawyers to Optometrists; Ballet dancers to Secretaries… with my key message being: that their bodies are important!
And yes! It’s even possible to sometimes teach them all in one class too! This is the beauty of our career. Such an array of people at different stages and ages, yet still working out together in one class, while challenging them individually to reach their maximum potential!
Since I live in a community with large families I do come across more postnatal and pregnant woman than an average Pilates teacher! It’s very rewarding to see their commitment and attendance to my classes -many times even paying for extra child care- because they feel it’s important to look after their bodies.
I’m super grateful to be able to juggle my teaching hours to fit in smoothly with my family life as I am a big believer in being there for your own family, before anyone else.
I look forward to continue giving people the knowledge about their bodies and help them reach their goals.
Message to Mama’s
You’re in the right place.. or shall we say.. the right website!
Being a mum IS a full-time job! Starting or re-starting exercise might be the LAST thing on your mind, but it’s going to really help your body!
It’ll keep you fit, strengthen your muscles, all whilst helping you switch off and give you that well deserved “me” time!
Whether you are pregnant and need to strengthen your pelvic floor and prepare for birth, or a Mum looking after her kids, this is the place for you. So go ahead and pick a teacher in your area, because any Mamas Pilates™ teacher trained by Rachel is simply a “cut above”.
Message to Teachers
Accomplishing my Teacher’s Training with Rachel has truly been a blessing. Besides for being incredibly knowledgeable with years of experience, Rachel has a unique way of teaching! Whether she’s teaching her clients, or teaching us Exercise Professionals, Rachel has a positive and caring manner which results in you feeling more knowledgeable, confident, competent and perfect the way you are!
Rachel has such a broad spectrum of knowledge and tips, that even if you think you know it all, you will learn so much more! And that’s a promise!
Big Mama Love
Esti
p.s. Feel free to call me for more information about my classes
Hello Mamas and Papas,
I’m Anastasia Photiou, I’m a London gal living in the city with my family. My greatest achievements in life are my children: a beautiful baby boy who is now an angel, and four beautiful daughters who are in their teens and twenties.
As a young Mum I suffered the neonatal loss of our first baby, a beautiful boy. My consultant, midwifery teams and the NICU at Great Ormond Street and UCHL were wonderful, as was the Neonatal Bereavement Officer at UCHL. This was at a time of pre-computers and the world of internet and I know that having a reference site such as Mamas Pilates™ would have been a great help to me, especially to prepare me for the pregnancies and active births of my babies that followed.
I love teaching Pilates and watching my clients progress, gaining strength and confidence and using functional movements learnt in class to assist in their daily lives. I currently teach Pilates matwork classes in Central London, Camden Town, Kentish Town and in Winchmore Hill, North London and I’m in the process of setting up a studio enabling me to teach 1-2-1 or small groups on the equipment.
Do get in touch if you’d like to try out some classes.
I started my career as a PA in central London, which I absolutely loved but worked part-time in this role so that I could spend time with my children. By the time I had my fourth baby, I gave up my job to stay at home and decided to train as a teaching assistant so that I can work as/when needed at the my children’s primary school. I also mentored Mums where English was not their first language - I found this challenging but very rewarding. We all had common ground – our love for our children and their well being was always our main topic, plus tea and cake – that’s always a good way to break down language barriers!
I first heard about Pilates in 2005 when my friend Lisa asked if I would like to be her case study for her training course. I really looked forward to my weekly 1-2-1 session, although admittedly it did take me a while to ‘get’ what Pilates was all about. My friend furthered her training on the Pilates equipment, and when she asked me to be her case study again, I jumped at the chance. I was so inspired by Lisa and my regular classes with her that I searched for and discovered a reputable matwork teacher training course Allison Swan, Pilates Matwork Teaching Training.
I started Allison’s course in February 2008 over an intense 14 month period but the course is very thorough with lots of homework and research to be done. It was here that I met Rachel Rafiefar, she was delivering (pun intended!) the pre and postnatal module of our teaching course. I learnt so much over that weekend, info that I hadn’t really given much thought to before including how to work my pelvic floor. I went on to qualify as a Pilates Matwork teacher in April 2009 and I have been teaching Pilates ever since.
As a Pilates teacher I am always learning. I continue to develop my skills but I am also deepening my understanding of the body and movement. I have had the privilege of being taught by some first-class teachers and mentors, many who have become friends along the way.I have also furthered my training by qualifying in the YMCA Awards Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Pilates, Reformer Teacher Training and Wunda Chair Teacher Training with The Thoughtful Body™. In November 2017 I completed a Mamas Pilates™ Teaching Pre and Postnatal Clients on the Pilates Equipment.
