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Co-Founder of SW4 Pilates Londra Chiara

Ever since joining gymnastics classes in my vibrant home city Naples at the age of four, human movement, strength, and mobility has been at the centre of my world. 

This lifelong fascination with the human body saw me qualify as a Sports Therapist back in 2012.

But it was after discovering the magic of classical Pilates and its unique body-awakening powers that I became obsessed. 

I completed my advanced classical teacher training in 2015 at the world-renowned Pilates Center (BO Colorado).

Dubbed the ‘Harvard of Pilates’, this rigorous 950-hour training programme stays true to the fundamentals developed by Joseph Pilates a century ago.

Since then, I’ve trained elite runners, rugby teams, injury-hit athletes, and professional dancers from the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. I also specialise in helping pregnant women and new mothers.

Pilates is not just for highly active gym-goers and athletes, but busy sedentary professionals, and anyone worn out by chronic pains, niggling discomforts, and any type of physical suffering.

My classes are truly for everyone.

Further Education and CPD

pre/post natal Pilates specialist Program™ with the Center for womens fitness April 2019
Look, Listen, Push Pull: Training Freedom and Support in the head, neck and shoulders with Movement Science Made Simple, Led by Cara Reeser and Jeremy Laverdure
The Center method™ for Diastasis Recti Recovery April 2019
BSc Sports Therapy Degree at London Metropolitan University

C0-FOUNDER OF SW4 PILATES Rob Boswell

Like many, I thought of Pilates as mat sessions my mum used to do in the local town hall. I knew it was “a bit like Yoga” and tended to be for middle-aged women.

But since meeting Chiara, I’ve discovered a whole new world.

I was a lifelong rugby player, representing Scotland at age-grade level. I thought I was doing everything to be strong, but I was plagued by injuries after smashing into people every week.

Through classical Pilates I have come through a dislocated ankle and torn ligaments – I really had to build from scratch, learning how to walk, run and move properly again. 

Endless physio sessions helped a little, but the effects soon wore off. 

It was through Pilates that I rediscovered fluid movement and really awoke to my body for the first time. I rebuilt from the hidden weaknesses and tightnesses that came from being unable to walk for so long.

The tower has been fundamental to regaining my strength and power. At first I was sceptical, thinking these bizarre medieval torture instruments could not possibly be of any real benefit. 

But once the effects took hold in my body I was convinced. 

The idea of Pilates as being “for women” is outdated and simply wrong.  Many of my ex rugby colleagues are healing from chronic injuries through this movement system.

Despite the frustration I didn’t discover Pilates when I was younger, I’m delighted to be able to share its life-changing benefits with others.

Classical Pilates Teacher

Ruth Milligan

Having practised Pilates for over 20 years, seen the immense benefits to my body and mind and become fascinated by the possibilities Pilates offers, I decided to move away from my desk-bound career and retrain as a Pilates teacher! 

The fun, the challenges and the rewards I have found in realising this dream have been beyond my expectations. Pilates, truly enhances every part of life.

I first completed the Polestar mat teacher training course and then, having worked with that for a time, I went on to follow the Advanced Teacher Training course run by the Pilates Center (TPC), based in Boulder Colorado. This qualified me to teach the full range of classical 

Pilates exercises using all the equipment – reformer, chair, cadillac, tower, mat and all the ancillary smaller equipment. I love the classical Pilates method as it concentrates on deep muscle strength, so increasing flexibility, improving range of movement at the joints and results in a svelte, toned and powerful physique. The equipment works as ‘extra muscles’ to help you do so much more, while stretching your capacities and bringing you to more advanced exercises sooner.

I love to see my clients as they progress and find in their bodies a strength and a joy in movement that they did not know they had.