Rude and unprofessional service
I regret to say I was very disappointed by the rude and unpleasant service I received at Bodymap. The owner - who was also the sole teacher at the time - accepted that her tone and manner had been out of line but refused a refund. I had made a payment of over £400 upfront for a starter package of individual and group sessions, based on some good reviews and an initial introductory session. But her attitude seemed to change once I had committed to the programme.
I think the business is struggling, which is perhaps why she failed to respond to any of my letters (even though she asked me to write to her), slammed the phone down on me, and failed to refund any of my fee. A quick company check shows Bodymap has a net worth of just £223.00 and liabilities of £6,229.00. I would certainly not recommend risking an upfront payment to them.
Although some people seem to have become regulars, at best I would say that the service blows hot and cold, and perhaps varies in response to customers' personalities. I guess some people might enjoy being disciplined in a traditional ballet school way. However, a scolding, impatient tone is not is not something I respond well to when I'm learning something new.
I turned to pilates because of ongoing back pain and a need to strengthen my core, and would have welcomed a warmer and more encouraging approach. I have now found a more natural home at the good old local gym. (No mystique there - just you, the weights, gravity and a straightforward and friendly personal trainer.)
It's worth pointing out that there's an almost religious zeal about Fletcher pilates (named after its American founder, Ron Fletcher) at Bodymap. The owner, Sharon Green, trained with Ron and recently changed her name to Ronnie, presumably after her mentor. The 'psycho' dog, mentioned on Google by another reviewer, and with whom Pilates disciples share the studio space, has been named 'Fletcher', presumably also in tribute to the late Ron. I suppose it's admirable to have self belief but at the time of writing one of the five star reviews on the Google page is from the owner herself.
I can't recommend risking what was for me a very stressful experience - especially if you're feeling a little fragile through injury. My advice can be summed up in one word: avoid.