ABOUT PILATES SCOTLAND
Founded in October 2019, Pilates Scotland began with a simple goal: to create high-quality Pilates classes that build strength, confidence and community. What started as in-person sessions across Edinburgh quickly became something much bigger.
When the world changed in 2020, so did we. In response to growing demand from our clients, we launched our online platform - and our community continued to thrive. What began as a way to stay connected has evolved into a comprehensive on-demand service with a library of over 1,000 mat-based classes, with new workouts added every week. Today, our members enjoy unlimited access to expert-led sessions anytime, anywhere.
As restrictions lifted, we were delighted to return to delivering in-person classes — and we’ve grown significantly since those early days. We now offer classes throughout Edinburgh, The Lothians, Fife and Falkirk, led by a talented team of more than 40 instructors. Each member of our team is carefully selected not only for their expertise, but for their warmth, personality and ability to create an encouraging environment where clients feel supported and inspired.
Community has always been at the heart of what we do. Whether in a village hall, a corporate setting, a luxury spa or online from your living room, we strive to create spaces where people feel welcome, challenged and connected.
CORPORATE & PARTNERSHIPS
We are proud to deliver a wide range of corporate and partnership classes, supporting workplace wellbeing across Scotland.
We believe Pilates has a powerful role to play in supporting physical and mental wellbeing in the workplace, and we love helping organisations invest in their teams.
PRIVATE PILATES
In addition to group and corporate sessions, we offer private Pilates training tailored to individual needs. Whether you are recovering from injury, working toward a specific goal, or simply prefer one-to-one guidance, our private sessions provide focused, personalised support.
OUR MISSON
Our mission remains simple: to deliver fun, easy-to-follow, challenging yet relaxed classes suitable for all levels. We are passionate about making high-quality instruction accessible and affordable, while supporting talented Pilates instructors across Scotland.
Founder Christine Mills is committed to growing a team that reflects the diversity and energy of our community. Every instructor is encouraged to teach authentically, allowing their individuality to shine while upholding the high standards Pilates Scotland is known for.
From our very first class to today, our aim has been the same - to help people move well, feel stronger and enjoy the journey.
Let us introduce you to some of the team:

Christine Mills
Christine started dancing at 3 years old in local Edinburgh classes before full time training at Arts Educational Schools London, where ballet was her favourite discipline. After suffering a back injury at 22 she was introduced to Pilates. The success of her tailored programme enabled her to return to her home city and join the health and fitness industry.
She now has over 20 years experience and holds a Level 3 Diploma in Instructing Mat-Based Pilates and is certified in Reformer Pilates, as well as a Level 3 award in Designing Physical Activity Programmes for Antenatal and Postnatal Clients and Pilates for Common Orthopaedic Conditions. She also has many other group exercise qualifications including Exercise to Music, Les Mills Body Pump, Body Attack and Body Balance. Christine has taught all over Edinburgh and West Lothian with clients from all walks of life and with a variety of individual challenges. She is passionate about helping people to move freely, without pain or restriction and loves to support clients to achieve the fitness goals they aspire to. She has established Pilates Scotland with the intention of making Pilates Classes, friendly, fun and enjoyable.

Anna Baker
Edinburgh based, Anna Baker has been a fitness instructor for over 18 years, following her career as a university lecturer teaching toxicology. Anna’s approach to her instruction is fundamentally based on making her classes both fun and enjoyable and her larger than life personality will help to keep you motivated every step of the way. Anna is passionate about helping her participants to develop stronger and more effective planes of movement. Anna also specialises in injury rehabilitation.
In addition to Anna’s background in Pilates, she has recently expanded her portfolio, combining her cancer research to deliver CanRehab classes for those undergoing cancer treatment.
Anna loves being part of the Pilates Scotland team and we are absolutely delighted to have her onboard.

Stephanie Gavart
Stephanie spent years performing and travelling the world as a professional singer and dancer after graduating from Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom Surrey. She discovered Pilates in 2010 as a result of injury and has never looked back. Pilates helped Stephanie find strength & control in her body and brought her a sense of wellbeing.
Having recently returned to the UK after living in France, Stephanie is delighted to join the Pilates Scotland team. With Stephanie, you can expect to work hard, feel safe & secure on your mat whilst having lots of fun too!

