Instructor Trainer bios

Adriana Rotella is a certified Lead STOTT PILATES^® Instructor Trainer, Holistic Nutritionist, and studio owner based in the Greater Toronto Area. With extensive experience in both movement and nutrition, she integrates Pilates and holistic wellness into her work with clients of all backgrounds.

Adriana has traveled globally to educate future Pilates instructors, teaching in Asia, Europe, and Africa, and has been featured in Merrithew^® DVDs and Merrithew Connect. Her depth of knowledge and dedication to the method continually inspire her students and clients to pursue personal growth and technical mastery.

In addition to working with professional athletes, rehabilitation clients, and general populations, Adriana provides integrated wellness guidance rooted in her nutrition certification. A valued member of the Merrithew Head Office education team, she has trained under several Master Instructor Trainers, including Moira Merrithew. Her natural passion for movement and healthy living is reflected in over two decades of experience in the fitness and wellness industries.

Burcu was born in Turkey in 1981 and has been involved in sports all her life. She played semi-professional tennis in junior leagues and as well as varsity basketball. After graduating from Robert College, she went on to study at Syracuse University, receiving her bachelor’s degree in 2003 from the School of Arts and Sciences in fashion design. After suffering a ski accident in her senior year of college, she started Pilates as a method of rehabilitation. This treatment turned into a passion over time.Although she started working as a junior designer at an international fashion label, her passion for Pilates only got stronger. She dabbled in various Pilates programs but became convinced that the STOTT PILATES^® system was far more innovative and the most scientific program she had experienced. Her decision led her to submerge herself fully in the method and permanently movement back to Istanbul where she founded her studio, Hero House Pilates. In 2013, she became one of only two Pilates Instructor Trainers for Merrithew^®, specializing in STOTT PILATES in Turkey. She enjoys teaching Pilates to clients and training new instructors in her studio.

Alyson, or Aly, carries a long history of combining movement with art. Growing up, she pursued a variety of artistic and athletic endeavors including dance, gymnastics and swimming. Throughout this journey, Aly was exposed to Pilates as a way of enhancing her performance and taking care of her body.

Aly was first introduced to the STOTT PILATES^® method while she was earning her BFA in Dance at Florida State University. Upon graduating, Aly moved back to the Tampa Bay area where she began teaching, choreographing and performing in the local dance community. During this time, she became interested in deepening her knowledge of body mechanics and conditioning to further assist her students and to enhance her own dancing. This led her to enrolling in her first STOTT PILATES certification course. Her appreciation and enthusiasm for the training soon developed into an interest in becoming a full-time STOTT PILATES instructor.

To this day, Aly remains in Tampa and teaches at Pilates Movement Studio, where she is now part of the education team as a Merrithew^® Instructor Trainer.

Alyssa Jones received her BFA in Dance from CSU, Long Beach. She was able to incorporate her dance background into the Pilates world through STOTT PILATES^®. She received her Full Level 1 certification in 2004 through the Marshall Eklund Fitness & Pilates Studio. In 2006, she received the honor of becoming an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^®, specializing in STOTT PILATES.

Alyssa was first introduced to STOTT PILATES^® while undergoing rehabilitation following surgery for a dance-related hip injury. When she didn’t improve with post-op therapy, Alyssa sought out a physical therapist who specialized in treating dancers who was also a Certified STOTT PILATES Instructor. Pilates was an integral part of her successful rehabilitation, and she was able to dance again. Pilates helped Alyssa gain the strength to maintain proper pelvic and spinal alignment and taught her how to work properly and avoid further straining of her hip flexors.

Alyssa attended the University of South Florida where she received a B.A. in Dance Studies with a concentration in Exercise Science and a B.S. in Biology. Upon completion of her degrees, Alyssa became a Certified STOTT PILATES Instructor in 2013 and became a Certified STOTT PILATES Instructor Trainer in 2016. Alyssa enjoys incorporating her experience with injury prevention and her passion for STOTT PILATES to create fun and challenging workouts for her clients as well as passing her knowledge and experience on to aspiring Instructors.