About Us
Meet the Teachers
Rachel Whorton
Director of Pointe Ahead Ltd,
Pilates, Barre Instructor & Personal Trainer
Qualifications and Specialities:
- STOTT PILATES® – Fully Certified Instructor (Matwork, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair & Barrels – Essential, Intermediate & Advanced)
- STOTT PILATES® – Injuries & Special Populations
- Total Barre®
- YMCAfit Advanced Diploma in Personal Training (Level 3)
- YMCAfit Diploma in Ante & Postnatal
- YMCAfit Exercise Nutrition
- YMCAfit Diploma in GP Referral
Rachel started Pilates at the age of 14 as part of her rehabilitation for a prolapsed disc. After undergoing two back operations in 1996 and 2010, Pilates has enabled her to regain strength and control. Understanding how beneficial this way of working is, it was only natural that she would end up becoming an instructor.
Before moving to Edinburgh in the summer of 2019, Rachel worked as a Pilates Instructor and Personal Trainer in London. Here, she learnt one of the many contemporary Pilates methodologies, STOTT PILATES and became a fully certified instructor. She is currently in the process of becoming an Instructor Trainer (IT) and looks forward to training the next generation.
Rachel originally trained as a classical ballet dancer and worked in the profession from the age of 9. Following her second back operation she became a Personal Trainer and loves absorbing information about the human body. She has worked with many clients from all backgrounds and abilities, helping them to achieve strength, control and flexibility. She thrives on training clients to reach levels that they never thought possible. Her enthusiasm and dedication has helped many people improve their fitness and take control of their own health.
Fiona Carter
Pilates Instructor
Qualifications and Specialities:
- The Pilates Foundation
- The Heritage Training Program®
- The Kane School of Core Integration
- Body Control Pilates – Comprehensive Training Program
- Madeline Black Method – Centered
- Adore Your Pelvic Floor – Coach Club
- C.H.E.K Institute – Certification level 1
- Gyrokinesis – Level 1
Fiona’s interest in movement started at the age of seven when she took up Yoga as a way of managing pain from a spinal injury. This set Fiona on a path to learn more about the body and how it moves and functions… in 1989 Fiona qualified as a personal trainer and sports massage therapist, then in 1991 Fiona discovered and fell in love with the Pilates method.
Over the last thirty years Fiona has studied many movement modalities including TRX, Gyrokinesis, Aerial Yoga, Static Trapeze and Kettlercise. She has also completed multiple Pilates teacher trainings in both mat and apparatus with several schools/styles of the Pilates method, including the Kane School of Core Integration, The Pilates Foundation, The Kathy Grant Heritage Training, Body Control Pilates and The Madeline Black Method. Fiona brings all of this eclectic knowledge to her teaching and believes firmly that Pilates is never a one size fits all deal.
Fiona is also an Adore Your Pelvic Floor coach and the teacher trainer for Scotland and is increasingly in demand for her understanding of pelvic floor disfunction As well as rehabilitation of spinal, hip, neck and shoulder issues. She approaches each client with patience and humour, and is passionate about empowering her students to build awareness and confidence in their own bodies.
Kirsty Nelson
Pilates Instructor and Personal Trainer
Qualifications and Specialities
- Studio Pilates International: Matwork & Reformer
- PilatesFitness Australia: Cert 3 & 4 in Fitness & Personal Training
- Barrebody Barre Instructor (Fitness Aus accredited)
- Barrebody Matwork + Reformer Training (Fitness Australia Accredited)
- Yoga Alliance Australia 200hr YTT
- Warrior One Australia 50hr YIN Yoga
- Happy Melon 80hr Meditation + Mindfulness Training (Meditation Australia Accredited)
- BATD Dance Teacher (Jazz, tap, modern & disco)
Kirsty has a strong background in anatomy knowledge and trained in several modalities including Mat Pilates, Reformer, PT, Yoga and Barre. She brings this knowledge together with a friendly and playful approach to body sculpting to focus the mind, connect with breath and physically challenge the body.
She likes to focus on alignment with attention to detail to really get the most out of your class and to really feel that burn! She uses a gently encouraging and supportive approach to teaching that really empowers students to be the best they can. Kirsty really loves what she does and you can see her passion come through in each and every class.
