Hi, I’m Heather Oakes…

QUALIFIED PILATES INSTRUCTOR

I am a qualified Pilates instructor in Harlow.

I have been in the fitness industry since 1998 and have since qualified and taught almost every class available.

I teach a wide variety of people every day, and I love it!

MY BACKGROUND

I have been in the fitness industry since 1998. I saw an advert in the back of a magazine to become an aerobics instructor and went on my first course. I started teaching my mum’s friends, and eventually got a job in a local gym. I’ve since qualified and taught almost every class available on most gym timetables and had an amazing array of clients for Personal Training.

In 2002 I qualified as a Level 2 Pilates Instructor, and in 2005 became a Level 3 Pilates Instructor. In 2007 I began tutoring courses for individuals wishing to become Pilates teachers and enjoyed over 10 years of travelling the UK training and assessing new instructors. Although I love all fitness classes, and had a great time teaching them, Pilates is my passion. Pilates gets results like nothing else, and I love making a real difference to people.

My love of anatomy took me to University where I gained a BSc in Sport, Health, Physical Activity and Nutrition, and later added to this with a year of Physiotherapy training and a post grad Diploma in Weight Management. I have also gained a PGCE in Further Education, and a PGCE in Primary Education which I utilised as a teacher in a special school.

Level 4 is the highest achievable qualification in the fitness industry. In 2016 I achieved level 4 in Low Back Pain, which enables me to work with specialist spinal issues. In 2018 I learnt about different cancer therapies and how important keeping moving is, achieving my Level 4 in Cancer & Exercise Rehab, and in 2019, I undertook extensive and specific training normally for Physiotherapists to become a Level 4 Postural Stability Instructor which includes Exercise for the prevention of falls and injuries in frailer older adults.
I also write many articles on the benefits of Pilates for fitness publications, and never stop learning myself.

Throughout my fitness career I ran the London and Dublin marathons, and I was pretty successful in the Figure category of Bodybuilding and Fitness shows (Overall British Champion in 2006, 2008 and 2013). In 2014 we relocated to Essex and had our son, which gives me the opportunity to fit clients and classes around family life.