DEBORAH LESSEN

Deborah Lessen is an acknowledged leader in the Pilates field. A former professional dancer and teacher, she was trained to teach the Pilates method by Joseph Pilates' first protégé, Carola Trier.

Ms. Lessen founded the Greene Street Studio in 1983, which nurtures a broad base of clients in the Pilates method for general conditioning, performance specific training, injury prevention and post-rehabilitation. She offered on-site comprehensive teacher training from 1994 to 2004.

As co-defendant in the federal trademark infringement action for use of the name "Pilates," she rallied the community to oppose the action. The Pilates name was made generic in a sweeping victory in November 1999. The victory party in New York City was the launch of the Pilates Method Alliance.

Ms. Lessen is a founding member and Immediate-Past President of the Pilates Method Alliance, serving on the Board of Directors since its inception. She was instrumental in the creation and execution of the PMA Pilates Certification Exam, facilitating a broad spectrum of tenured Pilates teachers to work together toward a common goal. She is editor and a contributor to the PMA Pilates Certification Exam Study Guide and Chairperson of the PMA Certification Steering Committee.

Now focusing on her first love, Deborah is a regular international presenter, conducting a roster of continuing education workshops and seminars for Pilates teachers.

Renee Watson

Renee began her Pilates training in 1990 while dancing in Vancouver, Canada. Renee has a strong background in fitness including American Council of Exercise (ACE) Personal Trainer and a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from the University of British Columbia, Canada. After moving to Cape Town in 1997, she completed her Pilates qualification with Body Technology. Renee subsequently studied further with Dianne Miller in Vancouver, Rael Isacowitz in California and in Toronto with Stott Pilates. In 2004, Renee qualified with Body Arts & Science International and completed Dance Conditioning at Cal State University, Long Beach. She also completed her Injuries and Special Populations training with Stott Pilates in 2004. In 2007, Renee qualified as a GYROKINESIS® instructor and is also attended the GYROTONIC® course. Renee runs Pilates Instructor Courses (Conscious Movement Education) which are registered on the Pilates Method Alliance® Registry of Schools. Renee is a founding member of South African Pilates Educators and Professionals Alliance (SAPEPA)

NICOLE SINOFF

Nicole Sinoff is the director and studio owner of Pilates Certification Centre SA, Pilates Centre SA and White Cloud Johannesburg. Nicole opened her studio in 2000 and in 2001 completed her Pilates certificate with BASI International. By 2002 she achieved BASI Faculty in California USA and Brisbane Australia. Nicole headed up BASI South Africa for 5 Years, hosting and teaching certification. In 2005 Nicole launched Pilates Certification Centre SA. She attends international Pilates conferences and workshops for continuing education.

Nicole is certified in Gyrotonic level 1 and 2, Gyrokinesis and Specialised equipment and is the head of the Booty Barre in South Africa. Nicole is a founding member of the South African Pilates Education Providers Alliance (SAPEPA).

MANDY STRUMPMAN

Mandy trained as a dancer at University of Cape Town Ballet School and danced professionally for C.A.P.A.B, now Cape Town City Ballet. After leaving the ballet company, she qualified as a Ballet Teacher with the Royal Academy of Dancing and taught ballet for 15 years before deciding to take a break. She then changed direction completely, working in the Interior Design industry for 5 years. During this time she started doing Pilates and decided it was time to start training bodies again. In 2006/2007 she completed her Mat and Equipment Pilates certification at Renee Watson Pilates and rediscovered her passion for teaching and her fascination with anatomy and how the body works. In March of 2011, Mandy completed a Pilates for Golf Advanced Certification.

SHARI ROSENBERG

Shari has been in private practice, specialising in both conservative and post-operative management of spinal rehabilitation for the past fourteen years.  Shari’s special interest is in rehabilitation of function.
Shari teaches both locally and internationally. Her courses are based on extensive clinical experience, integrating manual therapy techniques with rehabilitation.  Shari was introduced to Gyrokinesis® and Gyrotonic® exercise methods in New York in 2000 she has since done her training with Juliu Horvath, and has recently become a Gyrokinesis certified Pre-trainer and Master Trainer.

