The Malt Barn Studio is an exercise studio situated in the heart of St. Andrews in a quiet courtyard just off South street. It occupies half of the beautifully refurbished top floor in an historic 200 year old building. We are a group of teachers who come from a wide variety of backgrounds but are united in our belief that the exercise systems we teach (Pilates and Yoga) can be open to all people of different ages and sexes and that the body and mind can be brought back into harmony through developing an awareness and sensitivity from a deeper approach to exercise. Sadly the Tai Chi classes are no longer available as the wonderful James Russell has moved abroad, but we are continuing to search for a replacement.
We specialise in small classes with a maximum of 8 or 9 people. This allows for a more careful teaching approach with hands on guidance whenever required, giving clients a more accurate and secure experience. The Malt Barn is also the only studio in St Andrews to offer one-to-one Pilates Apparatus sessions, which are especially good for clients who have back or joint injuries. Please contact Judy for further details.
Bad Posture is not necessarily an age related problem; it can afflict all of us at various times due to any number of factors; from stress, illness and simply the habits we develop as a consequence of modern life.
We do not represent a ‘quick fix’ approach to exercise, but by participating in any of the practices we offer, you will be taking up a more holistic approach. In time you will gain improved balance, a greater sense of increased space in your joints and more lift in the spine. You will develop better breathing patterns and clear thinking, your gait and stance will acquire ease and grace.
We look forward to seeing you at The Malt Barn Studio.
We are actively looking for an experienced Tai Chi teacher who will be added to the website when we fill the vacancies.
Julie trained in Pilates Matwork at The Brigid McCarthy Studios, and Pilates Reformer with MK Pilates. She is a lecturer and educator at the University of St Andrews.
Julie starting taking Pilates as a way to improve her level of fitness and overall sense of well-being and it quickly became an important part of her life.
When not practicing Pilates, Julie works in the School of Management, University of St Andrews, where she is the Director of the Masters programmes and oversees a large group of international students. As part of her work, Julie is a lecturer and educator with more than 15 years of teaching experience.
JJulie travels internationally for her work and she has done Pilates and yoga while abroad, including attending classes in Moscow, St Petersburg, Taipei and Bangkok. One reason she was inspired to become a Pilates instructor was to have a solid understanding of the theory and practice of Pilates, allowing her to practice when she is on the road. However, during her training, she enjoyed teaching Pilates so much that she decided to offer her own classes.
Julie completed her Pilates Teacher Training in Matwork at The Brigid McCarthy Studios in Edinburgh. While training, Julie took classes with a wide variety of teachers in North East Fife and has found inspiration in the classes she has taken. She is an affiliate member of the Pilates Foundation and has recently completed CPD courses in Pilates for Seniors and Osteoporosis from Polestar Pilates and a one-day course focused on the Psoas muscle. Julie is also a registered Buff Bones© instructor and is qualified to deliver specialised classes related to improving bone and joint health.
More recently, in Spring 2019, Julie completed her reformer training with MK (Michael King) Pilates. She has a small reformer studio in her home and enjoys the additional challenge and range of exercises the reformer provides both in her self-practice and in one-on-ones with clients.
Julie enjoys going for long walks along the Fife Coastal Path with her Flat-Coated Retriever, Lula, as well as running, swimming and cycling and she has completed several triathlons. She finds that Pilates has really allowed her to move with more grace and balance and her improved core strength helps with all of these other forms of physical activity. It also helps her to recover quickly from long-haul flights and maintain her energy levels after travel.
Judy attended The Dance School of Scotland and Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts. She trained in Pilates Matwork at Vanessa Smith Pilates Studio and Annette Weir.
Judy has been training with Vanessa Smith Pilates Studio in Glasgow, and Annette Weir – Perform Osteopathy as a Pilates Foundation Matwork Teacher.
Originally studying dance from a young age, she attended The Dance School of Scotland, Glasgow and completed her training at Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts, London. Judy then went onto work professionally and teach dance.
Her discovery of Pilates and the benefits it can and does bring to every day life came through joining a class with Shelagh Keegan. Pilates re-awoke her love of movement and how it makes you feel, and she looks forward to sharing that at the Malt Barn.
