Coaches
Taylor Collier-Brown
As a woman, I know all too well the pressures and expectations that are put upon women, to look a certain way, to be a certain size; I also know the cost at which this can come. I used to believe the only training win was weight loss and that if I even looked at a weight, I’d bulk up and lose my femininity, that nutrition meant limiting what I eat, and all the energy I needed could come from a black coffee. Four years later, I realised I couldn’t have been more wrong. I started my career in fitness with the goal to empower women. I was tired of seeing women at my local gym attending endless classes, avoiding weights, spending their lunch hours on a treadmill, doing this for months and not seeing the results, not seeing that shapely toned figure they were envisioning. I asked myself why was this? Why were men so much more confident and comfortable in the gym? I realised it was because they knew what they were doing: they would learn from a brother, a friend, they would have a gym crew. Woman, on the other hand, had been told the lie that a diet of cardio and minimal calories was the recipe for their dream physique. It was then I decided to educate myself so that I could educate other women who were just like me. I studied my course with Premier Global, moving onto a personal training role at Virgin Active Collection Clubs where I also pursued an internship with one of London’s most prestigious gyms working with high performance clients, an absolutely invaluable asset in my fitness career. I am now a Personal Trainer working in one of Londons most luxury fitness clubs where I coach clients from 18 to 72 with all different abilities and goals.
I believe there is more to fitness and training than just aesthetics: it’s how we feel, it’s the confidence and sense of accomplishment we get when we learn a new lift or hit a new PB. It’s about feeling strong, understanding what strength is to us, whether it’s a holding a yoga pose, lifting 200 kilos, running 5km: it’s personal. My goal is find out what strength is to you, what makes you feel empowered and confident; then I want to help you harness that and excel with it.
Marcela Rafalowska
Marcela found Pilates when seeking balance in her own training. A desire to connect more with her own body had her falling in love with the practice and therefore found it a natural progression in her career to become qualified in mat and apparatus based Pilates. Marcela has over a decade of experience in the fitness industry, starting her journey as a personal trainer and group class instructor, teaching the likes of Spin, Hiit and Circuit based classes. With qualifications from London, New York and Los Angeles she has become an expert in her field. Marcela’s career has taken her all over and has allowed her to work with people from all walks of lives with different levels and abilities. Whether your practice is on a pilates apparatus, mat, group or a bespoke one on one session, she listens and works with you. Marcela believes in you having a true understanding of each movement you are practicing, ensuring the deepest connection with your body strengthening your capabilities in other aspects of your day to day life. It is important to her to read each individuals body and to ensure your alignment and set up is optimum for you to gain the most from your practice. Marcela’s wonderful and rewarding pilates classes work towards building strength, balance and flexibility, with the goal to maximise quality of your life and help with your own training.
“Radiating positivity, Marcella is mixing professionalism, experience, and attention to detail in her Pilates class. You won't get bored with the pace of the course or with Marcella's dynamism...and yes it's challenging!”
— Thomas
“ Marcela's classes have really brightened up the lockdown for me. Even before this period, I'd diligently set a reminder to book her classes as soon as possible to ensure I'd have a space before selling out. I love her as a teacher, her way of challenging me and her class is the only reason why I'd wake up earlier than usual.”
— Sara
“Time flies when you’re having fun...
Since 4 years, Marcela is teaching me how to keep my legs straight in open leg rocker, how to maintain apps on fire throughout the session and so much more. Every time you think you’ve nailed a move, she is changing it up and you’ll start from the beginning, so it’ll never get boring or monotonous. Marcela is an amazing Pilates teacher and a super kind and positive human being. She is incredibly knowledgable and has a way to explain the movements so that it becomes ‘easy’ to action. She always pushes you that tiny bit further- that extra bit you thought you weren’t able to do- in a super friendly and motivating way. But what truly gets you hooked is her honest kindness and joy when you become better and how she constantly thinks about what else she can do to help you progress even further. A true gem thank you!”
- Josephine