About Sandra, the team and Pilates
Read all about how Sandra and Carolyn started their Pilates journey, who Pilates is and its benefits.
Sandra & the team
and why we chose Pilates
Hi, I’m Sandra, founder of Pilates Republic.
After discovering Pilates through my own back injury, I experienced first-hand how powerful mindful movement can be.
At Pilates Republic, our approach is supportive, down-to-earth and focused on helping you feel stronger, more connected and confident in your body.
Sandra Igel
Romana's Pilates Instructor & Founder of Pilates Republic
My Story
I grew up in a small village in Germany and have always loved an active lifestyle. My childhood was busy, from jazz dance to ballet, tennis, swimming, only to name a few.
Apart from my memories of movement in my life, I also remember how much I enjoyed caring and helping people. My grandmother used to have a tight back and I would give her a massage whenever possible. My passion to help and care for others led me to train and certify as a Kahuna Massage therapist. Whilst fitness and my interest in well being grew, I continued to work in an office until one day I took the leap of faith and decided to become a full time professional Pilates teacher.
My Career
My beginnings were in hospitality management, which meant I was sitting in front of a computer most days. The full time seated position and my unaligned body doing fitness, eventually led to an unfortunate back injury in my early 30s. Finally I tried Pilates and fell immediately in love with it. This was with the Romana's Pilates Method.
I have been practicing Pilates several times a week since then to keep strong and relieve my back and because I'm hooked to the mind body connection it supplies me with. Each workout is all about connecting me more to my own body and I love that.
My Training
I was trained and certified by several Romana's Master Teachers including Marjorie Oron and Jane Poertwoatmodio, both from the Pilates Training Center in Holland and certified by Juanita Lopez in Evanston, Chicago.
Our method is world-renowned for one of the most rigorous and demanding training programs available and consisted of 1000+ training and teaching hours, where I have taught, observed and worked with various body types, capabilities and injuries. They include different back, neck, shoulder, wrist, hip to knee and ankle/foot issues.
I have been very fortunate to have taught a broad range of clients from pre and post natal women to triathletes, swimmers and dancers. Many have told me how Pilates has enriched their lives on various levels."
Carolyn Burdett
Romana's Pilates Instructor
My Story
I discovered Romana’s Pilates in my early 50s on the advice of a physiotherapist after struggling with a torn meniscus and chronic shoulder pain. I had always been active, but my physio pointed out that I had likely never walked down a staircase without putting stress on my knees.
That changed with Pilates!
At first, it was about recovery, but it quickly became so much more. Adding one-to-one sessions to my weekly mat class transformed the way I moved—I’ll never forget the moment I walked out of the studio feeling taller, lighter, and more balanced than ever.
A few years later, I witnessed firsthand the importance of movement when both my mother and mother-in-law became unwell. After early falls, they lost confidence in their bodies, stopped moving, and their minds seemed to follow. This experience planted the seed—I knew one day I would train to teach Pilates and help others keep moving.
My Career
Before Pilates, I had a long career in academia, spending hours at a desk. Like many, I experienced the toll of a sedentary lifestyle—postural imbalances, recurring pain, and a growing awareness that my body wasn’t moving as well as it should. Pilates changed that. It gave me strength, balance, and control in a way I’d never experienced before.
That transformation, along with what I saw in my family, inspired me to take the leap and train as a Romana’s Pilates teacher. Now, I’m stronger than ever, my chronic pain has diminished, and I move with more ease and confidence.
My Training
I trained in the Romana’s Pilates Method, a rigorous and in-depth programme known for its high standards. This involved extensive hours of study, observation, and hands-on teaching, working with a variety of body types, abilities, and injuries.
Through my training and personal experience, I’ve come to appreciate the incredible diversity of bodies. Pilates is for everyone—whether recovering from injury, dealing with stiffness, or simply wanting to move with more ease. We are made to move, so why not make that movement stronger, more controlled, and more fulfilling?
What and Who is Pilates?
Pilates is an exercise method that was created by Joseph Pilates throughout the early-mid 1900s.
The method uses a system of exercises on equipment (apparatus) and mat to retrain and educate your body, guided by a comprehensively trained instructor. The goal is to achieve better alignment and strengthen the deep muscles around the spine, inner thighs, back of leg, bottom, which all together form the Powerhouse. This helps you move with more control, starting from your centre, and develops your body evenly so that you look and feel better.
Additionally, Pilates can help address long-standing issues resulting in pain and body imbalances. Pain that has been experienced for years can reduce and often disappear altogether.
Pilates can be studied/practiced at any age in life. Whether you have limited physical activity or you are a fitness aficionado, I will adjust the workout to your ability, needs and goals.