I am bowled over by Rachel’s teaching – she is so intuitive, spiritual and she has this amazing way of teaching which is very hand’s on. Rachel is very generous with her time and her knowledge, always giving snippets of very useful information and she just ‘gets’ how you feel.Thank you Rachel for creating Mamas Pilates™, this is such an great website offering a wide range of topics, up-to-date guidelines and invaluable information for parents, teachers and healthcare professionals alike.
I look forward to meeting any of you mums who wish to exercise safely during and after your pregnancy and see great results
With Mama Love
Anastasia
Rebecca Grimsey
Hello Mamas and Papas. My name is Rebecca Grimsey and I have been teaching Pilates Mat for over 11 years. Originally based in Winchmore Hill, North London, my family and I decided to relocate to the Queens Park area of Bournemouth, Dorset in April 2017. I am married to James and we have 3 beautiful daughters Poppy-Mae (11 yrs), Violet (9 yrs) & Meadow (4 yrs).
My journey to becoming a Pilates teacher was not my original life plan! I gained a BA (hons) degree in Performing Arts and I later took a 2 year Acting Course; It was during this time at drama school I was introduced to Pilates, these classes were a far cry from the classes I would later learn to teach but they were fun if not a little painful at times! You know what I mean, I’m sure ;)
During another stint at yet another temp job, I found myself after work one evening in the gym, struggling to generally get motivated. I found myself asking the question, “Rebecca, what do you enjoy ? What brings you pleasure? ”. The answer was easy.Pilates!! It was a bit of a light bulb moment really. I went home and Googled Pilates Teacher Training, not so easy. It felt like a mine field until I got a call back from Alison Swan of Pilates Matwork Teacher Training. She put me at ease and with her support and that of the other course tutors I was able to take on the daunting challenge of learning to be a Pilates Teacher. Anatomy and physiology were a whole new world to me but I embraced it and loved every minute of my learning and development. I qualified on the 17th October 2006 with Pilates Matwork under The Pilates Foundation UK Ltd.
My training with Rachel Rafiefar at the amazing Mama’s Pilates™ started from the very beginning of my Pilates training. She was one of our specialist course tutors for Pelvic floor and an introduced us to safely working with pre and post-natal clients. I still remember one of our first sessions today, discovering the relationship between the face and the muscles of the pelvic floor. I loved her tuned in holistic and tactile relationship with the body and I just knew I wanted to progress with her intensive training course in pre & post-natal teaching. I didn’t have to wait very long as I attended the Mama’s Pilates™ Teacher Training Certification in March of 2007. I was extremely lucky to be attending this course so early on in my career, especially as I was about to become a Mama myself!
Teaching pregnant and post-natal women is a beautifully enriching experience. No two bodies are ever the same nor are any two pregnancies. The post-natal body you meet whether it’s straight after or years later still holds the story of those pregnancies.
I want to share with you part of my journey as a Mama. I struggled with my Sacroilliac joints, a problem that first occurred in a much earlier pregnancy which resulted in a miscarriage. I was unaware at that point of the relevance of my lower back and pelvic pain and my pregnancy. My Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) symptoms increased with each pregnancy but by the birth of my third baby, thanks to Pilates, I was in better health than my second. With a 17 month age gap between my eldest Poppy and Violet, I found those simple lessons in ‘self care/home care’ resonated the most. Movement has to be functional, learning to tend to your toddler, getting in/out of a car. Learning what works for your body and what doesn’t! Much to my husband’s annoyance the vacuum sat under the stairs for a good 6 months second and third time around (of course unless he got it out!).
As my girls grew, so did my business and I have kept myself updated by taking the Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Pilates (QCF) and in November 2016 I completed my Reformer Teacher Training with The Thoughtful Body Ltd. In November 2017 I furthered my training with Mama’s Pilates by attending a CPD workshop for Pre & Post-natal women on the apparatus and once again Rachel delighted us with some beautiful gems of knowledge. Mama’s Pilates isn’t just a set of exercises you learn, it’s an intelligent and constantly evolving method backed up by research and enhanced by Rachel’s amazing broad experience and holistic approach. Whenever I have been taught by Rachel I am left feeling empowered and elevated by her wisdom and knowledge. She makes you feel part of her tribe!
I would love to share my work with you and I’m now based in The Queens Park area of Bournemouth. I have a little garden studio at home equipped with a reformer and suitable for one to one or paired classes. So you can be assured or quality teaching and undivided attention. I also teach group Mat Classes at Strouden Park Community Centre. So come along and try one out. Special offer just cite Mama's Pilates and get one class free when you buy 5 Matwork classes!!
