Instructor Trainer bios

Julie became an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^® specializing in STOTT PILATES^® Rehab in 2009. Coming from an athletic background, Julie learned first-hand how injuries can affect one’s quality of life, and now works as a physical therapist, athletic trainer and STOTT PILATES Instructor in a variety of settings. She has combined these diverse fields into a unique way of re-educating the body and neuromuscular system. Julie has worked with a wide variety of clients, including college and high school athletes, hospital acute care patients and orthopedic outpatients. She has recently developed a lecture / lab series that will help enhance equestrians performance by integrating STOTT PILATES into a daily exercise regime.

Jungyi’s introduction to STOTT PILATES^® began during her recovery from a back injury. Having been a swimmer for 15 years, she discovered a remarkable synergy between swimming and STOTT PILATES, which proved highly effective in aiding her recovery and helping to surpass her performance goals. Eager to share these benefits with her swimming teammates, she pursued a STOTT PILATES Certification in 2019.

Since earning her certification, Jungyi has dedicated time to delve deeper into Pilates by creating personalized programs for athletes and other clients. She also leads Pilates classes and delivers anatomy lectures to students aspiring to become STOTT PILATES Instructors, following the teaching methods established by Merrithew^®.

Jungyi is dedicated to fostering excellence in education at Breathe Pilates & Fitness, empowering students to achieve a STOTT PILATES Certification. Furthermore, she actively promotes the benefits of the STOTT PILATES Method among Certified Instructors, encouraging their ongoing growth and fostering a rewarding sense of achievement.

Kanako has been involved in physical training for most of her life and was trained in ballet, jazz dance, and modern dance since early childhood. She turned to Pilates after a lower back injury as a means of conditioning and improving her strength. She immediately fell in love with it and since then, her passion hasn't changed. She trained in the STOTT PILATES^® method in Canada, Tokyo and Hong Kong and in 2006 she received her Certification as an Instructor. She went on to become a Lead Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^® specializing in STOTT PILATES. In 2013, Kanako assisted with the World Tour stop in Japan and has taught Instructors in Singapore and Malaysia. A Certified Gyrotonic^® Trainer, she enjoys working with Instructors and clients helping them achieve their goals.

Karen began her Pilates journey as a client at the Merrithew^® Corporate Training Center in Toronto; where she immediately fell in love with the practice the moment she got on the Reformer. A former gymnast, dancer and all-round athlete, she loved the mind-body challenge and immediately recognized the benefits of rehabilitating old injuries and building strength without compromising flexibility. In 2010 she earned her Certified Instructor designation, and then became a Merrithew Instructor Trainer in 2014, specializing in Matwork, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair and Barrels. For two years, Karen taught at the Corporate Training Center before moving to San Francisco in 2016.

Karen teaches clients of all ages and fitness levels, with a special focus on injury prevention and post-rehabilitation reconditioning. A CPCC certified coach, she loves to motivate her clients and to ensure their practice is part of improving their health and wellness overall. She also enjoys challenging her students to formulate their own solutions and answer their own questions, helping them deepen their understanding of their practice and develop the confidence to share their knowledge with others.

Karen Christensen started dancing at the age of 7 after a bout of polio. She went on to be a professional ballet dancer working in companies in the US and Europe. Karen later became educated as a Psychomotor therapist and became the leader of a physical therapy unit at a nursing home. Being pulled back into the world of dance again, Karen continued to work with modern dance companies in Denmark as a ballet mistress, rehearsal assistant and guest teacher and opened her own dance school in Copenhagen, later moving to Aarhus to work with a dance company there. After studying the original Pilates method including training with Romana Kryszanowska, Karen chose the STOTT PILATES^® contemporary approach for her certification in 2002 and has worked with it ever since. She is an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^® specializing in STOTT PILATES Matwork, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, and Barrels. She continues to train professional dancers in classical ballet as well as Pilates.