Instructor Trainer bios

Michelle DiMeo is a STOTT PILATES^® Certified Instructor and Merrithew^® Instructor Trainer. Originally from Milwaukee, Wis., she holds a B.F.A. in Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She eventually relocated to Minneapolis, Minn. to continue performing and freelancing in the dance community where her passion for finding healing through somatic practices led her to Pilates. Michelle received her STOTT PILATES Full Certification in 2016 and a year later became a Merrithew Instructor Trainer. Her training was completed through the SweatShop Health Club, a Merrithew Licensed Training Center in Saint Paul, Minn. where she has continued to work as a STOTT PILATES Certified Instructor and Merrithew Instructor Trainer. Currently, Michelle resides in Frankfurt, Germany, where she is pursuing her M.A. in Contemporary Dance Education (M.A. CoDE) at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts (HfMDK).

Michelle Galbraith, a former professional dancer with experience in contemporary dance companies in the San Francisco Bay Area, discovered Pilates as a cross-training method to complement her career. After studying ballet at Utah Valley University, Michelle's passion for the Pilates method ignited, prompting her to pursue a full STOTT PILATES^® certification in 2016. With her dedication and expertise, Michelle advanced her training and became an Instructor Trainer specializing in STOTT PILATES^® in 2022. Known for her infectious passion and love for sharing movement, Michelle's teaching style is characterized by a calm and encouraging demeanor that empowers her students to trust their bodies and embrace the journey.

Michelle obtained her STOTT PILATES^® certification in 2006 and became an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^® specializing in STOTT PILATES in 2009. She is also a licensed massage therapist and has been a certified yoga instructor for more than 12 years. Michelle enjoys working privately with clients, drawing from her diverse background to help them develop strength and find efficient movement and that best fits their lifestyle and limitations. She frequently works with special client populations recovering from knee or hip replacements and spinal cord injuries and thrives on finding the right exercise solution for their needs.

Michelle received her Certification as a STOTT PILATES^® Instructor in 2010. In 2016, she completed the requirements to become a Merrithew^® Instructor Trainer specializing in STOTT PILATES. She has had extensive training in the Pilates method from a number of Pilates schools since 2005. A graduate in dance from Lasalle-SIA College of the Arts (2003), Michelle is influenced by other training including Gyrotonic (Apprentice in 2013), Myokinematic Restoration, Anatomy Trains and Argentine Tango which she has been perfecting since 2011. Michelle has extensive experience teaching in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong as a resident Pilates Instructor for a physiotherapy clinic, Pilates Instructor in the Singapore Navy, and in the Lasalle College of the Arts School of Dance, as well as with private studio clients from all backgrounds. She aspires to train quality Pilates Instructors who will uphold the standards of STOTT PILATES and Merrithew brands. In 2018, Michelle co-founded The Better Movement Studio, Singapore.

Michelle, from Sydney, Australia, has both a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts (Dance) degrees. She became a fully certified STOTT PILATES^® Instructor in 2003, and later that year went on to become an Instructor Trainer. She is now a Lead IT for Merrithew^® specializing in the STOTT PILATES full repertoire. Over the past 14 years, she has taught hundreds of STOTT PILATES courses and workshops in the US, Canada, Brazil, Hong Kong, New Zealand, the Philippines, and the UAE. Michelle is an intrepid traveler who loves an adventure.