Benefits of Pilates
Strengthens while stretches
Core stability
Improved posture
Improved spine flexibility
Improved balance
Can help to recover from injury
Improved mental health
The benefits of this method are recognised by doctors, physiotherapists and chiropractors.
Practicing the method can help prevent injury or can help to play an important role in recovery after an injury.
Romana’s Pilates
Romana's Pilates has been named after Romana Kryzanowska, who was born in 1923. Initially a ballet dancer, she became Joseph Pilates' main student and later a Pilates instructor.
After the death of Joseph Pilates in 1968, his wife Clara continued the studio for a few more years, and in 1970 Romana Kryzanowska became the director of what was by that time called "The Pilates Studio."
Romana, together with her daughter Sari Mejia-Santo developed a training program, called the Romana's ITP (Instructor Training Program). Their main aim is to keep Romana's and Joseph Pilates' dream alive and to keep the method as pure as possible.
The UK training center is at Kinetic Pilates.
Ask me Anything
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On the first page of this website, is a section with all the different services. You can go that way, or get in touch. You can email me at sandra@pilatesrepublic.co.uk or call/message 07879 337068, and we’ll arrange a time to chat.
We’ll talk through what’s going on for you, what you’re looking for, and what would suit you best. From there, I’ll guide you to the right starting point — whether that’s a private session or a group class.
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Everyone can do it!
Whether you join the private studio, group mat classes or our online program, you won’t need any prior experience or fitness level.
Equally, if you have done Pilates for many years in other methods, you’ll be surprised how challenging ours can be.
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We don’t offer PAYG, however all services run on a membership basis because consistency is where the real change happens.
When you come each week, your strength builds progressively, your posture improves naturally, and your mobility deepens over time. We’re not starting from scratch each session — we’re layering, refining, and progressing. That’s where the real transformation lives.
And of course, life happens.
Memberships include built-in flexibility, so you won’t miss out if plans change. You can reschedule within the same week or another week (meaning sometimes you come twice), and if you’re away you can join via Zoom.Habits create results. And results build confidence.
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Starting to move again after years of pain, injury, or feeling stuck can feel daunting. The fact you’re here is already a big first step.
The best place to begin is by getting in touch so we can talk things through. You can email me at sandra@pilatesrepublic.co.uk or call/message 07879 337068, and we’ll arrange a time to chat.
Once we’ve found a day and time that works, I’ll send you a confirmation along with a health form. This helps me understand what’s going on for you so I can support you in the safest and most effective way.
You don’t need to have it all figured out — we’ll take it step by step together.
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Yes, you’re very welcome to share any medical reports if you feel they’re relevant. While we are not medical staff and don’t clinically interpret scans or diagnose, we have seen many over the years and they can be helpful in giving additional context.
That said, we always teach based on what we see in front of us — how you move, your alignment, and how your body responds in real time. This ensures your sessions are tailored to what your body actually needs on the day.
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Short answer: It depends.
Our group classes are small and personalised, so in some cases joining a mat class is absolutely possible. It really comes down to how you’re feeling right now and where you are in your healing journey.
A few helpful questions to ask yourself:
• Can you comfortably get down to and up from the floor?
• Are you happy being in a group of up to 12, knowing we won’t have eyes on you all the time?
• Are your symptoms relatively stable (rather than very acute or flaring day to day)?
• Do you feel confident following verbal instructions and working at your own pace when needed?If you’re unsure, the best thing is to get in touch and we can talk it through together. You can email me at sandra@pilatesrepublic.co.uk and I’ll help you decide what will feel safest and most supportive.
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Private sessions take place in the fully equipped studio and are entirely tailored to you. We use the Pilates equipment to support, challenge, and guide your body, while also looking beyond the session itself — your habits, posture, and lifestyle — to create real, lasting change.
Group classes are mat-based and kept small, focused, and personal. You’ll work at your own level within the group, building strength, improving posture, and moving with more ease over time, with guidance and adjustments throughout.
Both are highly effective — it simply depends on the level of support and attention you’re looking for.
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Wear something you're comfortable in. Generally we wear socks for the workout and clothing that allows us to see your body. However there's no strict rules here really!
Please bring a hand towel and a Pilates floor mat, which is anything between 10-15 mm thick. Yoga mats can be used, but may be too thin for certain exercises. Bring it anyway if that's all you have and we'll give advise when doing these exercises, as it depends on your body type.
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Life happens — and your Pilates can adapt.
You can reschedule your session within the same week or move it to another week. Sometimes that means you’ll come twice in one week.
If you’re away, you can join online or continue your practice through the on-demand library.
Get in Touch
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