Teacher Training
Delivering courses since 2007
Our Philosophy
Foundations
At the heart of PEAR lies Ellie Ioannidou — a passionate educator, and one of the UK's most recognised voices in Pilates teacher training. With decades of experience and multiple mentions in the historical record of Pilates in the UK, Ellie brings deep respect for tradition together with a fresh, evidence-informed approach to movement education.
She founded PEAR to offer something different: a training environment that is rigorous yet personal, rooted in classical principles but open to evolution. Our mission is to deliver teacher education of the highest standard — not just to certify instructors, but to shape reflective, confident, and adaptable professionals.
Learn to See, Not Just to Do
We teach the Pilates Method with influences ranging from classical to remedial, grounded in lineage and guided by modern research into movement and rehabilitation. With attention to detail and a commitment to continuity, our programmes support each trainee’s unique development.
You’ll learn to refine your own movement, sharpen your observation, and adapt your teaching to meet individuals — not just deliver routines. We focus on nurturing intuition, clarity, and creative responsiveness.
Practice
To us, Pilates is a therapeutic discipline. Physical limitations become creative opportunities, not obstacles. With time, consistency, and curiosity, you’ll learn how to support recovery, improve function, and deepen awareness through movement.
Our rich and varied repertoire is always rooted in core principles: relaxation, alignment, breath, focus, and awareness— the quiet tools that build strength, restore balance, and develop mind–body connection.
Becoming a Teacher
We believe great teachers emerge through experience, mentorship, and embodied learning. That’s why our training is small-group, feedback-rich, and deeply personal — helping you build confidence, insight, and a grounded teaching voice.
Whether you're just starting out or returning to deepen your knowledge, PEAR offers a space to grow with integrity, intelligence, and lasting joy in movement related learning.
The Full Story
A Journey Rooted in Lineage
In 2007, Ellie Ioannidou and Gordon Thomson partnered, to form Pilates Body Europe Ltd. Emerging from Gordon’s rich years with Body Control Pilates and Ellie's extensive training with Jenny Coleboure, they led the teacher training courses Ellie developed, establishing a clear identity in classical apparatus teaching across London and Portugal.
Educating Through Experience
From 2007 to 2013, Ellie and Gordon, led extensive, advanced courses in Reformer, Cadillac, Wunda Chair and more, hosted at South Kensington’s Body Control & Rehabilitation Centre and Maria Larsen’s studio in Cascais, Portugal. These programs attracted returning students and mentoring opportunities, setting high teaching standards and refining training manuals annually.
A Studio with Purpose
Following the closure of the original centre in 2013, Ellie joined Trevor Blount’s studio for three years, and in 2014 she launched Pilates Education & Research Ltd. Since 2016, PEAR has operated from its own studio at 125 Gloucester Road, offering specialist tuition.
In 2021, PEAR resumed teacher training programmes.
Our Credentials
Ellie qualified in 1999 through two-year programmes with Body Control Pilates (London) and Illium Centre (Athens). She worked closely with Gordon Thomson at the Pilates & Rehabilitation Centre, collaborating with some of the UK’s earliest teacher trainers.
Our faculty accreditation across classical, contemporary, and remedial methodologies reflects decades of lineage—directly linked to first-generation Joseph Pilates teachers. A team of international educators, osteopaths, and movement specialists ensures a rich, evidence-based assimilation of traditions.
Timeline: PEAR’s Evolution
1997–1999
• Ellie completes two-year teacher training in London and Athens, under second-generation Pilates teachers
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Begins teaching alongside Gordon Thomson
2001–2006
• Ellie assists and manages the Body Control & Rehabilitation Centre
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Ellie assists in the Body Control Teacher Training.
2007
• Ellie Ioannidou and Gordon Thomson form The Body Control Pilates Organisation Ltd ( Pilates Body Europe) after Gordon steps down from his roles at the Body Control Pilates which he originally co-founded.
• Ellie and Gordon launch advanced apparatus training across London & Portugal
2009
• Company rebrands to Pilates Body Europe Ltd
• Builds network of returning students and international workshops
2013
• Gordon's Original studio closes.
• Ellie joins Trevor Blount studio and lays groundwork for a new venture.
2014
• Pilates Education & Research Ltd (PEAR) is founded by Ellie Ioannidou.
2016
• PEAR opens its own studio at 125 Gloucester Road, South Kensington
2021-2022
• Relaunches teacher training via government-funded apprenticeship programme.
• Develops one-year teaching diploma programme with Richard Budd.
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Runs Comprehensive Teaching Programme.
2023–2024
• 18-month apprenticeship programme exclusive for dancers & performers
• Builds a flexible, structured format now core to PEAR’s identity for both Comprehensive and Modular training.
2025
• Modular certification pathway reopens
• Courses designed for wider access — UK-based and international students
Why It Matters to You
This history isn’t just our story — it becomes yours.
When you train with PEAR, you inherit a lineage of knowledge, a culture of mentorship, and a practice that’s been shaped, tested, and trusted over time.
The Team
Experienced, accomplished and successful, our team will mentor you, and help you achieve high teaching standards as a new teacher or enrich your teaching technique if you seek development.
Enquire
Get in touch so you can start your teaching journey