ABOUT US

Sam Wilkinson first started The Massage Base in 2003 with a passion to help people reduce pain, move better and feel better. When the opportunity to acquire a Pilates studio came up in 2016, husband Glenn with his wealth of experience in Pilates decided to join the business and together they created The Movement Base. With their energy, passion and expert knowledge they have quickly built an incredible reputation in the industry and have continued to expand the business due to the high demand for their expert services.

Now opening a brand new fully equipped studio in Leigh-on-Sea they hope to bring a place that you feel excited to come to, work hard, but then relax. A place where you feel special, listened to and looked after. With detailed tuition and treatments that are tailored to educate and empower you. 

They continue to build a team of therapists and instructors that share their same values and enthusiasm. Read on to find out more about how we all got here…

Sam Wilkinson

Director of The Movement Base. Sports/Remedial Massage Therapist. STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor

My career started as a professional dancer touring both nationally and internationally performing contemporary repertoire, with renowned dance companies such as The Richards Alston Dance company and Rambert Dance Company. I have taught extensively at various dance colleges/institutions and have always held an interest in anatomy and how the body moves. I completed a Massage qualification back in 1996 with The Holos (now The Massage Training Institute) and after retiring from Rambert Dance Company took a Personal Training and Sports Massage Diploma with Premier International, went on to take a Level 5 Diploma in Sports and Remedial Massage with the North London School of Sports Massage, I also trained with Well Mother – Suzanne Yates and have a diploma in Massage for Pregnancy and trained with Myofascial Release UK – Ruth Duncan in Integrated Myofascial Therapy. My career as a therapist led me to work in clinic alongside chiropractors, at various marathon events and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and I felt I wanted to add to this skill set by revisiting Pilates which was part of my training as a dancer. So I then went on to become a STOTT®️ Pilates Certified instructor.

I have held my own practice TheMassageBase since 2008 and since acquiring ThePilatesBase am very excited to share my knowledge and help people to take control of their bodies and ultimately create ease of movement for a healthier and fitter life. I believe in moment for health and hence combined the business to create ‘The Movement Base’.

Registered with the Sports Massage Association (SMA).

Glenn Wilkinson

Director of The Movement Base. STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor

Born in Leeds Glenn trained in ballet and contemporary dance at The Rambert School and joined the prestigious Rambert Dance Company in 1987 performing nationally and internationally for seventeen years. While there he trained with Master Pilates instructor Dreas Renyeke at his studio in Notting Hill London, who also danced with Rambert then know as Ballet Rambert. Dreas was one of the two pioneers bringing Pilates to London in the 1970’s long before the Pilates revolution we know today.

Glenn has over thirty years of teaching experience working with students and professionals globally, he is also a guest assessor for many of the UK’s leading dance schools and colleges. He mentored the winner of BBC Young Dancer 2015 Connor Scott and spent many years training the students of the Royal Ballet’s Upper and Lower Schools.

Glenn has also worked as a choreographer creating works for Rambert Dance Company, The Olympic Torch Relay, Resident and Associate Choreographer for Dirty Dancing London, UK Tour, South Africa, Germany and Asia, Resident and associate Choreographer for Billy Elliot London and the UK and Ireland Tour, Choreographer for Sinatra the Man and his Music London.

Alongside his many years of experience of pilates and movement as a dancer Glenn also trained with STOTT PILATES broadening his already expansive knowledge of the pilates method of movement. He is extremely excited to share his wealth of knowledge and expertise with future clients of The Movement Base.

Georgina Haydon

Certified Pilates, Gyrotonic, Yoga Instructor. Craniosacral Therapist

Georgina’s background is in dance – training at Ballet Rambert and Italia Conti Performing Arts, but it was through a back injury, Georgina found herself on an unfolding journey of exploring the nature of our body and mind.

Georgina trained in the Pilates technique with Alan Herdman, qualifying in 2000. 

Whilst teaching Pilates, Georgina then discovered the wonders of the Gyrotonic Methodology and trained with Beatriz Pascual, qualifying in 2003.  Her studies then led her to study Subtle Yoga and Meditation, and to explore the nature of Self Healing with Mika Hadar, a beautiful Yoga teacher and Healer in North London.

She then trained in Craniosacral therapy with Franklyn Sills at the Karuna Institute, Devon, qualifying in 2008.  

Georgina has also been studying Yoga over the past 10 years, training with Susanne Lahusen,  Paula Mayura from 2014 – 2016, and also at Yogacampus, Islington, qualifying in March 2021.  

Georgina has a passion to help people discover their true nature, and to realise we don’t have to be in pain – physically, mentally or emotionally.  By gently coming into the present moment, we can release tension and trauma from our past, and ease into a state of balance in body and mind.

After working in various studios in London over the years, Georgina now teaches at The Light Centre, Belgravia, and is part of The Movement Base team.    

Sarah Benjamin

STOTT PILATES® Instructor

Sarah has been a pilates enthusiast for many years and the discovery of her own practice has been a considerable factor in helping her counterbalance a demanding corporate career in the Insurance Industry.

Sarah has experienced the transformational benefits of Pilates in her own life after suffering serious back issues which led to major back surgery. Through pilates she regained her strength and movement. With the support of Glenn and Sam Wilkinson she was encouraged to share her story so that she could help others discover the positive physical changes that pilates can make. She decided to train as a pilates instructor and in 2022 she completed her Matwork and Reformer Pilates Instructor training with STOTT PILATES® and since then has been teaching both private and groups sessions at the Movement Base.

Laura Dowling

Administrative Assistant

Laura spent her early career working in Human Resources for a Law Firm in the city until she took a much needed career break and complete life style change to become a stay at home mum to her two children. When both kids were settled in school, Laura, with her love of people and driving, took the plunge and retrained as a driving instructor. Following her qualification and running her own driving school, she decided that the sedentary role did not suit her and embarked on finding a role which would enable her to still be fully present with her family, yet give her an opportunity to do what she loves most, organise and admin! Having been a long-standing client with The Movement Base and experiencing first hand the full health benefits that Pilates can bring to your life, Laura jumped at the opportunity to join the team as our Administrative Assistant.

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