Giuseppe Cincindella
Giuseppe has been a Pilates teacher for a number of years and coming from a background in sport, he is passionate about the benefits that Pilates can offer to individuals participating in a wide range of activities. In addition to being a Pilates instructor, Giuseppe is also a qualified Yoga, Nordic Walking and Swimming Instructor to name a few.
Originally from Italy, Giuseppe played a lot of football when he was younger and he now feels that sport has heavily influenced his outlook and values in all aspects of life, both professional and personal.
In his free time, Giuseppe loves to travel and explore new corners of the world and he loves to share his experiences with others.

Gillian Sandilands
Gillian has been teaching fitness classes in Edinburgh and the surrounding area for nearly 30 years and she has delivered everything from Pilates, Aerobics, Legs, Bums and Tums to Zumba. Gillian discovered Pilates 10 years ago where she was instantly drawn to it as it not only challenged her own fitness, but also felt, in her words, that it allowed her to ‘truly teach’.
Gillian’s passion is beginners; passing on the knowledge she has gained over the years, seeing clients progress and meet their own fitness goals. Gillian’s classes are clear, concise but with a little bit of flair to ensure you don’t get bored.
Gillian is also a fully qualified Yoga teacher, and her Pilates classes are enriched by that knowledge. You can expect a mindful Pilates class when being led by Gillian, focusing on alignment and form, classical moves but with subtle changes to keep you engaged.

Valentina Pintus
Valentina brings a passion for practised posture and movement. She has been delivering Pilates classes for over 12 years and in more recent years began specialist Reformer and Equipment teaching.
Despite being firmly settled in Scotland, Valentina enjoys returning home to Italy to develop her ongoing Pilates expertise.
She started out at a young age as an Artistic gymnast and a keen interest in a variety of sport activities has played a very important role in her professional and personal life. She enjoys sharing her passion and enthusiasm for Pilates by teaching students of all ages and backgrounds and sharing her motto; The Quality of Movement.
When not teaching, Valentina enjoys spending time playing tennis and visiting new corners of the world and cooking Italian food.

Lisa Ireland
Lisa started her journey into the world of Pilates after finding it to be one of the most effective ways of re-building core strength and ease back pain after having three caesarean sections. She completed her Pilates training with Stott Pilates in Dubai in 2012 and since then she has been actively teaching clients in both private and group classes. In addition to mat-based classes, she also teaches regular Barre sessions. Classes may also include the use of small equipment.
Lisa encourages clients to focus on quality movements while still appreciating different abilities and postures. Every class is different but always with an awareness of the breath and how it helps us move effectively. She loves to read/research to expand her knowledge and has attended numerous workshops to keep updated.

Denise Dunn
Denise is an Edinburgh-based Pilates instructor with a deep appreciation for movement as a powerful tool for both physical and mental wellbeing. Her own movement journey began with yoga, which she initially turned to as a way of supporting her mental health. What started as a personal practice soon developed into a passion for helping others build strength, stability, resilience, and a greater connection with their bodies.
Denise holds a Level 3 Mat Pilates qualification and is certified in Reformer Pilates. She is also a Level 3 Personal Trainer, a Level 2 Gym Instructor, and is qualified to work with pre- and post-natal clients. In addition, she holds a First Aid certification.
Her teaching approach focuses on functional stability, mindful movement, and building confidence that extends beyond the studio and into everyday life. Denise believes movement should support both body and mind, helping people feel stronger, more balanced, and more aware of how they move and feel.
When she’s not teaching, Denise enjoys long walks and spending quality time with her son and dog. She values finding balance between strong, purposeful movement and the quieter moments of everyday life.
“I find that the body-breath-mind connection that is maintained throughout Pilates not only strengthens me physically but also grounds me and gives me a deep calming feeling that I can take with me not just when I’m performing but throughout my everyday life.”

