Instructor Trainer bios

Rachel Gleason is a physical therapist and professor at the University of Cincinnati's DPT program. Over the last several years, Rachel has completed her Full Certification with Merrithew^® becoming an Instructor Trainer in 2020 specializing in STOTT PILATES^®. Rachel is an IT for Over Fifty Fitness, where she offers courses and workshops. She also teaches Merrithew courses at the University of Cincinnati.

Rachel originally trained as a classical ballet dancer and worked in the profession from the age of nine. She started Pilates at the age of 14 as part of her rehabilitation for a prolapsed disc. After undergoing two back operations in 1996 and 2010, Pilates has enabled her to regain strength and control. It was only natural that she would end up becoming a Pilates instructor after understanding how beneficial this way of working is. Following her second back operation she became a personal trainer, a STOTT PILATES^® Certified Instructor and then a Merrithew^® Instructor Trainer. She has worked with many clients from all backgrounds and abilities, helping them achieve strength, control and flexibility. She thrives training clients and instructors to reach levels that they never thought possible. Her enthusiasm and dedication has helped many people improve their fitness and take control of their own health.

Bec brings extensive expertise in the health and fitness industry, holding a Full Teachers Diploma in Dance, a Diploma of Beauty Therapy and Dermal Science, and qualifications in Remedial Massage. She is a fully certified STOTT PILATES^® instructor and an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew, passionately committed to advancing fitness education through her Pilates studio and host centre, Pilates Utopia Perth.

With over 12 years of hands-on Pilates instruction experience and more than 25 years in dance, movement, and fitness, Bec combines a deep understanding of anatomy and movement science to deliver tailored training for diverse populations. Her approach ensures safe, effective, and engaging learning experiences for all participants.

Rebecca has been working in the health and fitness industry since 2000 and has her BA in Adult Fitness from Marshall University in West Virginia. She has been an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^® specializing in STOTT PILATES^® since 2010 followed by CORE^™ and Total Barre^® since 2013. She is also a certified ACE Personal Trainer and an AFAA certified Group Fitness Instructor. Rebecca is the proud owner of Be Buff Pilates, a boutique Pilates studio that incorporates Pilates and Functional Training.

Prior to her life as a Pilates Instructor, Rebecca had careers in radio broadcasting as a disc jockey & traffic reporter and in cable television advertising, amongst others. She was first exposed to the Pilates method as a young dancer. Many years later, and looking for a "complete 180" career change, she was exposed to STOTT PILATES^®. She began her training in 2001 and became fully certified in the full STOTT PILATES^® repertoire. She became an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^® specializing in STOTT PILATES in 2012 and has been teaching & training ever since. Rebecca relishes in the good Pilates has done her and absolutely loves sharing knowledge with her students.