LYN WATSON

Lyn graduated as an O.T. in 1963. After working in many areas, among which she taught Kinesiology at the University of Pretoria, she immigrated to Canada . Here, as a founding professional of the Kelowna Sports Medicine Clinic team, Lyn contributed her expertise in biomechanics of the foot. Collaborating with medical colleagues the Clinic helped athletes overcome injury and reach their potential. In addition Lyn has worked in consultation helping all age groups with foot issues not necessarily related to sports and has shared her experience by participating in courses and workshops. On retirement she returned to South Africa in 2009.

RUSSELL CUMMINGS

A professional dancer for over 20 years, Russel has an extensive career both locally and internationally that has taken him around the world teaching and performing. Inital training Johannesburg opened up doors of studying further in london at the London Contemporary Dance School and the London Studio Centre.
He has worked with such companies as Bop Dance Co, Pact Dance Co, Bat-Dor (Israel), Les Ballets Trockaderc de Monte Carlo (New York) and Donald Byrd - the group (New York).
Upon returning to South Africa he performed as a principal dancer with Free Light Dance Co and as a senior soloist with the Cape Town City Ballet.

Qualified in both Ballet and modern dance forms, Russel is still actively involved in the teaching dance in Cape Town. Russell completed his Pilates certification under Renee Watson in both mat and equipment and currently lectures on her Conscious Movement Education courses and workshops.

PATRICIA LAMOND

Trained in classical ballet, Patricia worked for many years as a Classical Ballet and National Dance teacher. After successfully completing her Fellowship examination she was invited to become a ballet examiner for the Cecchetti Society and spent 10 years in this field.
Ever since dance colleague Tracey Dawber introduced her to Pilates, the discipline has become both her passion and her profession. Patricia now runs a private, fully equipped Pilates studio in the suburb of Constantia in Cape Town, South Africa.
Her students include dancers, athletes, rehabilitation patients and those who enjoy the benefits of being in touch with their bodies.
She also worked with the Western Province Rugby team for 2 years to create balance within their bodies and to reduce injuries. Patricia attained certification from the internationally recognized Stott Pilates Corporation in Canada, whose examination includes a rigorous test of anatomical knowledge with particular emphasis on the relationship between the nervous system and the muscles.
To further her knowledge she has attended postural analysis workshops and physiotherapy courses. She has also worked with teachers from the Romana Studios in New York, which are headed by Romana Kryzanowska, who was once a student of Joseph Pilates, the originator of the discipline.
She was commissioned by the International Publishing Company, Struik New Holland to write a book on Pilates. The book was published in 2002 and was translated into Spanish, French and Afrikaans, and became an international bestseller.
Shape magazine reviewed the book and said it was the "best Pilates book available internationally".
Patricia is a guest lecturer at the University of Stellenbosh in South Africa where she addresses the graduate Human Movement Science Degree students, their lecturers, physiotherapists, kinesiologists and other fitness trainers.
She has been invited to address business men and women at corporate conferences, and spoke at a national medical conference on posture and exercises for the pelvic floor.
In January 2004 she advised and assisted in the opening of a Pilates studio in Bahrain. In addition Patricia has been invited to teach rehabilitation Pilates in New York. She takes children and teenage classes as well as adults as she believes that education of the musculature at an early age is vital. It is an investment to your mental and physical health.

FIONA LEIBOWITZ

Fiona Leibowitz is an Energy Medicine Practitioner, specializing in Relationship/Sexuality as well as Stress/Trauma Issues.
In her sessions, Fiona offers powerful tools to reduce stress + anxiety, pain, depression, sexual issues, relationship problems and deep seated traumas. She is a qualified TRE Practitioner (Tension &Trauma Release exercises) ; working on internal dis-functions that may be causing dis-ease to the body/mind/spirit. This work brings a consciousness to the movement of energy - understanding the gap or space between Human and Being.

Fiona is practiced in various techniques from ancient wisdoms, offering a profoundly holistic and empowering approach to the healing of Self. In the field of her practice she also works with Kinesiology (the transformation of information stored on a cellular level) and QEC (Quantum Energy Coaching). These methodologies aim to uncover deep seated blockages, manifesting often as addictive behaviours, obsessive compulsive disorders, eating disorders or persistent health difficulties.