Elaine Purnell
After a successful career in business and tourism, Elaine gained her Level 3 Diploma in Mat-Based Pilates in 2019, inspired by a lifelong passion for health, wellbeing, and movement.
While raising her family, running and yoga were her main forms of exercise, but an injury led her to discover Pilates. What followed was a real lightbulb moment. Through regular Pilates practice, Elaine experienced first-hand how the method could help the body heal, become stronger, and move more freely. This sparked a passion for Pilates, particularly because of its inclusivity—regardless of age, ability, fitness level, size, or shape, Pilates can be adapted to benefit everyone.
Elaine is also a qualified yoga teacher and thoughtfully incorporates elements of yoga into her classes, with a focus on breath, strength, flexibility, and mindfulness. She is currently furthering her knowledge through training in Qi Gong.
If you attend Elaine’s classes, you’ll find her knowledgeable, calm, friendly, and fun, creating a welcoming environment where everyone can feel supported in their movement journey.

Marie-Soleil Fortin-Tessier
Marie-Soleil is an Edinburgh-based Level 3 Mat Pilates Instructor, trained with Drummond Education. Her teaching style is rooted in classical Pilates principles and fundamental movement patterns, with a focus on clear instruction, mindful breathing, and building strong foundations for long-term movement and wellbeing.
Originally from Québec, Canada, Marie-Soleil previously worked as a social worker specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Through her own Pilates practice, she experienced not only the physical benefits of improved posture, strength, and ease of movement, but also the mental benefits of slowing down, becoming more aware of her body, and developing a deeper sense of connection to it.
Inspired by the positive impact Pilates had on her own life, Marie-Soleil decided to train as an instructor to support others on their wellbeing journey in a different way. She is passionate about helping people move with greater confidence and ease, and believes that Pilates can benefit everybody, regardless of age or experience.
Her classes are calm, supportive, and welcoming, creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable, included, and empowered in their movement.

Caroline Donaldson

Katie Bennett

Stephanie Proudfoot
Stephanie is a STOTT PILATES® trained Mat and Reformer instructor with a specialist clinical background in oncology and breast cancer care. After more than 13 years in nursing, including six years as a Breast Cancer Nurse Specialist, she now brings her extensive knowledge of the body, movement and rehabilitation to her Pilates teaching.
Her teaching style focuses on controlled, intentional movement and good technique, with plenty of options so everyone can work at a level that feels right for them. Her classes are welcoming and supportive, offering an enjoyable challenge while helping participants feel stronger, more confident and more connected to their bodies.
Stephanie teaches Mat Pilates, Reformer Pilates and Barre across Edinburgh, Midlothian and West Lothian. She is passionate about making movement enjoyable and accessible to everyone and is continuing her specialist training in lymphoedema management, further combining her clinical experience with her passion for movement and wellbeing.

Kelly Hannen

Deirdre Watt

Lindsey Robertson

Nancy Ogunro Bruce
Nancy is a practising Sports Therapist, Personal Trainer and Pilates instructor from Edinburgh. She has a keen interest in bodywork, core strength and flexibility, using all the modalities gained over the past 6 years since gaining her level 3 Mat Based Pilates Certification to better help her clients meet their fitness and well being goals.
She started practising Pilates 20 years ago. After a suggestion to try it out, regular practice helped improve her posture and alignment so much she never looked back and it inspired her to change careers. Pilates remains as the reason she is an active part of the wellness and fitness industry today. It continues to inspire her to keep going and improve her practice, nothing pleases her more than using the skills she has learned to help others to discover their strength and control through Pilates.
Nancy delivers a weekly class for Pilates Scotland at Norton House Hotel & Spa on Monday evenings.

Daire Guiller

Ellen Burton
Ellen is an American Pilates instructor who moved to Scotland with her family in 2018 and now calls Edinburgh home. She holds a Level 3 Diploma in Instructing Pilates Matwork from Fitness Education Academy and has recently completed her Level 3 qualification in Supporting Pre- and Postnatal Clients in Exercise and Nutrition with Drummond Education.
Her passion for Pilates began in her teenage years, inspired by her mother, a yoga and Pilates teacher. Regularly attending her mother’s classes complemented Ellen’s strong sporting background in football and athletics. During her school years, she played for the Pennsylvania Olympic U17 Development Team and went on to compete in both football and middle-distance running at university level.
After stepping away from competitive sport, Ellen rediscovered her love of movement through her own postpartum journey. This experience reignited her appreciation for exercise and inspired her to become a Pilates instructor. She is passionate about helping others reconnect with movement, whether they are returning after a long break, adapting to a new stage of life, or taking their very first steps into exercise.
Alongside her Pilates qualifications, Ellen holds a BSc in Neuroscience and is also a qualified Les Mills BodyCombat and Body Shapes instructor. Her teaching style combines athletic experience, scientific understanding, and genuine empathy, creating welcoming and effective classes that help people build strength, mobility, confidence, and a positive relationship with movement.

