Frances Cahill

Director and Principal Instructor - PFIWA

My experience with Pilates began as a high school student who was studying specialist dance at John Curtin Senior High School. Always being passionate about many different types of dancing, I particularly loved the technique, precision and grace of classical ballet.

I danced at every waking moment and as school started to come to end, I found myself at the crossroads of deciding whether I wanted to try to take on dancing as a career path. My major drawback was my natural inflexibility, which was always a battle for me.Pilates was a perfect fit for me right from the start. I started out with PFIWA as a 16 year old client. Pilates satisfied the creative movement that I loved about dance as well as giving me the fastest improvement in my flexibility that I had ever experienced.

I will never forget in my first Beginner’s lesson at PFIWA, we were asked to reach down to try and touch my toes. With my fingers barely reaching down to just below my knees, I remember thinking that I would never be able to reach the floor. Looking back now I can’t imagine feeling that tight ever again, as my posture, core strength and flexibility have truly come an amazingly long way. I was so inspired by my results, that I decided to pursue a career as a Pilates instructor with PFIWA, whilst I was studying to become a Dietitian at Curtin University.

I have now been teaching Pilates for six years and still love working to help people realise that the results that can be achieved through Pilates are for everyone and are reachable for everyone.

On completing my Nutrition degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics, I couldn’t bear to give up my Pilates work. I had always felt that the principles behind my degree resonated well with the health and wellbeing aspects of Pilates. So, after the agonising decision to turn down what I thought was my dream job as a Dietitian at PMH children’s hospital, I decided to combine these two worlds and haven’t looked back since. I continue to run my small Nutrition private practice at the Myaree studio location.

I have been lucky to have received training influences from several great Pilates industry leaders including more recently, extensive teachings through Sally Anderson, Director of Pilates International who has worked with all of the Pilates elders (directly trained by Joseph Pilates). I currently hold my Diploma of Professional Pilates Instruction and am a member of Pilates Alliance, our industry peak body.

Now, as one of the Directors of the Pilates Fitness Institute of WA, I feel so fortunate to have found Pilates in my life. In my business partner in crime, Suzanne Newby, I have found a true friend who shares the same visions for PFIWA as I do. I love being able to wake up every day and help more people change their lives through Pilates.