MARION KESSEL

Building on early training in South Africa, Canada and Holland in the classical ballet and Martha Graham traditions, over the past 20+ years Kessel has also become an experienced Pilates instructor. Nationally licensed to teach Pilates mat and machines through the Physical Mind Institute in New York, she has instructed classes and individuals at all levels in New York, Houston, Toronto and Albuquerque. Moreover, she has participated in training sessions and advanced workshops with some of the central figures in the Pilates movement, including Romana Kryzanowska and Katharine Stanford Grant in New York, Ron Fletcher in Boulder, Mary Bowen in Connecticut and Houston, and, most significantly, since moving to New Mexico several years ago, with Suzanne Gutterson in Albuquerque and Michele Larsson in Santa Fe. And those collaborations resulted in a 2008 documentary exploring the life and contributions of the 'Pilates Elder', Eve Gentry – Providing unique insight into the movement's history, philosophy and practice, The Power of Pilates has now been shown at several sites, notably the international conference of the PMA (Pilates Method Alliance). Most recently, Kessel screened the film and taught both a 'Gentry-technique' workshop and private clients in Cape Town. She also teaches on a regular basis in Piedmont, Italy. The second in the documentary film series on the Pilates "elders" – on Mary Bowen -- has been filmed and, depending on funding, will be completed this year.

LOUISE KNOOP

Pilates Teacher, Educator & Jackknife fiend!
Louise represents Body Control Pilates in Southern Africa with a comprehensive BCP Education Programme.
She has had broad Pilates education and studio experiences – Polestar, STOTT, CoreNYC Pilates, Brooke Siler's re:AB Pilates, Alycea Ungaro's Real Pilates.
Louise's teaching career has welcomed clients from a variety of backgrounds – assisting injury rehabilitation, growth spurts in young dancers, dance conditioning for dance professional…yet her passion remains Classical Pilates.

LYNN HUSKISSON

Lynn Huskisson studied Natural Hygiene part-time (through Life Science Institute, Texas) whilst working in the advertising business. After 2 kids it became evident that her busy career in advertising was becoming too great a stress on family life. Lynn studied Personal Fitness Training with Reebok in Johannesburg in 1999 and set up her own 1-on-1 studio from home in 2000. To further her knowledge Lynn studied with Equilibrium Pilates to become a Pilates Mat and small accessory instructor in 2000. She also attended workshops by various international professionals visiting SA in the following year. She ran her own successful group Pilates mat and ball classes in 3 different venues in Johannesburg from 2001 until her move to Cape Town at the end of 2006. Lynn qualified in Pilates equipment work with Renee Watson Pilates Studio in 2008, and currently teaches full time at the Renee Watson Pilates Studio in Constantia. Several workshops have been completed both at the Renee Watson Pilates Studio and with other independent master trainers in Cape Town and Johannesburg. She has an holistic approach to wellness and keeps herself fit with yoga (practiced for 16 years), cardio work, weights, stretching and walking on the mountain.

YASMIN LAMBAT

Yasmin Lambat is a an internationally trained Human Movement Practitioner, an accredited ICF (International Coaching Federation) Wellness coach, NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming) Master Practitioner, Certified Polestar Pilates instructor and accredited Emotional and Social Intelligence assessor. Her experience and interest in developing people spans19 years and led to her interest in wellbeing using the mind/body connection. Body Sensing is a Somatic movement method she has created which uses the mind/body connection to improve both physical and emotional wellbeing. It works by tapping into the body's intelligent movement and physical design, as well as the body's intelligent network and ability to communicate with itself. Yasmin designs workshops for those who want a better understanding of:

1 The intelligent design of the body, it's structure, how it moves, how to release it and how to design movement programmes around its design.

2 How to develop Effective communication, and cueing skills to tailor your teaching to the individual physical and emotional needs of the client even in a group setting.

3 How to help clients develop better mind and body awareness.

BRIGITTE AUBREY

Brigitte has over 15 years experience in the health and fitness profession. She is a qualified health therapist specialising in the fields of Reflexology and Meridian Therapy and Spinal Alignment. Her qualifications as a health therapist include that of Shiatsu, Indian Head Neck and Shoulder Massage and Thai Yoga Massage. Brigitte was the Principal of the Garden Route International School of Reflexology and Meridian Therapy for 6 years prior to closing the school to allow more time for her pilates clients. She currently runs her own pilates and reflexology practice in George. Brigitte lectures for Renee Watson where she hosts an annual Pilates Instructors Course.
By combining her knowledge and experience of the human body and all its complexities through her training as a health therapist and pilates practitioner, she is able to offer an all-embracing approach to physical conditioning.