Noushin Sokhandan
Noushin’s interest in Pilates began as a way to manage the stress and demands of her career as an urban engineer. She quickly fell in love with the flowing movements and mindful nature of the practice, inspiring her to explore new ways of bringing health and wellbeing into people’s lives.
Having taught Pilates for over four years, Noushin’s approach centres on the connection between mind and body. Through clear, step-by-step guidance, she helps class members develop good alignment, effective breathing and greater body awareness—building strength and flexibility while also encouraging a sense of calm and wellbeing.
Noushin believes in teaching with gentleness and compassion, creating a supportive and welcoming environment for people of all experience levels. Her goal is to help everyone feel their best, both on and off the mat.
An avid hiker, when she is not exploring the hills, Noushin teaches Pilates Scotland’s weekly classes at Bliss Dancewear Studio in Corstorphine and Dunedin Hall in Morningside.

Maddy Potter
Maddy is a Level 3 Pilates instructor, qualified through Body Control Pilates. Movement has always played a big part in her life, from competing in sports when she was younger to taking up running in her twenties. It was while training for a marathon that she discovered Pilates, fell in love with it and never looked back.
Pilates had a tremendous impact on Maddy’s physical and mental wellbeing, helping her to feel and move better both on the mat and in everyday life. She is passionate about the method’s focus on functional movement, building strength through precise and controlled movement, and developing a strong mind-body connection.
Before beginning her Pilates career, Maddy worked as a university teacher for several years. Over time, her love of movement and passion for teaching naturally came together, leading her to train as a Pilates instructor.
In her classes, Maddy enjoys helping participants build strength while also challenging their balance and coordination. She creates a relaxed and welcoming environment where everyone can feel comfortable, supported and encouraged.
Alongside her matwork qualification, Maddy is continuing to develop her knowledge through further training in Reformer Pilates and barre.

Lisbeth Dick
Lisbeth has been part of the fitness industry since 2004 and brings more than 20 years of experience to her teaching. In 2008, she also became a qualified assessor, supporting and guiding students as they worked towards their own fitness qualifications.
She qualified as a Level 3 Pilates instructor with Body Control Pilates in 2011 and has since completed extensive additional training. Her qualifications include intermediate and advanced Pilates, antenatal and postnatal Pilates, Pilates for older adults, Pilates Arc, and working with a variety of small equipment.
Lisbeth’s teaching style is rooted in the traditional principles of Pilates, with a strong focus on control, precision and good technique. She is passionate about sharing the benefits of Pilates with others and helping participants develop their strength, mobility and confidence through carefully considered movement.
With her wealth of knowledge and experience, Lisbeth creates classes that are supportive, purposeful and accessible, offering appropriate guidance and options to help each participant work at the right level for them.

Emma Thomas
Emma holds an Active IQ Level 3 Diploma in Instructing Pilates Matwork, which she gained through The Fitness Education Academy in Penicuik under the guidance of tutor and assessor Rachel McGain-Harding.
Since qualifying in January 2025, Emma has continued to build upon her knowledge and is currently in the second year of a pre-registration MSc in Physiotherapy at Queen Margaret University. Her studies are giving her a deeper understanding of how the body moves and recovers, as well as how exercise can be safely adapted to suit different bodies, abilities and individual needs.
Emma enjoys keeping active in a variety of ways, including rowing, and understands the importance of looking after the body to support an active lifestyle throughout every stage of life. She brings genuine warmth and care to her teaching and works hard to create a welcoming environment where everyone feels comfortable, listened to and supported.
With Pilates at the heart of her classes, Emma helps participants move with greater awareness, develop their strength and enjoy exercising in a way that feels right for their body.

