Alison Lyons - Founder
As the founder of Studio36, Alison has dedicated her career to teaching movement. Since qualifying as a Physiotherapist over 30 years ago, her constantly evolving ambition is to guide clients to optimum function, health and wellbeing.
The love of all things Pilates started in 1998, when working as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist, she spotted an advert to train with BODY CONTROL PILATES in London. Fascinated and totally undaunted by her limited knowledge of the subject (no-one had really heard of it!), she secured a place on the course. Totally inspired by their approach to teaching movement, she graduated as their first teacher in Northern Ireland in 1999.
A number of years teaching in Holywood followed (where many of her current clients also started their Pilates journey), and Studio36 opened in 2006. It was the first fully equipped, specialised Pilates studio of its kind in Northern Ireland.
Alison is qualified to teach on all the large Pilates equipment such as Reformer, Cadillac/ Trapeze, Ladder Barrel and Chair as well as smaller equipment and matwork up to Advanced level.
BODY CONTROL PILATES is recognised as one of the leading Pilates schools in the world and Alison is their Regional Representative in Ireland and also a Senior Supervising teacher. This role has involved presenting at conferences and hosting regular Continuous Professional Development courses for qualified teachers, often with internationally renowned lecturers (who are consistently mesmerised by our fantastic space and view!)
The spirit of Studio36 is a direct result of Alison’s love of meeting new people, creating connections and nurturing a community. Her teaching style is motivational, fun and educational, with a reputation for bringing out anatomy books and her beloved skeleton ‘Jeffrey’, always encouraging clients to expand their knowledge on a deeper level. She passionately believes in the ability to improve strength, balance and wellbeing, no matter what age or starting point.
Outside Pilates her interests are numerous... and mostly healthy - walking, nutrition, mindfulness and books (but...she’s definitely known to have the odd G&T!).