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Andy Adamson is a former freelance choreographer and dance researcher and now Director of two highly successful Pilates Studios in Birmingham, Cool Pilates JQ based in the city centre Jewellery Quarter and Cool Pilates BG set in the leafy suburb of Barnt Green.
He has been External Examiner to the University of East London BSc in Complementary Medicine (Pilates) and Internal Verifier for Pilates Studies at Elmhurst School of Dance. He was formerly Director of Dance at the University of Birmingham where, for over 20 years, he created original works of dance and theatre with student and young professional dancers.
After retiring from the University he became Artistic Director of Red Pepper Dance Company and founded Cool Pilates Studio. He has worked with many systems of mind-body training including Alexander Technique, Tai Chi and Bartenieff Fundamentals. His interest in Pilates work developed in the 1980s as an integral part of his training in American Modern Dance. However, his first serious foray into Pilates work came after a knee operation when he decided to train in Pilates Matwork with Juliet Wynne (1994).
In 2002 Andy undertook the Foundation Training Programme for Teachers of Pilates (fulltime, one year), at the Oxford School of Pilates (with Jane Paterson) and with one of the world’s foremost experts in Pilates Alan Herdman at his studio in London. Andy has continued his professional development working with Tony Kosoto studying Rehabilitation in the Pilates Environment, the Pilates Matrix (diagnostic tools for Pilates teachers) and Classical Pilates with Jay Grimes, Mejo Wiggin, Alisa Wyatt, Peter Fiasca, Kathi Ross-Nash, Michael Miller and Clare Dunphy-Hermani. His Corealign training was with Portia Page and Veronique Coignac. In 2015 Andy completed a mentorship with Mejo Wiggin in The Classical Syllabus. Andy is well known for his skills in rehabilation and has built up excellent working relationships with many healthcare professionals in the West Midlands.
When he’s not teaching Pilates Andy uses the Studio to practise his other passions, dancing Argentine Tango or rehearsing with his trad jazz ensemble Syncopated Rhythm (trumpet, trombone).
Before qualifying as a Pilates Instructor, Rachel enjoyed a rewarding 18-year career dancing with the Atlanta Ballet (1987-1992) and as a Principal Dancer with the Birmingham Royal Ballet (1992-2005).
Throughout her career Rachel incorporated Pilates into her daily routine under the guidance of Jennifer Bintley. It was while training in Birmingham Royal Ballet’s renowned Jerwood Centre, developed by leading Sports and Dance Consultant Physiotherapist, Sharon Morrison, that Rachel became inspired to pursue a career as a Pilates instructor.
Following her retirement from dance in 2005, Rachel moved to London to re-train with leading Pilates expert Alan Herdman and, after qualifying as an instructor, she taught Pilates for a year in the United States. In 2008 she returned to the UK and since then has been teaching at Cool Pilates under the directorship of Andy Adamson in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.
In addition to teaching Pilates for improved conditioning, strength and overall wellness to her regular client base, Rachel specialises in the rehabilitation and strengthening of professional ballet dancers and pre-professional ballet and Irish dance students. She has helped British and European sprint and hurdling champions in their preparation for national and international athletics competitions, including the Olympic Games.
During the Covid pandemic. Rachel worked with the Manchester City Women’s Football Club and several of the England Lionesses. She continues to work with renowned sprint coach, Tony Hadley, and helps members of his team with fine tuning and conditioning. After attending several conferences, including Mariska Roland’s “Pilates for MS and other neurological conditions”, Rachel came passionate about working with clients who suffer from stroke, live with Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis.
Rachel has an MA from the University of Birmingham based on research in osteoporosis and other health related issues in female ballet dancers and athletes. She has been a key speaker at the Dance UK Royal Society of Medicine conference and Birmingham University’s Symposium on the Psychology of Dance, where she shared her knowledge and experience on the Female Athlete Triad and Osteoporosis.
Darren began his Pilates journey in 2013 whilst training to be a Personal Trainer. The teacher suggested that he try Pilates so he started taking a mat class at a local studio. This inspired him to enrol in a Pilates mat course with Body Control Pilates and after numerous hours of practise and supervised teaching became a qualified teacher. He then embarked on a year-long apprenticeship with Andy Adamson at Cool Pilates, where he first discovered the Classical Pilates method, learning Pilates as a system of exercises using all the studio apparatus, not just mat work. After this he completed a comprehensive training program with world renowned Pilates teacher Kirk Smith at the Classical Pilates Centre in Bollington, deepening his knowledge of the Pilates system.
Classical Pilates has completely changed his body, improved his posture and successfully rehabilitated a shoulder injury. He sees massive changes in his clients from following the method and sees them getting stronger, more flexible and taller!
He has experience of working with a range of different clients from athletes, dancers, people with back pain and more recently he is teaching a number of clients with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes.
He will always be a student of Pilates, attending courses to update his practice, studying with different teachers and learning the most from his clients.
Alicia has been a professional ballet dancer for ten years. She trained at Elmhurst School for Dance and later went on to dance in Estonia with the ballet company in Teater Vanemuine, Ballet Ireland, Cork City Ballet, English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet where most recently she has performed in David Bintley’s production of Cinderella.
Pilates has been a part of her daily routine throughout her ballet career and for many years she studied with Rachel and Andy at Cool Pilates.