Meret Storck-Matchett

A certified Pilates Instructor and Personal Fitness Trainer with 15 years experience in yoga, Meret has worked closely with physiotherapists and chiropractors to develop Body Intelligence®. Applying research in the field of joint stabilization techniques and based on her studies in exercise science, kinesiology, nutrition and anatomy, she has created her own movement form.
Born and educated in Zurich, Switzerland, Meret trained as a professional ballet dancer until a persistent injury ended her career aspirations. Travelling through Europe while working in the fashion industry introduced her to the numerous benefits of a regular yoga practice.
With this experience and her own history of injuries, Meret studied to become a Personal Fitness Trainer, eventually working in Switzerland and the UK before finding a home in South Africa in 2005. Also qualified as a Pilates mat, Reformer and one-on-one instructor, Meret has considerable experience working with special needs students such as pregnant women and the elderly.
As owner and lead instructor at zenzero, Meret works with students to help them correct muscular imbalances, improve bad postural habits and treat pain. Working mainly with small classes, Meret offers personal attention to each individual to ensure a rewarding experience training the mind-body connection. She runs the zenzero studio with great passion and Swiss precision.

Katya Kinski

Katya Kinski is a graduate of one of the finest ballet academies in Russia, a former member of the Russian State Ballet and a former principal dancer with Cape Town City Ballet. Now the owner of the Katya Kinski Pilates Studio, she has been teaching the Pilates method for the past ten years.

Megan McLaren

Megan has been practising the Gyrotonic® and Gyrokinesis® Methodology for the past 10 years. Having a background in Pharmacy , she found that health and well-being could be attained by Functional movements and breathing rather than resorting to medication. Having always been interested and involved in Movement and Exercise, she realized from her own experience what incredible positive results could be attained from Gyrokinesis® and Gyrotonic®

Her enthusiasm and belief in the system and Juliu Horvath`s teachings led her on the path to becoming a Master Trainer in both Gyrokinesis and Gyrotonic, as well as a Beginner Level 2 Gyrokinesis Trainer and Certified Teacher on the Gyrotonic Specialised Equipment – The Jump Stretch Board.

Megan is also a fully certified Stott Pilates Teacher and a keen Yoga follower. Although she does not run a Studio in the city, she travels worldwide to run her Courses as well as enjoying hosting weekend retreats on her farm in the Mountains of the, Little Karoo, where she now lives.

Kathy Wolstenholme

Kathy Wolstenholme, a Nia black belt instructor, moved from America to
introduce the Nia Technique to South Africa in 2002. She trained the first 230 white belt graduates here and continues to produce intensives in Cape Town at OurNiaSpace, the headquarters for Nia South Africa that she founded in 2003.

Kathy Wolstenholme has the innate ability to set people at ease enabling young and old from any walk of life to explore the potential of their minds through their bodies and what this connection can offer them. Using humour and music to captivate, educate, release, delight, and inspire people, Kathy constructs workshops that are an integration of movement dynamics to life skills.
Kathy has been featured in Top Billing, Naturally You, SABC News, The Power Within and Free Spirit television programmes along with multiple radio programmes. The Nia Technique and its teachers have been featured in many major media publications across the country

Marita Ernsting

Born and raised in Windhoek, Namibia, I learnt about Pilates through roundabout ways. Having injured my lower back as a child, I lived with chronic back pain which got increasingly worse with age. My first Pilates exercise that I was given was a leg lift while seated on a stability ball. After practising diligently every day, I finally managed the (bent) leg lift without falling off – after 6 MONTHS! But from then on, my back pain miraculously disappeared, and I felt so strongly drawn to sharing my experiences with others that I embarked on the route to becoming a Pilates teacher. I have now been teaching for almost 10 years, and I am indebted to Renée Watson for helping me grow and encouraging me in pursuing my (sometimes wacky) ideas within the framework of Pilates.

TASH BARNARD

Natasja (Tash) Barnard embarked on a career in Pilate after graduating with honors in the Cecchetti Ballet and IDTA Modern Dance methods in 2000. She qualified as a BASI Instructor in 2001, under Rael's direction.