Amy Anderson
Amy began dancing at just two years old and has spent most of her life immersed in dance and movement. With a strong foundation in classical dance, she developed a natural appreciation for movement, strength and body awareness from an early age.
She was first introduced to Pilates during her high school years and quickly discovered how well it complemented her dance training. Pilates has remained an important part of Amy’s life ever since, particularly during periods of travel, change and uncertainty, when movement helped her reconnect with herself and feel grounded.
Amy holds a Level 3 Diploma in Instructing Mat-Based Pilates and is also Level 4 qualified in Reformer Pilates. She enjoys combining her classical movement background with a modern and creative approach to Pilates. Her classes are designed to build strength, improve mobility and develop body awareness while remaining enjoyable, empowering and accessible.
Amy is passionate about helping people feel stronger, more confident and more connected to their bodies. She believes Pilates should not only support physical wellbeing but also leave participants feeling positive, refreshed and mentally uplifted.

Tom Spry

Angela McGregor

Magda Hryniewicz
Magda loves to attend the Reformer Pilates classes in her free time and is hoping to teach Reformer Pilates one day. She always keeps herself active by going for long walks, hiking, dancing or travelling.

Sue Morgan
Sue discovered Pilates during her career as a professional dancer and has never looked back! She very quickly began to notice the many benefits of Pilates and this filled her with the desire to make the transition from participant to instructor.
She has been teaching Pilates since 2005 and loves how inclusive it is. She feels very passionately that one size does not fit all and that all levels and abilities can be catered for by adapting the movements so that they are beneficial and achievable for everyone. The emphasis of Sue’s sessions is on slow and controlled movements, whilst incorporating the correct breathing technique. This ensures that the focus is on both the body and mind, leaving you feeling calm and centred at the end of every session.

Aoife Kane
Aoife graduated with a BA in Dance & Drama from Performing Arts Studio Scotland in 2021. During her studies she completed her QQi Level 3 Mat Pilates with the EnergyWise Academy. Since then, Aoife has travelled to Costa Rica, working with Circo Fantazztico as an aerial instructor, worked as a Pilates & Barre fitness instructor in Healthy Options, an exclusive health resort in Vassiliki, Greece and has undergone her 500hr YTT in Rishikesh, India.
Incorporating her knowledge of dance and yoga, her classes create a practice focused on strength, elongation and alignment. She is a firm believer that movement creates movement and aims to make you feel better than you did when you entered the room.
Aoife loves being a part of the Pilates Scotland team and thoroughly enjoys leading her weekly classes in One spa on a Tuesday evening.

Emma Slater

David Palencia
David graduated as a Primary School Teacher and specialised in Physical Education at the University of Alicante. His love for Physical Activity, Healthy Lifestyle and Education have led him to combine his full-time job as a Teacher with the Pilates and Fitness world.
He completed his training as a Pilates Level 3 Instructor with Drummond Health and Fitness Education Academy in 2016 and has been enjoying teaching fitness classes ever since.
“A few years ago, I started doing Pilates after suffering a neck injury. I wish I had started before and not after the injury. Now I can’t stop. Pilates is my medicine!”

Angela Laidlaw
Angela is an experienced Pilates instructor and personal trainer who has worked in the fitness industry for more than 12 years and has been teaching Pilates for over six years. She holds a Level 4 Certificate in Instructing Mat Pilates, a Level 4 Award in Pilates Exercise Therapy and a Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training, alongside additional qualifications in Trigger Point Pilates and iMove Freely.
Angela is passionate about helping people become stronger, fitter and healthier through movement. As a mum of two young boys and a qualified Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist, she is particularly passionate about raising awareness of the importance of postnatal recovery and self-care. She enjoys supporting women as they rebuild strength following childbirth and helping them care for their core, pelvic floor and overall wellbeing.
A keen runner and cyclist herself, Angela also understands how Pilates can complement other forms of exercise and support sporting performance. Her classes focus on developing core strength, flexibility and joint mobility, helping participants move more comfortably and confidently both during exercise and in everyday life.