Her passion for Pilates led her to certify as a Stott Pilates instructor.
Sarah is a Comprehensive and Remedial Pilates teacher and an ISMETA Registered Master Somatic Movement Educator and Master Somatic Movement Therapist (MSME/MSMT). A specialist in mind-body integration, she is one of only a few Expert Level 4 Franklin Method® Educators in the world and is a guest teacher within the Franklin Method’s® virtual studio. She is also a Somatic Therapist, and holds specialist skills in listening to her clients as well as their bodies in movement. Sarah serves as a OneDance UK Healthcare Practitioner for Pilates, Somatics, and the Franklin Method®. Sarah’s journey into movement began as a dancer and teacher of classical ballet, where she first discovered Pilates as an essential tool for both performance and recovery. Following complex surgeries, it was through her work as a client at Alan Herdman’s London studio that she regained her ability to walk and eventually to dance. This transformative experience led her to become Alan’s apprentice, qualifying to help others navigate their own paths to physical wholeness.
After years of teaching within Alan Herdman’s affiliated studios in Central London, Sarah has developed a deep expertise in remedial exercise, working with clients of all ages to overcome injury and chronic conditions. Her work is particularly focused on future-proofing the body, specifically for women in the midlife and dancers. As an International Faculty member of Rebekah Rotstein and UK faculty for Buff Bones®, she is a recognised specialist in bone and joint health, providing expert movement programming for those living with osteoporosis and osteopenia in Birmingham. Her approach replaces the fear of fracture with evidence-based strength and postural integrity. Sarah also serves as the Pilates and Dance Wellbeing Tutor for Fabric (Centre for Advanced Training) in Birmingham. Her postgraduate studies in Pilates include Pre and Post Natal specialist training, (including Diastasis Recti Recovery) with Carolyne Anthony and Dance Health and a Foot Management Specialism which includes work with Scoliosis, Hypermobility, Gait and walking mechanics with Dr. Suzanne Martin. Additionally she has studied with Madeline Black, Elizabeth Larkham and Fletcher Pilates, as well as a whole range of continuing education on advanced practices, populations and methodologies within the Pilates Studio.
At the heart of Sarah’s approach is her Somatic methodology. Sarah’s somatic practice focuses on the internal felt-sense and nervous system regulation from the Polyvagal work of Stephen Porges. By integrating over a decade of study with Eric Franklin and specialist training in SomaSoul® Somatic Therapy, she helps clients bridge the gap between biomechanical precision and emotional resilience. This holistic, trauma-informed approach allows for deep re-patterning – helping clients move away from pain and restriction toward a state of ease and embodiment. Whether working with elite performers, individuals managing osteoporosis, or those in pre or post-operative stages, Sarah’s teaching is known for being calm, positive, and deeply rooted in the science of the living body. When not in the studio, she continues her own movement exploration through creative and embodied somatic practices.
Olga Savkina began her coaching career in 1999 in Odessa, Ukraine, where she initially focused on group fitness classes and personal training in gyms. After relocating to Kyiv in 2004, she expanded her role to include both coaching and management, taking on the position of fitness manager at a local fitness centre.
In 2010, Olga was introduced to Pilates when she attended the first International Pilates Festival in Ukraine, held in Kyiv. Inspired by this experience, she embarked on a two-year training program at the International Pilates University in Kyiv in 2011. During this time, she studied under renowned Pilates instructors such as Kathy Corey, Alan Herdman, Michael King, Malcolm Muirhead, and Nuala Coombs. The program deepened her understanding of Pilates as a multifaceted method, demonstrating how it could be integrated into various aspects of life and physical activity.
In 2015, Olga pursued further training at Lolita’s Legacy Pilates, and in 2017, she completed the rigorous 500-hour Lolita San Miguel Pilates Teacher Training program, earning the distinction of being a Third Generation Pilates Teacher.
With over 25 years of coaching experience and 14 years specializing in Pilates, Olga has honed her skills on both large and small studio equipment. She has also attended numerous seminars and masterclasses focusing on specialized areas such as working with pregnant women and postpartum recovery, scoliosis, unilateral sports, shoulder rehabilitation, cervical spine release, and hip joint and lumbar region mobility.
Following the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine, Olga relocated with her family to the UK. In October 2022, she began teaching Pilates in Birmingham, continuing her passion for helping others through conscious movement.
Emma has been practising Pilates since 2018; using it primarily to gain strength and rehabilitate a longstanding ack injury. She has practised under Darren Yeomans at CoolPilates who inspired her to train as a teacher.
She has seen firsthand how effective Pilates is for building and maintaining strength, balance, flexibility and control, no matter your age, gender or fitness level. Emma also practises Pilates as form of mindfulness and is an advocate for mental health and inclusion.
She undertook her comprehensive Pilates training with Kirk James Smith (2020-2022) and has taught groups and individuals since 2022.
When not teaching Emma is an avid reader and enjoys cross stitch. She also follows Ice Hockey and Gymnastics.
Call 07788756174 if you have a question or want to book a class
CoolPilates Ltd is registered in England and Wales (07800302). Registered Office: 43 Bittell Road, Barnt Green, Birmingham, Worcestershire, B45 8LU.
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