Meet the Team

Cathy
Pilates Instructor

Cathy Rees-Slawson trained at the distinguished Alan Herdman Pilates Studio in London in 2002/2003. (Alan established Britain’s first Pilates studio in 1970). In January 2004 Cathy opened The Pilates Centre, Wrexham.

Cathy initially trained as a dancer but hindered by a back injury she pursued other interests, with dance and fitness remaining an integral part of her life. In Australia, she qualified as a fitness instructor/personal trainer. Back in London, struggling with a knee injury, Cathy discovered Lesley Ackland’s Pilates studio. She found Pilates a highly effective way of keeping supple and strong without compromising the knees or back. On Lesley’s recommendation, she enrolled on Alan Herdman’s teacher training course.

Pilates has long since been a passion of Cathy’s, helping her through three pregnancies and getting back into shape afterwards. She works with physiotherapists, chiropractors and other medical professionals in Wrexham and North Wales. Her attention to detail, knowledge and thorough application of the Pilates technique in a straightforward and honest style make her classes fun and appealing.

Laura
Pilates Instructor

Laura trained with Cathy in 2014/15 and qualified in mat Pilates with the fitness professionals "PFE" in 2015.

Pilates was recommended to Laura by her chiropractor, to alleviate her lower back problems. After attending Cathy’s classes in Wrexham and feeling the fantastic benefits of Pilates, she trained as an instructor. During her training she became a new mum and had her second child in 2018. Laura taught throughout her second pregnancy and found Pilates extremely beneficial both during and after both pregnancies.

Laura runs the mat beginners courses, several mixed ability mat classes and the advanced mat Pilates class on a Thursday evening. She has continued her development as a Pilates instructor by attending courses with APPI, including Pilates with small equipment, Antenatal & Postnatal Pilates and Pilates for Hypermobility. Having also completed the APPI Reformer Pilates course, Laura will be joining our Reformer team in January 2027.

Laura’s calm, friendly manner, attention to detail and sense of humour have made her classes extremely popular.

Sarah P
Pilates Instructor

Sarah trained with The Pilates Centre and gained her Pilates instructor qualification through Futurefit in 2023.

Recommended to try Pilates by her Osteopath, she started classes at The Pilates Centre in 2005 and has been practising with the studio ever since. Sarah also found Pilates hugely beneficial after both of her pregnancies and with her shoulder rehabilitation. . She trained in Reformer Pilates with APPI in 2024 and currently teaches a mixture of Mat and Reformer classes.

Coming from a retail management background, Sarah is a real people person and has a great rapport with all her clients. She is super enthusiastic, has an eye for detail and her passion for Pilates shines through in all her classes. She is constantly striving to bring new ideas to her sessions and Sarah’s fun Sunday morning reformer sessions are particularly popular.

Emily
Pilates Instructor

Emily started her Pilates journey whilst training as a dancer, gaining a BA (hons) at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Throughout her time studying dance Emily developed a special interest in Pilates because of the beneficial effects on posture, strength and flexibility.

Emily qualified as a Stott Mat Pilates instructor in 2022 and Reformer instructor in 2023 and joined our team in 2024. She is also qualified to teach pre and post natal Mat Pilates. Emily predominantly teaches Reformer Pilates and her classes include strengthening and stretching of muscles to promote correct posture and ease of movement. She occasionally puts our mat clients through their paces when covering sessions in the mat studio. Her teaching style is precise, informative and her mat and reformer classes are really challenging, enjoyable and varied and will leave you feeling that you have had a good work out.

Jane
Yoga Instructor

Jane joined The Pilates Centre in June 2021. She works in the NHS as a Specialist Mental Health Dietitian and has been practicing Pilates, Yoga and Mindfulness for over 10 years. Jane started teaching Yoga in 2018 after gaining her British Wheel of Yoga qualification. She studied Yoga therapy with United Yoga Education and qualified with Yoga Alliance Professionals.

Jane teaches Hatha Yoga, incorporating Vinyasa flow and aims to inspire individuals to practice Yoga, regardless of age, ability and physical shape; to promote the benefits of Yoga and make it accessible to everyone. Her classes currently run on Monday and mornings and are suitable for anyone from beginners to experienced Yogis!

Sarah M
Pilates Instructor

Sarah is a qualified Level 3 Mat Pilates and Reformer Pilates Instructor, alongside being a 200-hour Ashtanga & Vinyasa Yoga Teacher and joined our team in 2026.

She is passionate about continually expanding her knowledge and believes that learning never stops. Her aim is to bring the latest evidence-based movement practices into her classes, helping people move with greater confidence, strength and ease. She is currently undertaking additional specialist training in Pilates with small equipment, Pre & Postnatal Pilates, Menopause Pilates and Pilates for Orthopaedic conditions.

Sarah is part of our Reformer team, you will find her in the studio bright and early on a Wednesday and Thursday morning and teaching the beginners reformer course on a Thursday evening. Sarah endeavours to create a class where you feel comfortable, encouraged, supported and capable and leave feeling taller, stronger and calmer.

Mel
Pilates Instructor

Having qualified with APPI in Mat Pilates, Mel joined our team in 2026 She was originally attracted to try out Pilates, to alleviate lower back pain and mobility issues and started classes with The Pilates Centre in 2019. She has previously worked as a fitness instructor, but Pilates has always been her passion.

Being aware of the benefits Pilates has brought her, through attending Cathy’s classes for a number of years, she is keen to pass on those benefits to other people. Mel’s calm and patient manner , along with her clear and precise instruction make her sessions thoroughly enjoyable. She is keen to continue expanding her knowledge in the field of Pilates, completing the Pilates for Menopause course with APPI in Autumn 2026.

Tracey
Class Co-ordinator

Tracey previously worked in local Government, management and consultancy services and as a Practice Manager for GP surgeries in North Wales. She now works as a virtual assistant at Venture Virtual, which she co-founded in 2009. She joined us in 2013.

A valuable member of our team, Tracey is responsible for co-ordinating the beginner’s courses, social media, client bookings, handling enquiries and generally ensuring that everything runs smoothly! Our clients appreciate her friendly demeanour and efficient handling of their queries.