For six years, Tash experienced the power of BASI worldwide, working in London, Dubai, Salzburg (Austria) and, most recently, Hong Kong, before returning to her home country, South Africa. She became a member of the BASI Faculty while in Hong Kong.

Tash works closely with her husband, Andre, who is a Chiropractor. They live in Ballito, Kwa Zulu Natal, where she runs her private studio named Absolute Pilates.

Barbara MCCREA

Barbara is South Africa's only Feldenkrais Method ® practitioner. Trained in London, she has also explored a number of other somatic approaches in her 20 years of working as a manual and movement therapist. She works from the Wynberg Pilates Studio in Cape Town, and Renee Watson Studio. She regularly teaches courses for physiotherapists, Pilates teachers, biokineticists and other health professionals in Johannesburg, Durban as well as Cape Town. Her special interests include Feldenkrais for equestrians and singers. Although relatively unknown in South Africa, Feldenkrais® is highly valued abroad for its contribution to retraining movement using innovative brain plasticity theories.

Graduado Beleza

Marcio Lopes, or Graduado Beleza as he is known in capoeira, is the main teacher in South Africa of the international organisation Abadá-Capoeira, and current Vice-Champion of Angolan Capoeira national championships. He has ten years of extensive experience coaching children, youth and adults in diverse places, from prisons, to community centres and universities.

Marcio is a co-founder and director of the Capoeira Educational Youth Association (CEYA) a non-profit organization that uses capoeira to develop and unite children and youth to become healthy and socially constructive citizens. CEYA currently operates in five areas in and around Cape Town. He won the Inyathelo Young Philanthropists award, 2009 along with a colleague for this work.

Passionate about the art, his vision is to make capoeira as widely available as possible. He is seeking to accomplish this by spreading his work to diverse communities. Marcio's philosophy of teaching combines the methodologies developed by members of Abada-Capoeira in Brazil with the relaxed and light method of teaching through fun and enjoyment.

He is presently developing a new programme called "The art of bodily play" for young children in primary school as a fun, healthy and educational and recreation programme

Amanda Cloete

Amanda is a qualified Biokinetist specializing in Pilates rehabilitation. She attained her Biokinetist degree at Stellenbosch University in 2000. She went on to complete a Pilates Instructor Certification course at Renee Watson Pilates Studio in 2001; and a STOTT Pilates Rehabilitation course in 2003. Currently she lectures on Mat and Equipment courses and workshops conducted at Renee Watson Pilates Studio. Amanda specializes in pelvic floor, ante- and post- natal Pilates. Additionally, she has completed Reiki 1 and Reiki 2 Certification, and an introductory course in Metaphysical Study.

Jax and Sy

Jacqueline has been teaching yoga since 2002. She originally trained in General Hatha Yoga via the Shadow Yoga method in London and then moved on to study Ashtanga Yoga in India and later Yoga Nidra in Cape Town. She teaches Ashtanga Yoga, Ashtanga Mysore Style, Hot Vinyasa Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Pregnancy Yoga and Private Yoga Tuition.
Jacqueline first practiced yoga at age 19 and knew it was her calling from age 25 but realised what yoga in action was when she gave birth to her son Jai in 2009. She practiced pregnancy yoga all the way through her pregnancy and Ashtanga Yoga helped a speedy post birth recovery.
Jacqueline's classes are challenging and fun, focusing on internal connection, alignment and integrity. She loves practicing and teaching Yoga Nidra as a form of meditation.

Sy was born in Bangladesh and lived in London until he moved to Cape Town in 2007. He was a personal trainer and sports therapist for 10 years and began practicing Bikram Yoga in 2000. He completed his teacher training with Bikram Choudry in Hawaii in 2007 and started to teach that same year. He began practicing Ashtanga Yoga and Hot Vinyasa Yoga in Cape Town in 2007. Sy teaches Bikram Yoga and Hot Vinyasa Yoga – his emphasis is on breathing and technical detail. An extensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology plays an important role in Sy's teaching and is evident in his attention to the finer points of the physical practice. Sy is a patient teacher with a passion for helping others to heal themselves, particularly those dealing with chronic conditions in the muscular and skeletal systems as well as the rehabilitation of injuries.