Instructors

Jo Higlett

Jo Higlett

Studio Founder
Jo began dancing aged 2; a love of creativity and performance was instantly sparked, followed swiftly by a fascination with the human body and all it is capable of.

After years of training, dancing and teaching; she discovered Pilates in 2007. Starting out as a reformer teacher, she was inspired to deepen her understanding of the method and began a mat work qualification with Body Control Pilates.  Adding this to her dance teaching, she founded Clifford Studios in 2012.

Jo is committed to constantly updating her knowledge by attending a variety of classes and courses, including small equipment, HIP™ Pilates and most recently Springboard Pilates. She finds Pilates exercises invaluable to her dance teaching and was delighted to discover Barre in 2015. This low impact but high intensity class combines both her passions (dance + Pilates), and, after a long break due to knee injury, allowed her to start running again. Taking TRX classes at the studio inspired her to add this qualification to the list, using the straps to add to her Pilates teaching as well taking traditional suspension training sessions.

In 2017 Jo was thrilled to be asked to join The LB Pilates Academy for Teachers as Principle Teacher Trainer for HIP™ Pilates.

She has completed two marathons and loves to practice yoga and HIIT training to complement her teaching. She tries to visit NYC at least once a year to try new exercise classes and is vegan.

Qualifications:

Level 3 Body Control Mat Work | Equipment: Small Ball , Toning Circle, Spikey Balls + Foam Roller | Pregnancy 1+ 2 | Further Matwork | Pilates for Performance | Pilates for Dancers | HIP™ Pilates (High Intensity Power) + HIP+ | Springboard Pilates (Ellie Herman Pilates) | BarreConcept Teacher Training (REP accredited) | Springboard 1 (LB Pilates Academy for Teachers) | TRX Suspension Training Course (TRX UK) | Pilates Principles: Complete Classical Matwork (LB Pilates Academy for Teachers)

Becca Ramsay

Becca Ramsay

Pilates (Mat + Springboard) | Yoga

Coming soon....

Qualifications:

Fatema Ali

Fatema Ali

TRX | Sweat + Strength | Sweat Box

Fatema has always loved fitness and sport. At university she started a running club, continuing to run for several years. She has also achieved a green belt in kick boxing; travelling to Thailand to improve her technique.

She discovered weight training in her 30's and has never looked back, taking a short break to become a full time mum. Her achievements to date have been to deadlift 112kg and squat 75kg!

She loves the feeling of being strong; both mentally and spiritually and has changed careers from pharmacy to fitness training in order to encourage and inspire others similarly.

In class she empowers clients with an "I can" and "I will" attitude and is excited about creating a community of powerful like-minded people who lift each other up.

Qualifications:

Level 2 + 3 PT | CIMSPA Registered (Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity)

AJ

AJ

Barre | Sweat + Strength | Pilates

Combining traditional techniques and cutting edge styles, AJ has made a massive impact on the international dance scene including Poland, Finland, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Ireland.

After successfully completing her MA in choreography in Poland, she moved to the UK to pursue her love of dance. Her focus as a teacher is on building confidence and self-esteem, supporting physical and mental health and ensuring an inclusive atmosphere.

Over the last decade AJ has inspired hundreds of dancers, both young and old, and encouraged them on their dance path. Not only has she choreographed multiple Hip-Hop theatre productions she has also worked with acclaimed dance names worldwide which led her to being invited on as a guest assistant choreographer on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Poland.

After a successful stint in Finland with DanceTeam International, AJ became Head of DanceTeam UK, where she gets to share her creativity and continues to inspire young generations. AJ teaches Contemporary as well as Street to our dance students.

Qualifications:

MA Choreography | Enhanced DBS | BarreConcept Teacher Training (REP Accredited) | Body Control Pilates Level 3

Johanna Saarinen

Johanna Saarinen

Barre | Barre + Stretch | Pilates (Mat + Springboard)

Coming soon...

Qualifications:

Ellis Fitzherbert

Ellis Fitzherbert

Adult Tap | Barre

Ellis began dance training aged 3, studying Ballet, Tap, Modern + Jazz . She has appeared in numerous professional productions including the UK tour of Evita, Spiller’s Pantomimes (Junior and Senior dancer), Paper Moon Company (Music Hall at Leicester Square Theatre and Trafalgar Square), Kingston International Youth Arts Festival and the 100th anniversary gala performance of Wimbledon Theatre.

Ellis has been an assistant dance teacher since the age of 15, embarking on her official qualifications in 2014. She has now achieved her ISTD Diploma in Dance Education in both Modern and Tap; the latter being her passion.

Missing the discipline of Ballet, in 2017 Ellis added Barre teaching to her repertoire and loves combining adult classes with her timetable of children's classes. She especially loves teaching both parents and children tap so they can practise at home together!

Qualifications:

ISTD Diploma in Dance Education (Modern + Tap) | BarreConcept Teacher Training (REP accredited)

Lisa Mac

Lisa Mac

Barre

After 3 years training at The Urdang Academy of Ballet and Performing Arts, Lisa worked as a professional dancer for over 15 years. After a great deal of travelling she based herself in London; working on the commercial dance scene. She then went into choreography and taught Street dance.

In 2014 she was introduced to Barre and loved it so much that she trained to be an instructor. It seemed like the best way for her to maintain a strong, long and lean body as well as incorporate some of her dance training. She has worked with many clients during the past couple of years and it's always great to see how Barre can really change their bodies; proving that these exercises really do work!

Qualifications:

Cat Kuhl

Cat Kuhl

Yoga

Cat took her first yoga class one hot afternoon as a teenager after school in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia almost 20 years ago. Yoga came and went, but in one way or another has stuck with her ever since . In the end it has become a huge part of her life, helping her to ground, become calmer, stronger, and more balanced in body and mind.

In 2016, she completed her 500hr YA US certified Teacher Training under Stewart Gilchrist, whom she also did her 200hr YA US certified training in 2012.

She teaches dynamic Power Vinyasa and Slow Flow (a class that brings together a strong vinyasa flow and more restorative and yin style poses), incorporating variations to engage all levels of practitioners, always focussing on the breath whilst bringing attention to going beyond just the physical yoga asana practice – the part we often get caught up in!

Qualifications:

500 hr RYT