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Instructor Trainer bios

The members of our esteemed team of Pilates Instructor Trainers are accomplished and internationally sought-after educators known for their comprehensive knowledge, dedication and professionalism. Each hold full certification in the STOTT PILATES® method and have achieved additional designations to complement their training.

A diverse group, they come from varied backgrounds including physical therapy, exercise science, athletic therapy, dance, and group and personal fitness training to name a few. Every member of the team strives to uphold the highest standards of training that have been developed worldwide.

Minah Shin
Blue Sky Pilates
Sydney, Australia

IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer

Additional credentials and designations
MELT Method Level1 Instructor, Certified Gyrotonic® Instructor

Bio

Minah, originally from Korea, arrived in Canada at the age of 19. Her journey with Pilates began as she found comfort in its ability to improve posture and relieve pain. Luckily, living near the Merrithew® Toronto Corporate Training Centre, she immersed herself in comprehensive courses in 2015. After spending eight years in Canada, she moved to Australia in 2017 to start a new chapter.

In 2018, she founded Blue Sky Pilates, which is not just a studio but also a Merrithew Host Training Center. Now a STOTT PILATES® Instructor Trainer, Minah facilitates convenient access to Merrithew programs for Australian students. Minah is committed to learning and loves sharing her accumulated wisdom with students. She recently broadened her expertise to include the Gyrotonic method and became a Certified Instructor.

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Mirela Anic
Body & Mind Studio
Zagreb, Croatia

IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, Barrels, ISP

Additional credentials and designations
Hatha Yoga certified teacher (200 RYT); Kinesiology degree (University of Zagreb); Strength-Conditioning Coach

Bio

After exploring a number of dance styles over a 15-year career, Mirela entered the world of fitness in 1995. In 2000, she started her Pilates education, then in 2002 she expanded her education with the internationally-renowned STOTT PILATES® program at the Merrithew® Corporate Training Center in Toronto, becoming a fully-certified Instructor. She went on to become a Merrithew Instructor Trainer specializing in STOTT PILATES. Mirela is an external associate at the University of Kinesiology in Zagreb, and she regularly presents at the International Congress of Sport Training as well as at the Aerobic and Body-Mind Congresses in Croatia and Europe. Starting in 2012, she has worked with a number of athletes, creating sport-, season- and position-specific programs.

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Monique Lavoie
Pilates Winnipeg
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair & Barrels, ISP; ZEN•GA®; Total Barre®; Merrithew® Fascial Movement

Bio

Monique is the founder of Pilates Winnipeg, a Merrithew® Licenced Training Centre in Manitoba, which opened in 1997. She is one of very few bilingual Merrithew Lead Instructor Trainers and upon request to teach any certification course or examination in both English and French. A graduate of The National Ballet School, Monique has over 30 years of teaching experience. Monique is also a certified Gyrotonic instructor.

In 2007 and again in 2009, she received a mentorship award as a result of recommendations from her peers, along with a lifetime achievement award from Merrithew. She recently hosted Moira Merrithew at her studio in celebration of the studio's 20th anniversary.

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Mor Bechor
Mor Bechor Pilates & TRX Studio
Hod HaSharon, Israel

IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair & Barrels

Additional credentials and designations
BSc., MSc., TRX Instructor, Total Barre™ Qualified

Bio

Mor has been involved in sports her whole life, and played professional European handball for 15 years. Her love and passion for understanding the human body led her to study exercise science. In 2002 she received her Bachelor of Sciences degree in Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, and in 2005 she graduated with her Masters Degree in Exercise Sciences from Queens College of the City University of New York. Mor and a colleague conducted research into the Changes in Landing Mechanics After Cold-Water Immersion, the results of which were published in the June 2010 edition Journal of Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport (http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-227945281.html). Mor was certified as an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew® specializing in STOTT PILATES® in 2009 and is also a Total Barre® Qualified Instructor. Mor's ability to understand, give and listen to each client, matches her genuine wish for each of her student's success. The feedback from her students has always been positive, praising her as a wonderful, inspirational teacher.

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Nadja Refaie
Northeast Pilates Education Centers
Manchester, Massachusetts, USA

IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair & Barrels

Bio

Nadja began her training with STOTT PILATES® in 2002 became a certified Instructor Trainer for Merrithew® in 2004.

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