Jo-Anne Callaghan
Head instructor & Owner
Qualifications & Associations
Body Arts & Science Institution (BASI) affiliated studio
BASI – Comprehensive-2012 & Mentor Advanced Training-2017
BASI (Pregnancy, Older Generation, Pathologies/Injuries)
Anatomy Trains in Motion-(USA)-2019
Oov Course – Introductory-(Australia)-2019
Equilibrium Comprehensive Pilates Mat & Equipment -2003
National Dance Diploma (JDF)-2001
Sports Massage-2004 & CPR
Pilates Unlimited (Of-Course Online)
I love movement of any kind and I’m fascinated with the body and how it works. I have been teaching Pilates since 2003 and founded Naturally Pilates Studio in 2006.
Our clientele is rehabilitation, general movement, athletic and health-based Pilates.
A little background on me –
I have a deep love for dance, so naturally after high school I followed my dream of pursuing a career in performance arts. My journey started at Johannesburg Dance Foundation, where I graduated with a Diploma in Dance Performance in Ballet, Contemporary and Jazz. After graduation, I started my own small dance company sponsored by The Arts and Culture Department of Johannesburg. Unfortunately working with the government proved rather difficult and therefore I started dancing for corporate dance companies, including abroad in Taiwan.
Although a consistent income proved to be a challenge, leading me to teach Ballroom and Latin American dance, but I found I wanted to learn more about the body and how it moved…
This is when I discovered Pilates…
2003, I started my training at Equilibrium Pilates and taught at several other studios in the Gauteng region.
2005, I pursued my career in dance again at “Adeum” Dance Company in Houston, Texas, as an apprentice. While dancing, I taught Pilates in various studios to earn an income. Due to my visa restrictions I returned to SA and decided to pursue my Pilates Journey full time and opened Naturally Pilates Studio at Solomon & Long Physios and then at the Dojo.
The studio grew in leaps and bounds with other instructors joining along the way.
2012, I joined the BASI (Body Arts & Science Institution) Pilates family.
During covid in 2020, the studio moved to my newly purchased home premises, where it has continued to grow.
I have found Pilates is great for athletes & rehabilitation of injuries & general wellbeing –
I have a passion for sport, but mainly competitive road cycling. I started riding in 2012 and since then I have competed in the Gauteng and SA Championships, including the World Championships in Denmark and Australia as an amateur cyclist. I have had a few injuries, (such as an ongoing lumbar disc herniation and hip labarum surgery in 2020) through dealing with these injuries I have learnt a lot on how to cope physically, emotionally, and mentally and how to get back on track. One of these ways is cross training through Pilates helping the body to be stronger, more flexible, and mobile.