Our Team

Already having completed his training in physiotherapy, Leslie (co-owner of Bodies Under Construction), went in search of exercise methods to assist his patients to recover from injuries and believed that he could do a lot more for them than just giving them a few exercises at the end of their physiotherapy sessions. He initially cultivated a love for rehabilitative exercises whilst running land and water-based back rehabilitation classes in Cape Town, South Africa.

 In 2004 Leslie moved to the UK and started his Pilates training with the Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute (APPI). He has completed full training in the APPI Modified Pilates Method. Leslie is an APPI Master Trainer and has been presenting Pilates courses locally and internationally to physiotherapists since 2008. He has experience dealing with clients post injury and surgery to functional restoration. He also enjoys challenging his fit clients with higher-level exercises.

Ellen (co-owner of Bodies Under Construction) was already a qualified physiotherapist, before she trained with Polestar Pilates in 2001 to use Pilates equpiment to teach Pilates rehabilitation-based exercise. She has been using the technique ever since to help people to move correctly following injury, surgery or with problems such as low back pain, joint hypermobility and work related upper limb disorders. She runs Pilates group classes suitable for the older client or the complex health or unfit client. Ellen believes that everyone can improve the way they move which encourages good posture, alignment and overall well being.

Leigh-Anne has been a Pilates teacher since 2005 when she trained with Peak Pilates. Prior to this Leigh Anne was a professional dancer and has a degree in Human Movement Sciences (University of Port Elizabeth, South Africa 2001). She has practised Pilates for many years and understands first hand how Pilates can help when injured and as part of the rehabilitation process. She has a special interest in low back issues and instability problems. She believes in 'The Return to Life' that Pilates offers.

She has a lot of experience working with clients in pain and early into their rehabilitation but also with the high level client who can achieve full classical Pilates repertoire.

Kim has 5 years Pilates teaching experience. Kim also has a Bachelors degree in Sports Science and Honours degree in Biokinetics. She practices Pilates along with swimming and running and fully believes in the benefits Pilates has for ones mind and body. Kim is running the Bone Health Classes at Bodies under Construction and with her knowledge and experience can tailor a Pilates repertoire to any individual dependent on their goals. Kim teaches private sessions and classes.

Rebecca has a degree in Physical and Health Education at the University of Western Australia. She then went on to train as a physiotherapist completing her training at Curtin University in Western Australia graduating in 2004 as a physiotherapist. In 2007 Rebecca embarked on an extensive journey into the study of the Pilates method. She completed her training with both Polestar Pilates and Pilates International. She is now a certified Polestar Pilates Practitioner in both Rehabilitation and Mat and holds a Diploma in Professional Pilates Instruction. In 2009 she also completed her Masters degree in the specialized field of Manual Therapy at the University of Western Australia.

Her passion and expertise lies in the area of movement re-education and functional rehabilitation through the unique combination of physiotherapy techniques and Pilates exercises.

Originally from Poland, Magdalena is a certified Pilates instructor with over ten years experience teaching throughout Europe and Australia. A qualified pharmacist, Magdalena made a life-changing decision to leverage her in depth knowledge of the human body and pursue her love of exercise, becoming an accredited fitness instructor and certified body building trainer.

Having experienced so many forms of exercise, Magdalena was amazed by the benefits of Pilates in terms of strength, flexibility and relaxation. She has specialised in Pilates ever since discovering it. She studied Pilates through the Pilates Institute, Queensland Institute of Pilates and most recently Polestar International. She moved to Australia in 2006, mastering English and teaching permanently in many places around Brisbane. She has recently settled in London as is teaching at Bodies under Construction on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays.

Sue is used to working with the human body having danced professionally with ballet companies in Australia, China, Israel and Germany before becoming a full-time ballet teacher in vocational schools in London. Sue who is also a qualified Physiotherapist, specialises in the use of Pilates for rehabilitation, helping clients to regain levels of fitness and to maximise their physical potential. She was awarded a Physiotherapy degree by St. George's University of London in 2007 and has completed all her Pilates training through Polestar Pilates.

Talia discovered pilates more than 15 years ago and she was immediately hooked after her first class. Originally from Canada, Talia has worked for many years in the financial services sector in London after completing a degree in Economics. In 2007 she had enough of the many pressures and stresses of working within the City and decided to focus on learning more about pilates and the science of movement. She went on to train with Body Control Pilates and then Polestar Pilates, gaining full mat and studio pilates teaching qualifications.

Talia regularly attends courses on a whole range of pilates-related topics. She continues to be amazed by the many positive results that pilates can bring to her clients and the enjoyment that she gets from teaching. Talia recently joined Bodies Under Construction and is teaching on Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons.