International Presenters

Beginning in early childhood, Michaela studied dance in her native Germany and throughout Europe. While spending time in the US, she received ACE Certifications as a Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer, and taught classes including step-aerobics, kickboxing, and senior fitness. She then completed her STOTT PILATES® Certification in New York and the UK. In 2002, Michaela became owner and operator of PilatesbodyEK,the first STOTT PILATES® Certification Center in Munich, Germany. Michaela has appeared in several TV programs including Pilates, Fitness and Health and completed a Masters Degree in Business Administration at Freie Universität, West-Berlin.

A Certified STOTT PILATES® Instructor Trainer and former dancer, performer and choreographer, Jo-Anne first discovered Pilates in New York while pursuing her Masters of Arts degree at NYU. Her studies in dance, education, movement analysis and kinesiology along with her passion for human kinetics, provided a solid background to facilitate her training. Since her certification she has worked with physiotherapists, rehabilitating patients on the road to recovery, trained athletes to enhance athletic performance and encouraged breast cancer survivors to rebuild strength and spirit.

Co-founder and Co-owner, Pacific NW Pilates
STOTT PILATES® Master Instructor Trainer Melanie graduated with a degree in Physiotherapy from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Specializing in orthopedics and manual therapy, she spent the next 10 years working as a physiotherapist at a private practice. In 1999, she became a STOTT PILATES® Instructor Trainer teaching the full repertoire for Matwork, equipment as well as Injuries & Special Populations. Melanie is one of few instructors in the United States instructing the STOTT PILATES Rehabilitation Series. Utilizing Pilates for the prevention and rehabilitation of injuries, brings her the most joy in her career.

Michael is co-owner and CEO of the STOTT PILATES® Licensed Training Center in Denmark and travels regularly to the U.K. to teach and present the method. A professional ballet and modern dancer in the early 1990’s, Michael has been using Pilates as a part of his training regime for many years. He is a qualified physical education teacher who has now streamlined his focus to share his knowledge of STOTT PILATES with instructors all over the world.

Matthew Comer, MS, has worked in the mind-body and wellness field for more than 20 years. He is a STOTT PILATES® Instructor Trainer, founder and co-owner of Pilates South Beach, and has a Master’s Degree in Dance and Movement Therapy. With special expertise in the post-rehabilitation applications of Pilates, Matthew blends his love and knowledge for performance enhancement, movement analysis, dance, physical therapy and Pilates into one practice.

Angel is the Technical Director for AkroStudio and a STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor Trainer who has worked in various Pilates centers in Madrid, Spain. Throughout his fruitful career, Angel has had the opportunity to work with several noteworthy professionals, including the renowned dancer, Victor Ullate, and is a recognized teacher all across Spain and South America. He studied Occupational Therapy and leads the Rehab Pilates program at the European University of Madrid, where he works with individuals such as Diane Lee to guarantee the development of the STOTT PILATES curriculum within his latest research.

Known for his clinical knowledge, endless humor, and abundant energy, Marshall earned his first fitness certification and began training clients in 1986. As a pioneer in the fitness industry, Marshall was at the forefront of implementing Pilates training into traditional personal training. He holds a Masters degree with a special emphasis in Biomechanics and Athletic Training. He has been a STOTT PILATES® Instructor Trainer and Training Licensee since 2002, and owner of Marshall Eklund Pilates since 1998.  Featured in San Diego Magazine’s “Best of San Diego”, Marshall divides his time between client assessment, staff development, instructor training, and writing. 

As a Master Instructor Trainer for Merrithew Health & Fitness™, John is an integral part of the programming team specializing in STOTT PILATES® and CORE™ and has starred in over 60 Fitness and Pilates DVDs, mostly for MH&F. John is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through NSCA, a Personal Trainer from the American Council on Exercise, and earned his MS in Physical Education from New York University. A STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor since 2001, John is an accomplished Pilates and Fitness Presenter currently representing Merrithew Health & Fitness and has presented workshops and lectures in more than 14 countries internationally and throughout the USA. He has contributed to and appeared in many international publications, including Men’s Fitness, Shape, ePregnancy, Pilates Style and the LA Times. John is the President and Founder of John Garey Fitness & Pilates and serves as their Executive Program Director.

With over 10 years of experience in the fitness industry, Tara Gregorio brings a dynamic style of teaching to her STOTT PILATES® instruction and is known for her precision, patience and guidance when training students. Tara graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1999 with a BSC in Fitness Management, and has worked at elite facilities such as Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires and Healthworks Fitness Center for Women in Boston, MA, where she acted as Manager of the fitness staff. Tara became STOTT PILATES Certified in 2002, and has spent most of her Pilates career working with STOTT PILATES Master Instructor Trainer, PJ O’Clair. Tara became a Certified STOTT PILATES Instructor Trainer in 2003, and in 2006 she moved to New York City to help pioneer and oversee the STOTT PILATES Certification Center in New York, NY where she works currently, training and examining students in the New York area.  Tara is also an experienced ACE Personal Trainer and Mad Dogg Spinning® Instructor.

Melissa Harrington is a STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor Trainer and Presenter, who has been working in the fitness industry for the past seventeen years.  In addition to teaching Pilates, she is a certified Yoga instructor and faculty member of YOGAspirit, a certified Holistic Health Counselor, certified Personal Trainer (NSCA) and Group Exercise Instructor (ACE). Melissa lives on the north shore of Boston with her husband and two stepchildren. She is known to bring a healthy dose of humor and warmth to her teaching.

Originally from the UK, Lisa is a former member of the British National Gymnastic Squad. Now based in Sydney, she has been teaching health & fitness for over 15 years. She is a STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor Trainer and Presenter, a registered fitness leader and an ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) Certified Health & Fitness Specialist. Lisa presents STOTT PILATES courses & workshops in Australia and has her own Pilates studio in Sydney that specializes in one-on-one Pilates training.

Amanda is one of only a handful of STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor Trainers based in the U.K. Working on behalf of Active Training and YMCAfit at their fully equipped studio, Amanda is certified to train and examine students in the full repertoire of material including Injuries & Special Populations. With a fitness instructor background, Amanda combines her teaching of STOTT PILATES with a successful personal training and sports massage business.

Kim has built a very impressive reputation as an expert and leader in the health and wellness industry. She is the proud owner of one of the first STOTT PILATES® Licensed Training Centers for Merrithew Health & Fitness™ in Canada and has trained hundreds of health and fitness professionals throughout the Atlantic region. Kim studied at York University where she received her B.F.A. Dance/B.Ed. and completed her B.Sc. Kinesiology at Dalhousie University. She is a Merrithew Health & Fitness Lead Instructor Trainer, Yamuna Body Rolling Certified Instructor Trainer, and Certified Franklin Method Instructor. Throughout her career, Kim has fostered a love and respect for the physical form and a desire to teach and share her passion with others.

A STOTT PILATES® Instructor Trainer since 1997, Monique is the owner and director of three Pilates studios and a STOTT PILATES Licensed Training Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba. A graduate of The National Ballet School and a former owner of a fitness studio in Toronto, Monique combines over 20 years of dance and fitness teaching experience with her knowledge of Pilates to ensure that clients and students experience the best in mind-body exercise. Her bilingualism is an asset, as she can evaluate, examine or teach certification courses in French as well as English. She is also past presenter for both the Ontario and Manitoba Fitness Counsels.

Heather Lawson is an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew Health and Fitness™ and a valuable member of the company's prestigious programming team. She has been teaching Pilates for over 10 years and is also an ACE Certified Instructor. Heather graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2000 where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Performance. Heather specializes in STOTT PILATES® and ZEN•GA™. She was involved in the most recent DVD production for Merrithew Health & Fitness as a featured performer and instructor.

