Who we are.
Align To Elevate Pilates was started by Frankie, a former lawyer, who decided to turn her love of Pilates into a career.
Frankie spent 12 years in a City firm and used exercise, in particular Pilates, as a means of stress management to cope with her high pressured job. She soon began to notice the improvement in her physical as well as mental health through regular Pilates practice and her passion grew.
Align To Elevate Pilates was born out of Frankie's desire to align her day-to-day life with her true passion in an effort to find the best version of herself and help others on their journey to find their elevated selves.
Frankie's classes are grounded in the classical repertoire but she loves to explore the versatility of Pilates and is always looking for new ways to develop her practice. She aims to deliver balanced, challenging classes while sharing her passion with clients.
As well as being a Mat and Reformer qualified Pilates teacher, Frankie is a qualified gym instructor and also teaches spin, circuits and strength training classes. Her years of personal study into women's health and experience in the gym help her to tailor sessions to each individual client.
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The Pilates Method.
Pilates was developed by Joseph Pilates, a German physical trainer born in 1883. Joseph Pilates incorporated the most effective features of various forms of exercise (having studied yoga, martial arts, boxing, and gymnastics) to create a programme aimed at improving strength and flexibility in an effort to help combat his childhood fragility.
During World War I, Joseph Pilates was interned in England as a German national. While in the internment camp, he turned his attention to Pilates as a means of rehabilitation. He adapted his exercises using springs attached to beds to provide resistance to help mobilise and strengthen bedridden injured soldiers. This concept later evolved into Pilates equipment like the Reformer.
In 1926, Pilates emigrated to New York with his wife, Clara. They opened a studio and began teaching his method, initially called “Contrology”, which emphasised controlled movement, core strength, flexibility and body awareness. Dancers and boxers were among the first to embrace Contrology due to its benefits for strength and injury prevention.
Joseph Pilates died in 1967. His students, often called the “Pilates Elders”, continued teaching and preserving his methods. Over the years, the practice spread widely and became known simply as "Pilates".
Pilates is a low-impact exercise method that focuses on strengthening the body, especially the core muscles, while also improving flexibility, posture and alignment. The key principles of Pilates are:
Concentration – Focusing to improve mind-body connection
Control – Performing movements with precision
Centring – Active control of spinal alignment relative to movement
Flow – Moving smoothly and efficiently
Precision – Focusing on form and alignment for safe and functional movement
Breathing – Coordinated, intentional breathing to facilitate mobility and stability