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Emma Churchill

Yoga and Pilates Teacher

Hello, I’m Emma Churchill, founder of Yoga and Pilates. I’m a full-time yoga and Pilates teacher with a genuine love of movement, wellbeing and helping people feel better in their bodies.

I qualified as a yoga teacher in 2009, training with the highly respected Simon Low and the Yoga Academy, before going on to qualify as a Pilates teacher with Future Fit School of Pilates in 2015. In 2025, I returned to my Pilates studies with Polestar Pilates, refreshing and developing my knowledge and bringing new ideas and approaches into my teaching.

Over the years, I’ve continued to explore different styles of movement and deepen my understanding of the body. I’ve been fortunate to train with some incredibly knowledgeable teachers, including Paul Grilley, founder of Yin Yoga, Bernie Clark in Yin Yoga, and Charlotte Watts in Somatics. I also completed Pilates Reformer training in 2023.

My approach to yoga

My yoga teaching has developed into an eclectic blend of styles rather than following one particular tradition. You’ll find elements of Hatha Yoga and Vinyasa Flow, alongside influences from Yin, restorative yoga, somatics, breathwork and meditation.

Some classes may feel more flowing and dynamic, while others offer the opportunity to slow down, pause and reconnect. I also enjoy weaving themes, intentions and affirmations into my teaching, recognising that yoga can support our mental and emotional wellbeing just as much as our physical bodies.

For me, yoga isn’t about achieving the perfect pose. It’s about exploring movement, developing awareness and finding what feels right for your individual body.

My approach to Pilates

My Pilates teaching has a contemporary feel while remaining rooted in the principles of the Pilates method. I aim to create balanced, all-round classes that move and work the whole body, developing strength, mobility, stability, coordination and body awareness.

I love variety and regularly incorporate small equipment such as resistance bands, soft balls, magic circles, weighted balls and other props to keep classes interesting and offer different ways of experiencing familiar movements.

Rather than simply repeating the same exercises each week, I enjoy creating varied classes that encourage you to explore how your body moves while progressively building strength and confidence.

Movement for every body

Above all, I want my classes to feel welcoming and accessible.

Over many years of teaching, I have worked with people of different ages, abilities and levels of experience, including people with significant physical impairments, people who are profoundly deaf and those who are visually impaired.

There is no expectation that everyone in the room should move or look the same. You are encouraged to work at a level that is appropriate for you, with modifications, adaptations and alternatives offered wherever possible.

Whether you are completely new to yoga or Pilates, returning after some time away, or have been practising for many years, my aim is to create an environment where you can feel comfortable, supported and able to enjoy moving your body.

Ultimately, my classes are about much more than exercise. They are an opportunity to move, breathe, build strength, improve mobility and take some valuable time for yourself — leaving you hopefully feeling a little better than when you arrived.