Francisca started her classical ballet studies in Palma de Mallorca before moving to Barcelona to continue her education in contemporary and jazz studies. Throughout her travels with various dance companies, she has been exposed to several mind-body techniques including Do-ing, Yoga, and Feldenkrais. In 2001, she began her STOTT PILATES® education in Toronto and is now a Certified Instructor Trainer. Francisca introduced the STOTT PILATES method to Mallorca, implementing the program into a major fitness centre. She studied Gyrotonic & Gyrokinesis® directly, and became a master BOSU®* trainer. She has also collaborated with the technical crew of the Global Tennis Team, where she trained players including Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal. BOSU®* is a registered trademark of BOSU Fitness LLC, used with permission.

CC’s experience and practice in the fitness industry has spanned over 20 years. She began as an aerobics instructor and personal trainer in 1992, teaching at various gyms and at UMass Amherst while attending school there. After graduating with a BFA, CC continued to gravitate towards fitness as a career. After becoming a STOTT PILATES^® Certified Instructor, CC became an Instructor Trainer for the method in 2001.  She is a valuable member of the esteemed Merrithew Health & Fitness™ programming and presenting team, specializing in Stability Barre™ and STOTT PILATES. CC opened her first fitness and Pilates studio in Boston in 1999 and in 2005 opened a STOTT PILATES Licensed Training Center in Connecticut. She is now the proud owner/operator of 4 studios in the greater Boston, MA and Hartford CT areas.  CC is NSCA certified and always strives to create results-driven workouts that are safe, effective, and fun.

Merrithew Health & Fitness™ Master Instructor Trainer PJ O’Clair has been a leader and consultant in the fitness industry for more than 25 years. A valuable member of the programming team, PJ specializes in STOTT PILATES® and ZEN•GA™. She is a featured performer and instructor in numerous fitness videos including over 30 titles with Merrithew Health & Fitness. PJ won the prestigious IDEA Program Director of the Year Award in 2008 and was a finalist in 2007. She is a sought-after speaker and consultant at fitness conferences and spas worldwide – and has written numerous articles for industry publications. No matter where she goes, PJ takes her trademark enthusiasm and dynamic personality with her.

Jodi Solie is a STOTT PILATES® Instructor Trainer and Licensed Training Centre owner and director – as well as an ACE and Can-Fit-Pro Certified Personal Trainer. After becoming Regina’s first certified instructor in 2000, Jodi founded Regina’s first Pilates studio in 2001. Jodi has now established her studio as the only STOTT PILATES Licensed Training Centre in Saskatchewan. Jodi holds full certification in Matwork, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair and Barrels, along with Injuries and Special Populations courses.  She is currently very involved with the education of instructors in the STOTT PILATES method of movement. Most recently, Jodi has taught education courses internationally in Kailua, Hawaii, and Dublin, Ireland. Jodi is also a presenter at various trade shows and fitness conferences across the globe. Jodi’s expertise in Pilates exercise, combined with over 15 years of teaching experience in group fitness and personal training, make her an exceptional instructor.

A leader in the fitness industry for over 27 years, Jill Winegar received her degree from the University  of Minnesota in 1983 and returned to school in 1994 to complete her pre-requisites for entry to the University’s Physical Therapy Program.  Jill is a faculty member at the University of  Minnesota’s Dance Dept. and holds certifications as a group fitness instructor, personal trainer, kettlebell instructor, and STOTT PILATES® Instructor Trainer. Jill travels the globe presenting workshops and courses and was invited as a guest presenter at the prestigious Golden Door Spa in Escondido  California and Rancho la Puerta. Among her most exciting experiences is training recording artist Sting on his most recent tour with The Police.

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Beatriz received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Dance Stockholm. She also studied in New York at the Alvin Nikolai and Murray Louis companies, and has been a choreographer, dancer and dance teacher. Beatriz became a STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor in 2001 and Instructor Trainer in 2007. She has been involved in the fitness industry for more than 15 years as an instructor and sport advisor, an Instructor Trainer and Nike Athlete. A presenter for Aerobic & Fitness for the past 10 years, Beatriz has also studied Feldenkrais and Gyrotonic.