Natasha trained with the Lolita’s Legacy Pilates Teacher training program, and is comprehensively qualified to teach Pilates Matwork and all Pilates Apparatus.
Natasha first started practising Pilates to improve her overall strength and was instantly hooked. However, after a bad road accident, she found her Pilates practise kept her not only strong, but improved her balance and reduced pain, amazing her surgeons and health professionals. She realised she wanted to share these benefits with others and decided to train to be a teacher.
Several years ago she started her training with Lolita’s Legacy Pilates course (recognised by the Pilates Method Alliance) to become a fully comprehensively trained Pilates teacher. This involved her training under first and second generation teachers from around the World. She teaches Matwork and Pilates Apparatus to a very high standard, and it is to her credit she qualified with top grades.
Natasha has always had a passion for wellbeing. She holds an HNC in Health, Fitness and Exercise from Edinburgh College and also trained in Reflexology.
She divides her time between the Maltbarn and her home studio in Lower Largo, which is the only fully equipped apparatus studio in Fife. Go to www.facebook.com/natashaharesignpilates for info.
Besides these two venues she teaches around St Andrews, at Bridge of Allan and the Edinburgh Pilates Centre. Natasha is passionate about keeping up her own learning and constantly goes on courses and workshops around the country to keep up her CPD.
Her deep belief is that Pilates is for everyone and this can be seen through her kind and caring approach.
Shelagh studied Pilates Foundation Matwork at The Place Dance School, London and Apparatus Pilates at The Brigid McCarthy Studios, Edinburgh.
Shelagh studied Pilates Foundation Matwork at The Place Dance School, London with Hana Jones, Susanne Lahusen and Sonia Noonan and Apparatus Pilates at The Brigid McCarthy Studios, Edinburgh.
She originally trained and worked as a theatre designer in London's West End, enjoying a successful career spanning over 20 years.
In her mid forties, she retrained to become a Potter, a craft she had always held a passion for, specialising in the technique of throwing; setting up a studio in Camberwell, South London.
However, throwing is a physically demanding skill and Shelagh began to experience lower back pain. Looking to strengthen her back and develop better posture, she discovered Pilates and started attending regular classes. She soon learnt the benefits of the Pilates method; of how to move well in a more balanced way and regain good movement patterns. Other bonuses were the increase in muscle tone and greater flexibility.
Inspired by the new found knowledge that age doesn't have to mean an increasing lack of mobility and pain, she decided to train and teach Pilates, sharing this understanding with others.
Shelagh regularly attends workshops around the UK in order to continually develop her practice, stay informed and inspired. She is passionate in her teaching and believes that her life experience gives her an empathy with others who do not necessarily have an athletic or dance background.
Katie is a graduate of The Scottish School of Contemporary Dance and trained in Pilates Matwork at The Brigid McCarthy Studios, Edinburgh.
Katie originally trained as a dancer at The Scottish School of Contemporary Dance, graduating in the class of 2006. After four intensive years she went on to work professionally, choreographing and performing as one half of dance company Moxie Brawl.
Katie then decided to start a family and change direction towards a career teaching Pilates, having developed a love for the discipline during dance training.
She completed her Pilates Teacher Training in Matwork at The Brigid McCarthy Studios in Edinburgh, and has been teaching ever since.
For the last few years Katie has been on staff at Aspire studio in St Andrews in addition to running classes in various venues across North East Fife.
She regularly attends Pilates training courses in the UK and on the continent to stretch her thinking and develop her approach.
Katie has an intimate understanding of the benefits Pilates can bring to those using their physiques in their profession but is an equally firm believer in its benefits to all as a full body fitness technique.
Hilary is a Body Control Pilates teacher who specialises in pre and postnatal Pilates, Pilates for Bone Health, for Golfers, High Intensity Power Pilates and the Reformer.
Hilary is a Body Control Pilates teacher who has been teaching Matwork since 2012. In this time she has gained qualifications to specialise in pre and postnatal Pilates, Pilates for Bone health, Pilates for golfers, High Intensity Power Pilates and her Reformer training with Lisa Bradshaw.
Hilary grew up in Angus, Scotland. At 16 she trained at The Dance School of Scotland in Glasgow before moving to London to continue her studies in musical theatre at The Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts.