Elif Tarakci
Pilates Instructor
Qualifications and Specialities:
- STOTT PILATES® – Reformer Certified Instructor
- Pilates Institute – Mat work
- Antigravity – Yoga
- Antigravity – Suspension Fitness
- Antigravity – Airbarre
- Freestyle – Yoga Diploma
- Yogacourse – Yin Yoga
Elif has been teaching Pilates since 1999. She injured her spine as a child and as a result was in constant pain. Having always been an active person she wasn’t prepared to stop all physical activity. The longer Elif practised Pilates the more she can do. As time went on she was able to dance, train in yoga and antigravity yoga too, even going on to try flying trapeze.
Elif now teaches reformer which is absolutely the mecca for Pilates lovers. She believes in self healing: Positive thinking, breathing with intent and exercising keeps the mind and body connection, which leads to deeper understanding and realisation of the power we hold within.
Mike Wicks
Pilates Instructor
Qualifications and Specialities:
- STOTT PILATES® – Mat Trained Instructor (Essential/Intermediate)
- Michael King Pilates (Intelligent Fitness) – CYQ Level 3 Diploma in Teaching (Mat) Pilates (QCF)
At the age of 39, Mike was rock climbing on a sea-cliff on the island of Skye, when he took a massive fall, breaking his ankle and almost drowning in the process. After spending his 40th birthday in hospital, recovering from a series of operations, Mike was recommended Pilates as the perfect rehabilitation from such a serious injury. This trauma was the start of a long journey back to full fitness, aided by regular Pilates sessions, which culminated in a trip to the Swiss Alps where he summited three 4000m peaks.
Mike also had a long-standing desire to teach, and found his calling with Pilates, qualifying as a Pilates teacher in 2014; however, the opportunity to teach full time never quite came his way, and the world of IT and programming was the better for it, sadly.
When the Pandemic hit in 2020, Mike was able to dedicate most of his spare time to Pilates through online lessons with Pointe Ahead Pilates, as well as discovering an unexpected love of Running. Both Pilates and Running provided a step change in his overall fitness, such that in 2022, Mike decided to train as a STOTT Mat Pilates teacher.
Mike brings his personal experience of the benefits of Pilates to his classes, combined with his boundless enthusiasm and infectious wit!
Meghan Burns
Pilates Instructor
Qualifications and Specialities:
- Power Pilates, NYC – Mat I and II
- The Australian Physiotherapy & Pilates Institute (APPI) – Reformer Certification Series I, II and II
Meghan is excited to share her passion for Pilates. She believes Pilates can benefit all bodies and levels of fitness and that this system of exercise builds a level of functional, full body strength that is truly unique.
Whether you are new to Pilates looking to learn the fundamentals, or a more experienced student looking for a challenge, Meghan’s classes can be tailored to suit all bodies and levels of experience. Her teaching style is clear and engaging and her classes have a strong focus on precision of movement and progressive flow.
Meghan has a B.Sc. Psychology from the University of Toronto and has studied and taught Pilates in both Canada and the UK. She has experience teaching both 1:1 sessions and group classes. Meghan is currently continuing her Pilates education with STOTT PILATES® and is looking to get specialist designations in Athletic Conditioning and Post-Rehabilitation Conditioning.
Jennifer Chetty
Pilates Instructor
Qualifications and Specialities:
- Trifocus Fitness Academy Comprehensive Pilates Certification (Mat, Ball, Band, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, Barrel, Pregnancy Pilates, Basic Biomechanics, Spinal Curvatures)
Jennifer attended her first Pilates class at the age of 21 and immediately fell in love with the practice. One random class turned into a weekly session and a realisation that Pilates is so much more than just “getting fit or toning” but it allows you to connect to yourself and challenges you to grow.
She completed her Comprehensive teaching certification with Trifocus Fitness Academy in South Africa in 2017. Jennifer had the privilege to teach Pre and Post natal Pilates. Worked with clients with various sports injuries, MS as well as Scoliosis. Having moved to Edinburgh in late 2019 Jennifer is looking forward to sharing her passion and the amazing benefits of Pilates.