Teacher Training
Delivering courses since 2007
Our Philosophy
We aim to deliver teacher's training of the highest standards. We teach the Pilates method with its varied styles and influences from Classical (NY), West Coast, Santa Fe, London and Remedial Pilates with consideration of up to date research of common degenerative musculoskeletal conditions. With attention to detail, comprehension and continuity, we can tailor our programmes to achieve the best training for individual teachers . We encourage students to develop intuition, observation skills, search for subtleties and fine tune their bodies. Learn how to teach individuals rather than a set format of Pilates exercises and help make outstanding teachers.
Pilates is a therapeutic method. Physical restrictions become a stimulus for the accomplished teacher rather than a restriction. Time, practice, and an open mind are key factors. Our bodies are made of many systems meant to work in harmony within and with the surroundings. Pilates teaches us awareness, and become conscious of our bodies and its links, advancing our physical skills, help our recovery from injuries and ailments, and promotes everyday functionality.
Emphasis on relaxation, skeletal alignment, breathing, focus, and readiness to perform gives as the famous mind-body connection. Explore our bodies safely, and efficiently receive and give stimuli and achieving the famous Mind-Body connection.
We evolve and enrich the technique with new ideas from and aspire that our contribution to the Pilates education grows in time.
The Full Story
Ellie Ioannidou and Gordon Thomson formed THE BODY CONTROL PILATES ORGANISATION LIMITED in 2007 after Gordon's departure from Body Control Pilates. The company name changed to PILATES BODY EUROPE LIMITED in 2009.
They delivered numerous long courses which Ellie Ioannidou designed and taught between 2007-2013 on Reformer, Cadillac & Wunda Chair in London at the Body Control and Rehabilitation Centre in South Kensington and in Portugal, Cascais at Maria Larsen's Pilates establishment.
Great reputation followed Gordon and Ellie through this enterprise with a big number of the teachers they trained returning for more training, mentorship, and even repeating courses. Courses were updated and improved constantly and the manuals enriched. With Gordon's retirement and the closure of Body Control and Rehabilitation Centre in South Kensington in 2013, Ellie founded Pilates Education & Research Ltd in 2014 and continued delivering teacher's training in London from Trevor Blount's studio in South Kensington, Scotland and Portugal.
In 2016 Ellie Ioannidou opened the new premises for Pilates Education & Research Ltd in 125 Gloucester Road. Followed a hiatus in delivering courses until 2020 when Pilates Education & Research Ltd participated in a government programme for training young students. Ellie designed and taught a year long programme in Teaching Pilates in 2022. This inspiring programmes led to a new 18 month long training programme exclusive to young dancers and performers in 2023.
Returning to a more modular but complete and continuous programme from January 2025 we are welcoming students with varied backgrounds and experience.
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.
Ellie Ioannidou
Director, P.E.A.R & Pilates Body Europe
Ellie Ioannidou has qualified and enriched the technique of many teachers since 2000.
She was fascinated and intrigued by the variety of Pilates styles and different influences from early on.
With background of professional Rhythmic Gymnastics, and dance training, she had a passion for teaching from early on. She trained in Pilates from 1997-1999 in Athens-Ilium Centre and London-Body Control from 2nd generation teachers. She extended her learning with workshops, lectures and privates with accomplished teachers from everywhere in the world.
She joined Gordon Thomson's studio in South Kensington in 1999. Gordon's studio was a hub for teachers passing from everywhere in the world so it was a great opportunity to further her knowledge, test it against other teachers and experiment with a creative team. She supervised teachers, signing them off, and taught modules for Body Control Pilates Teacher Training until 2005.
With a passion for an all inclusive, advanced, and complete Teacher's Training on equipment which was at the time very compartmentalised and limited in the majority of London Ellie had a vision for Training Courses from very early on. She brought that to fruition in 2007, co-founded Pilates Body Europe with Gordon Thomson and continued developing Teacher's training with her own company Pilates Education and Research Ltd to this day.
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