As a performer Hilary toured all over the world, which led to her discovery of Pilates in Miami in 2000. After a serious back injury, which left her unable to walk for a year, it was the physiotherapists for The Miami City Ballet who encouraged her back on to her feet using the fantastic exercises on the Pilates Reformer. The training they gave was so thorough that within a year Hilary was back dancing again and touring with West End musicals.
The Pilates Matwork exercises always remained part of her regime throughout her continued career and now Hilary loves imparting her knowledge making this training accessible to all bodies.
Practicing yoga for 10 years, Pen trained with One Yoga Thailand, followed by training in Yin Yoga, Menopause Yoga, and meditation and mindfulness.
Pen has been practicing yoga for ten years and completed her initial 200hr teaching training with One Yoga Thailand in 2019. Since then she has undertaken additional training in Yin Yoga (with Bernie Clark) and Menopause Yoga (with Petra Coveney), and in 2022 completed a 300hr meditation and mindfulness teacher training programme with the McLean Meditation Institute in California.
Pen is passionate about sharing how connecting with your breath and moving your body mindfully can build strength, improve flexibility, and help you feel well in body, mind and spirit. And how the simple act of embracing silence and stillness can radically change the way you feel about yourself and others, and how you see and interact with the world around you.
Beginners are welcome and Pen’s classes provide an inclusive and friendly space to begin and continue your yoga and meditation journey.
Carol is a Level 3 Pilates Mat Instructor, having trained with a variety of Pilates schools including Pilates Training Solutions, and has a background in Physiotherapy.
Carol’s involvement in community dance projects introduced her to Pilates exercise over 20 years ago, Pilates was a natural addition to her dance workouts.
Carol is a Level 3 Pilates Mat Instructor having trained with a variety of Pilates training schools including Pilates Training Solutions and recently completing the APPI Certified Pilates Instructor training. Additionally, Carol’s previous professional background as a Chartered Physiotherapist enhances her knowledge and understanding of movement and exercise. Although no longer practising as a Physiotherapist, Carol continues to have strong interest in the benefits of exercise.
Having taught Pilates for over 16 years in a variety of community and sports centres, Carol regularly attends workshops and courses and keeps her Pilates knowledge up to date with developing Pilates research.
Delivering high quality, effective Pilates classes with an attention to detail, Carol’s enjoyment of practising Pilates exercise continues to grow. In particular Carol loves incorporating Standing Pilates moves into the classes.
Come along and try a Pilates class and find out for yourself!
Carol’s qualifications and certificates include:
Certified APPI Pilates Instructor Level 3, 3D Standing Pilates with APPI, Healthy Hips with APPI, Pilates Dynabands & Flexibility, OsteoPilates.
CPD workshops include:
Ski Fit Pilates, Pilates & Small Equipment, Pilates & the Soft Foam roller with Michael King, Pilates & Elite Sports, Pilates & Football with Gordon Thomson. Carol has also attended Pilates workshops with Alan Herdman and Lolita San Miguel.
Carol is also a Level 3 Nordic Walking Instructor and a Level 3 Otago Strength & Balance Exercise Leader, has a Certificate in MOT Functional Fitness and is also a CIMSPA Member.
Stacey's self-practice and teachings are based on Ashtanga vinyasa and Yin Yoga, having trained with Merchant City Yoga in Glasgow.
In 2019 Stacey completed her teacher training with Merchant City Yoga in Glasgow.
Stacey's passion for yoga began over twenty years ago. Whilst backpacking around the world she took part in workshops in Thailand, Vietnam and Mexico.
After being diagnosed in her early twenties with Sacroiliitis it became pretty clear yoga was her medicine and a way of life.
Stacey's self-practice and teachings are based on:
A more challenging style of yoga known as Ashtanga vinyasa. This is an energetic practice synchronising breath with movement. Working on endurance, strength, balance, flexibility and blood flow.
A passive practice bringing a deep meditative quality, relieving stress and stilling the mind. Holding postures for long periods of time letting gravity take over. Applying stress to the ligaments and tendons, strengthening connective tissue and lubricating the joints. Hence often called yoga of the joints.
