Meet Sarah

Sarah is a former athlete and Sports Lecturer who competed at an international level before creating Supple Fitness in 2008. In 2015 Sarah opened a specialist studio at Wrekin Professional Centre in Wellington offering exclusive Pilates, Yoga and Barre classes in a tasteful environment.  Coming from a background in ballet and with over 20 years of teaching experience in all aspects of health, fitness and well-being, Sarah has developed an eye for detail and movement precision. This is reflected in her client base, which includes beginners through to a significant number of professional athletes, instructors and orthopaedic clientele.

Sarah’s passion for Pilates originated when she sustained an injury whilst competing and realised the benefits of using Pilates as a rehabilitation tool, in addition to enhancing performance and lifestyle.   Priding herself on continual professional development in 2019 she embarked on a journey to become a Women’s Wellness Specialist including Breast Cancer Rehabilitation with a philosophy to support women’s Health, Movement, Fitness and Soft Tissue through empowering body and mind. An inextricable link that has the potential to transform the quality of lives for women.

In 2021 Sarah rebranded to SgFit (Sarah Gatford Fitness) and is proud to have developed and offer cutting edge programmes for Pelvic Health, Back Care and Lifestyle in person and online.  Her studio incorporates reformer Pilates on a 1:1 and 2:1 basis and has seen an increase in athletes turning to this method for that elusive edge. Small group Pilates mat work and equipment enable feedback during class with 25% of her client base being male.  Sarah believes in nourishing the body, mind and spirit through an integrated approach utilising current research to help others achieve physical, mental and emotional wellness.

Qualifications

Education

  • BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching
  • PGCE (PCE) Post Graduate Certificate in Education
  • MA in Education (Teaching & Learning)
  • Active IQ Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement

Pilates & Yoga

  • Polestar Advanced Pilates Instructor
  • Body Control Reformer Pilates Beginner & Intermediate
  • Active IQ Level 3 Diploma in Fitness Pilates
  • Australian Physiotherapist Pilates Institute (appi): Pilates for Cyclists
  • CYQ Level 3 Diploma in Hatha Yoga
  • New Skills Academy: Mindfulness Diploma
  • Dr Suzanne Martin: The Foot: Pilates based treatment, Motor Control and Recruitment
  • Dr Suzanne Martin: Asymmetries in the Pilates Environment
  • Yoga Professionals Level 2 Vinyassa Yoga
  • Fitness Pilates Level 2
  • Freestyle Fitness Yoga Level 2

Rehabilitation

  • Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Post-Operative Rehab Specialist
  • Active IQ Level 4 Certificate in Exercise for the Management of Low Back Pain
  • Orthopaedic Advanced Fitness Pilates Qualification
  • OCR Level 4 Diploma in Sports Massage Therapy
  • Ultrasound Therapy
  • Kinesiology Taping Level 1 & 2
  • Practical Fascial Release methods for Movement Professionals

Women’s Health

  • Active IQ Level 3 Award in Designing Pre & Postal Natal Exercises
  • Women’s Wellness Specialist mbodies
  • Restoring the core: Improving pelvic floor function and healing rectus abdominus
  • Stopping Leaks: A research based stepwise approach to reducing stress incontinence
  • Pink Ribbon Post-Rehab
  • Understanding Osteoporosis and Bone-Safe Programming
  • Pilates for Mind-life Health and the Menopause

Fitness

  • Active IQ Level 3 Certificate: Nutrition and Weight Management
  • Active IQ Level 2 Diploma: Gym Instructor
  • Les Mills Body Balance/Body Pump/RPM
  • Fit Pro: Teaching Group X to Teens 11-16 years in schools (Street Dance, Hula Hoop, Fitness Cheerleading)
  • First Aid at Work

Workshops

  • Franklin Method: Imagery for a Healthy and Youthful Spine
  • Franklin Method: The Mighty Psoas
  • Spatial Medicine: Move Beyond The Scar
  • Fitness Pilates: Female Specialist
  • Fitness Pilates: Core Fitness
  • Fitness Pilates: Evolutionary Pilates
  • Kathryn Cullen: Technique, coaching & class development: The Ball, The Core & More

Strong. Supple. Life.

Sarah Gatford Lifestyle and Fitness