Pilates is a journey, let me take you on one at Rebecca’s Pilates Shed. Whether you are a Mama or a busy professional, a student or in rehab you are welcome. Please get in touch for class times and future class updates and more information. I’d love to hear from you.
With Mama Love
Rebecca
Hello Mamas and Papas. My name is Rebecca Grimsey and I have been teaching Pilates Mat for over 11 years. Originally based in Winchmore Hill, North London, my family and I decided to relocate to the Queens Park area of Bournemouth, Dorset in April 2017. I am married to James and we have 3 beautiful daughters Poppy-Mae (11 yrs), Violet (9 yrs) & Meadow (4 yrs).
My journey to becoming a Pilates teacher was not my original life plan! I gained a BA (hons) degree in Performing Arts and I later took a 2 year Acting Course; It was during this time at drama school I was introduced to Pilates, these classes were a far cry from the classes I would later learn to teach but they were fun if not a little painful at times! You know what I mean, I’m sure ;)
During another stint at yet another temp job, I found myself after work one evening in the gym, struggling to generally get motivated. I found myself asking the question, “Rebecca, what do you enjoy ? What brings you pleasure? ”. The answer was easy.Pilates!! It was a bit of a light bulb moment really. I went home and Googled Pilates Teacher Training, not so easy. It felt like a mine field until I got a call back from Alison Swan of Pilates Matwork Teacher Training. She put me at ease and with her support and that of the other course tutors I was able to take on the daunting challenge of learning to be a Pilates Teacher. Anatomy and physiology were a whole new world to me but I embraced it and loved every minute of my learning and development. I qualified on the 17th October 2006 with Pilates Matwork under The Pilates Foundation UK Ltd.
My training with Rachel Rafiefar at the amazing Mama’s Pilates™ started from the very beginning of my Pilates training. She was one of our specialist course tutors for Pelvic floor and an introduced us to safely working with pre and post-natal clients. I still remember one of our first sessions today, discovering the relationship between the face and the muscles of the pelvic floor. I loved her tuned in holistic and tactile relationship with the body and I just knew I wanted to progress with her intensive training course in pre & post-natal teaching. I didn’t have to wait very long as I attended the Mama’s Pilates™ Teacher Training Certification in March of 2007. I was extremely lucky to be attending this course so early on in my career, especially as I was about to become a Mama myself!
Teaching pregnant and post-natal women is a beautifully enriching experience. No two bodies are ever the same nor are any two pregnancies. The post-natal body you meet whether it’s straight after or years later still holds the story of those pregnancies.
I want to share with you part of my journey as a Mama. I struggled with my Sacroilliac joints, a problem that first occurred in a much earlier pregnancy which resulted in a miscarriage. I was unaware at that point of the relevance of my lower back and pelvic pain and my pregnancy. My Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) symptoms increased with each pregnancy but by the birth of my third baby, thanks to Pilates, I was in better health than my second. With a 17 month age gap between my eldest Poppy and Violet, I found those simple lessons in ‘self care/home care’ resonated the most. Movement has to be functional, learning to tend to your toddler, getting in/out of a car. Learning what works for your body and what doesn’t! Much to my husband’s annoyance the vacuum sat under the stairs for a good 6 months second and third time around (of course unless he got it out!).
As my girls grew, so did my business and I have kept myself updated by taking the Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Pilates (QCF) and in November 2016 I completed my Reformer Teacher Training with The Thoughtful Body Ltd. In November 2017 I furthered my training with Mama’s Pilates by attending a CPD workshop for Pre & Post-natal women on the apparatus and once again Rachel delighted us with some beautiful gems of knowledge. Mama’s Pilates isn’t just a set of exercises you learn, it’s an intelligent and constantly evolving method backed up by research and enhanced by Rachel’s amazing broad experience and holistic approach. Whenever I have been taught by Rachel I am left feeling empowered and elevated by her wisdom and knowledge. She makes you feel part of her tribe!
I would love to share my work with you and I’m now based in The Queens Park area of Bournemouth. I have a little garden studio at home equipped with a reformer and suitable for one to one or paired classes. So you can be assured or quality teaching and undivided attention. I also teach group Mat Classes at Strouden Park Community Centre. So come along and try one out. Special offer just cite Mama's Pilates and get one class free when you buy 5 Matwork classes!!
Pilates is a journey, let me take you on one at Rebecca’s Pilates Shed. Whether you are a Mama or a busy professional, a student or in rehab you are welcome. Please get in touch for class times and future class updates and more information. I’d love to hear from you.
With Mama Love
Rebecca
