About Ankor Pilates

Ankor Pilates specialises in back and joint pain relief across South East London, serving New Cross, Telegraph Hill, Nunhead, and East Dulwich.

Since 2017, we’ve helped over 1,000 people not only recover from back and joint pain but also improve their overall quality of life.

Our expert instructors customise exercises to strengthen core and back muscles, improve spinal alignment, and enhance mobility. We also offer back pain consultations and pain reduction resources to help you take the quickest route out of pain.

Join us today and take the first step towards a pain-free life.

Zoe Fairlamb, Founder & Lead Consultant

Zoe, Ankor Pilates’ founder, struggled with chronic back and joint pain for over a decade before discovering Pilates for relief.

Determined to help others, she created Ankor Pilates, combining Pilates with expert consultations, diet advice, stress management, and mindfulness to ease pain effectively.

Let us guide you on your journey to becoming pain free

Zoe Fairlamb, Founder & Lead Consultant

Zoe, Ankor Pilates’ founder, struggled with chronic back and joint pain for over a decade before discovering Pilates for relief.

Determined to help others, she created Ankor Pilates, combining Pilates with expert consultations, diet advice, stress management, and mindfulness to ease pain effectively.

The Team

Our expert instructors are certified through accredited Pilates programs and undergo specialised training in managing back and joint pain — many bring firsthand experience of chronic pain or injury, giving them real empathy and insight.

Tali

Tali grew up in Edinburgh and trained as a dancer from a young age. A chronic back injury at the age of 10 led her to Pilates during a two year break from dancing. During this time, Pilates helped Tali to strengthen her body and heal her pain, and eventually enabled her to complete a degree in Contemporary Dance. Deeply passionate about chronic pain, Tali provides challenging classes with a strong mind-body connection. She aims to educate clients about pain and she teaches lighthearted, accessible classes that help clients to strengthen, stretch, and heal.

Sophie

In 2016, Sophie attended her first Pilates class with her mum. After facing a period of high stress and anxiety, Sophie returned to Pilates and experienced the profound benefits for her physical and mental health. With a special interest in mental wellbeing, Sophie’s mission is to share the joys of Pilates with her clients, providing relief from lower back pain, managing stress and anxiety, and enhancing overall well-being. Her well-rounded classes include strength building, mindful movement, and a mix of challenge, release, and relaxation.

Pooja

With a background in movement, engineering, and dance science her teaching reflects a combination of anatomy, deep understanding of movement patterns and the several layers of impact that may affect it. A perspective rooted in neuroscience brings an approach of a holistic perspective as to how Pilates may bring out the most efficient movement abilities of an individual. Teaching style rooted in observation, nourishment and building the appropriate capacity for movement.

Val

Val’s Pilates journey began more than 15 years ago when a demanding City job led to persistent back issues. Val is passionate about sharing the Pilates transformative power and all-round goodness. With meticulously planned classes, blending intelligent movement, targeted fascia release and back-strengthening exercises, Val has created a fun and varied Pilates experience. Originally from France, Val has lived in South East London for over 20 years.

Irene

Irene grew up between Italy and London and for many years ran a specialist food business. Having been a devoted Pilates enthusiast for 15 years she decided to follow her passion and retrained in London to become a Stott Pilates certified matwork teacher. Irene works with clients of all ages and abilities, encouraging them to listen to their bodies, have confidence in their movement and improve core strength and flexibility. Her fun and effective teaching style helps clients to reduce pain, improve posture, and improve mental wellbeing. Expect great energy and a workout from Irene’s classes!

Lauren

Lauren’s passion for movement began in her teenage years and grew through her professional dance training. She has training not only as a Pilates teacher but also as a Dance Movement Psychotherapist, integrating an understanding of posture, anatomy, and mental health within her practice. Lauren’s classes are calm and compassionate, emphasizing alignment, body awareness, and mindful movement. Her goal is to help clients connect with their bodies, build confidence, and carry these skills into their daily lives.

Ailsa

Ailsa is a Physiotherapist, Pilates instructor, and a mum who turned to Pilates to regain her strength and fitness after having children. With years of experience in physiotherapy, Ailsa brings a deep understanding of the body and rehabilitation to her Pilates classes. Her approach is grounded in clinical expertise, focusing on strength, mobility and overall wellbeing. She enjoys exploring different movements and sequences to make classes fun and challenging.

Livi

Livi came to Pilates through dance – having trained and worked professionally as a dancer. She finds Pilates is an extremely effective tool to build and maintain strength in the body as one, fluid, ecosystem. After 7 years of teaching Pilates she has seen first hand the difference it can make to a person’s overall wellbeing and comfort in their own skin. Livi’s classes focus on caring for the body and mind by fostering awareness and confidence, building strength while lengthening and releasing tension.