About

 

“Lois is a natural teacher and draws the best out of you whether you are a beginner or experienced.”

-Deborah Russell

 

“Would highly recommend - really helped me feel so much better after every session”

— Melanie McEwen

 

Hi, I’m Lois a BASI Pilates certified mat instructor. I am Basi Comprehensive trained on all Pilates equipment and currently completing my hours of study.

I am also certified in:

  • Pre & Post Natal Pilates - Pregnancy & Beyond , Ashley Ritchie, BASI Pilates

  • Pilates for Injuries and Pathologies, Sam Wood, BASI Pilates

  • Pilates for Osteoporosis, Ashley Ritchie, BASI Pilates

I am also a CIMSPA member.

Further Pilates training includes:

  • Pelvic Floor Health During Pregnancy , Hester van Aswegen, BPhysT (Univ. Pretoria)

  • Pelvic Floor Health Beyond Pregnancy, Hester van Aswegen, BPhysT (Univ. Pretoria)

  • Pilates for Triathletes, Transform How You Perform, Ashley Ritchie, BASI Pilates

  • No Ifs. Just Butts, Sarah Lee Hundermark, BASI Pilates

  • Find & Fix Movement Faults, Theo Botha, BASI Pilates

  • Using Assists and Making Modifications, Theo Botha, BASI PIlates

  • Wall and All Pilates, Liane Brink, BASI Pilates

  • Working on Fascia, Sulene Ashton, BASI Pilates

  • Where Should I Be Feeling This?, Anula Maiberg, BASI Pilates

  • Pilates & Shoulder Mechanics, Theo Botha, BASI Pilates

  • ‘Teach Men’, Ed Botha, BASI Pilates

  • Pilates for Golf, Monique Martinengo, BASI Pilates

  • Movement and Matwork Magnified, Rebekah Rotstein, BASI Pilates

  • Introduction to Scoliosis, Rika Brixie, BASI Pilates

  • Pilates for Kids, Tash Barnard, BASI Pilates

  • Core…What does it mean?, Theo Botha, BASI Pilates Academy

  • Talking Common Hip Joint Injuries, Theo Botha, BASI Pilates Academy

  • Aging Strong Series: The Mat, Sheri Long, Pilates Grad School

  • Pilates Class and Q&A for the Elderly, Ashley Ritchie, BASI Pilates

  • Fit, Function and Fun! - “Pilates for the Elderly Client in Today’s Times,” Sheri Long

  • When and How to Stretch - The benefits of different stretching techniques, Markella Kefallonitou, BASI Pilates

  • Tech Neck, Monique Martinengo, BASI Pilates

  • Pilates for Hyper-mobility, Ashley Ritchie, BASI Pilates

  • With A Twist, Theo Botha, BASI Pilates

  • Moving Out of Pain, Lynne Broodryk, BASI Pilates

  • Anatomy Trains in Motion & Slings Myofascial Training Intro, Anneke Kruger, BASI Pilates

  • Stretch Class, Liane Brink, BASI Pilates

  • Rhythm Pilates, Liane Brink, BASI Pilates

Further Education and Classes

  • Bachelor of Arts Degree, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)

  • Emergency First Aid at Work, Pro Trainings 2024

Although born and raised in Scotland, I have also been incredibly lucky to have lived, worked and studied in Los Angeles, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, Zurich and Edinburgh. I am now located in the beautiful countryside of the south west of Scotland, specifically, under the dark sky of Dumfries and Galloway.

I have always loved Pilates. When years of sitting behind a computer and a sewing machine designing and making clothes started to take its toll and achy stretches and a few groans became a morning routine, I went back to my Pilates classes and decided to retrain as a Pilates instructor with Basi. In 2023 I suffered ‘significant’ trauma to my lower spine. A sequestered disc left me in a lot of pain with numbness and weakness in my left leg and foot and too many visits to A&E to rule out cauda equina. Using Pilates for my rehabilitation I am now pain free and stronger both physically and mentally.

For me, for anyone, the combination of the physical and the mindfulness of Pilates not only improves your strength and flexibility to help with those aches and pains, it also gives a sense of control and focus, a sense of wellbeing.

“I love Lois’s approach to teaching at Dark Sky Pilates classes. Classes are challenging but fun. I can highly recommend Dark Sky Pilates.”

-Helen Caldwell

“I really enjoy your personal attention and focus to ensure we are getting the most out of each exercise. SO glad I got hear about your class.”

-Maggie Nicol

“I feel safe and motivated. I love that you give us a full body workout.”

-Sheila Aitken

Testimonials