Louise is a Pilates expert with 15 years’ experience in the private fitness industry. She started her career with a degree in Sports Studies, before going on to work for a number of health clubs, spas and corporate gyms. After taking a break to have her two children, Neave and Henry, Lou decided to go back to her first love, teaching group exercise classes. She is now a qualified specialist in Body Control Pilates, with a growing band of happy classmates and tutees. When she’s not teaching, Lou is a keen gardener. She has a productive vegetable patch and enjoys a fine glass of wine with a home-grown meal. During the winter months you’ll often find her having fun in the snow as skiing is an O’Connell passion.

Alex is a sports injury and performance specialist with experience in several settings including hospitals, private practice, professional sports clubs, international competition and snow sports. Alex combines his dynamic hands-on approach with current scientific theories and cutting-edge methods to provide patients with comprehensive, specialist treatment or performance care. While many of his patients are athletes, the same approach can benefit all individuals regardless of age, ability or activity level.

As a former professional footballer, Alex’s interest in rehabilitation and sports medicine began following injuries that led to an early exit from the football league. His clubs include Reading, Carlisle United and the Vancouver Whitecaps. He has also competed internationally representing England in the 5-a-side Futsal team.

After personally enduring consecutive Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstructions, a particular interest developed in preventing and rehabilitating knee injuries. He also has a focused interest in ‘core stability’ with his research project winning a prestigious national award.

Since retiring from football and leaving full time private practice and University lecturing in the UK, Alex has spent 10 years in the Austrian Alps working as a Sports Therapist. He enjoys all things nature, (especially fishing and has also represented England in the World Championships) and has recently relocated to Christchurch.

Alex approaches his assessment and treatments with an active, hands-on, no nonsense approach, combined with an exercise programme to recover from injury to reach your goals.

Mareen brings twenty years of clinical experience to our team.

After qualifying as a physiotherapist in 2003, Mareen gained valuable experience working in both private clinics and the health service in Germany. She spent nine years building up and managing a private physiotherapy clinic in Munich, with a focus on conservative orthopaedic medicine.

Mareen continuously adds to her skillset as a physiotherapist and has a special interest in pelvic floor health for both women and men. Her yoga and Pilates training is a great addition to her physiotherapy skills.

Having moved to the UK two and a half years ago, Mareen can often be found outside, hiking, cycling and dipping in the sea.

Sharon is a level 3 remedial massage therapist, specialising in deep tissue massage, as well as being a certified pregnancy massage clinician.

She offers a holistic approach to your wellbeing, incorporating the many benefits that massage therapy can bring, such as easing muscle tension, improving circulation, reducing pain, relieving stress, and promoting relaxation.

Whether you are seeking a deep tissue massage or a relaxing therapy, you are guaranteed a journey of relaxation and rejuvenation.

In her spare time, Sharon enjoys anything outdoors, particularly year-round sea dipping.

Alex started Pilates many years ago now at the recommendation of her chiropractor at the time as she was suffering from constant neck and back ache due to her posture. He advised Alex that he could keep treating her, or she could fix the underlying issue herself and this information came like a breath of fresh air.  She knew she needed to take action to correct her posture which would eliminate her pain. He suggested Pilates so she gave it a try, and has never looked back.

Years later, Alex decided that she needed a career change and her wonderful Pilates teacher at the time encouraged her to train to become a Pilates teacher.  She trained for over a year under Suzanne Scott and her team at the Scott Studio in Somerset to gain her Pilates Foundation accredited Mat work Qualification in Dec 2011. 

After the birth of her daughter in 2013, Alex realised that her post-baby body needed something more than ‘normal’ Pilates. She couldn’t find the person she needed, so she became that person and studied under Jenny Burrell of Burrell Education and qualified in Advanced Modern Post Natal Assessment, Core Restore & Functional Exercise Programming.  She loves working with postnatal mums (with babies of all ages).  

Alex has since developed a love for Barre classes and now teaches the fantastic and biomechanically sound Bootybarre™. In 2018 she further developed her skills to teach the Pilates reformer with Body Control Pilates.

Her main interests and goals for her clients is to increase their body awareness by learning to correct movement patterns that they can use in their everyday lives, helping to combat aches and pains from work, motherhood and travel. 

Stewart has been doing karate since 1985 and teaching karate since 1998. After 2 prolapse discs, 2 years of work and spinal operations, Stewart’s surgeon suggested he try Pilates and, after swallowing his pride, he began his Pilates journey.

Pilates has revolutionised his training regime and changed his life. Qualifying as a Body Control Pilates teacher, Stewart is passionate about helping people to gain a greater understanding of their body and movements. He is a fantastic teacher with great knowledge and an eye for precision.

Annabel is a Level 4 Personal Trainer with specialities including Can we Rehab, Lower Back Pain and Pulmonary Rehab. Alongside her classes at Bridge Health & Wellbeing, Annabel works in Exercise Referral at Littledown in Bournemouth, which she loves and finds incredibly rewarding. She is currently studying towards her Level 3 massage therapy course.

Annabel has three children and also works part-time for Virgin Atlantic as a cabin crew member. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, open water swimming and paddleboarding.

Michelle has a passion for movement and a strong foundation in functional fitness. Her Pilates career began in 2013, when she became certified in Pilates matwork through Stott Pilates, a contemporary approach. Michelle added to her expertise in 2021 by becoming certified in Reformer, also through Stott Pilates.

As a keen runner with numerous half marathons under her belt, often finishing among the top 3 women, Michelle credits Pilates for helping her stay injury-free. Michelle loves a challenge and brings energy, commitment and a love for movement to everything she does.