Instructor Trainers

Originally from Mexico City, Jessica has lived in London, UK for the past 20 years. Having studied dance from an early age, Jessica turned to Pilates as a method of rehabilitating injuries. Realizing the potential for Pilates and her desire to keep movement as a part of her lifestyle, Jessica chose to make the method her career in 2005, becoming a STOTT PILATES^® Certified Instructor. In August 2016, Jessica went a step further and became a Merrithew^™ Instructor Trainer specializing in STOTT PILATES. Jessica teaches at London's YMCA OneKX, her own company, Body Harmony, and at London's premier health club KX GYMUK. Jessica has worked in the fitness industry for the past 12 years, and enjoys working with clients from different backgrounds. She takes great satisfaction from helping people improve their lifestyle with a holistic approach.

Jitka has been a fitness and Pilates Instructor for over 20 years. She has lived and worked in cities all around the world, including Toronto, Sydney, Phoenix and Tel Aviv. She began her training with STOTT PILATES^® in 2005, and became a Certified Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^™ in 2011. That same year she returned to the Czech Republic, where she currently works teaching for Merrithew in her studio Pilates Point in Brno. Her main interests are lumbo-pelvic stability, core research and helping clients live pain-free, healthy lives.

Joana received her STOTT PILATES^® Instructor Certification at the Toronto Corporate Training Center in 2001 and became an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^™ specializing in STOTT PILATES in 2002. Joana is a certified yoga teacher and the founder of BodyRoots Fitness Studio in New York City. Previously the head of the Pilates program at an elite fitness club in NYC and with over 13 years of experience, Joana now offers personally tailored, one-on-one training in her private downtown Manhattan loft space. A proud former Lululemon Althetica brand ambassador, Joana has been featured in several STOTT PILATES professional fitness DVDs, Pilates Style magazine, Shape magazine, The New York Times and has trained high profile clients in NYC including Jimmy Fallon and Edie Falco.

Jolanda has a passion for movement and for the last 12 years, specifically in the Pilates method. After years of study, she became a physical education teacher at a high school, specializing in a number of different sports and especially in dance. During that time, she developed remedial after-school teaching programs as well as studying massage therapy. She has a great interest in anatomy and is fascinated by fascia and how it can be integrated in a Pilates program. As an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^™ specializing in STOTT PILATES^® and Total Barre^®, Jolanda has a passion for sharing her knowledge with students and teachers. She is the owner of K'dans, currently the only Licensed Training Center in The Netherlands where she teaches a variety of fitness modalities, with STOTT PILATES as the base for all movement.

Josefin has been working full time with Pilates and movement for nearly ten years. She was born in Sweden where she actively trained in gymnastics until her mid-teens. While living in London in her early 20's she began suffering from back pain. It was then that she discovered Pilates and its amazing power to heal and strengthen the body. In 2005 she moved to the US and became a certified STOTT PILATES^® Instructor. Two years later, she became an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^™ specializing in STOTT PILATES. In 2009 she opened her own studio in Malmö, Sweden: Movement Studio Malmö. Her studio is flourishing, and she enjoys training clients at all levels as well as running STOTT PILATES Instructor Trainer courses.

Joe comes from a sports and fitness background, having worked in the fitness industry since the 1990s. He is qualified in Neuromuscular Physical Therapy, Personal Training, Human Dietetics and Nutrition. Joe started his STOTT PILATES^® training in 2005 and has been an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^™ specializing in STOTT PILATES since 2009. At his studio in Dublin, Ireland, Joe places a focus on incorporating his Pilates Rehabilitation training with physical therapy protocols in order to help his clients return to full health.

Judy began her active lifestyle as a competitive ballroom dancer in Zimbabwe, and also as a member of the Zimbabwe National Aerobics team. She became a STOTT PILATES^® Certified Instructor in 2001 and an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^™ specializing in STOTT PILATES in 2008. Judy draws on her degree in applied nutrition, as well as her experience with personal training, therapeutic massage and injury rehabilitation when working with her Pilates clients. She particularly enjoys working with students as they prepare for their examinations, and considers Postural Analysis and correction to be her passion.

Julie was introduced to the STOTT PILATES^® method in 2007 during rehab for an ACL injury. She became a Certified Instructor in 2008 and in 2013, became an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^™ specializing in STOTT PILATES. Julie is passionate for dance and education and is dedicated to help people by spreading the STOTT PILATES method throughout Korea. Since suffering from an injury while training as a dancer, she has become aware that many dance students are not exposed to proper rehab or training for movement. It is her intent therefore, to bring the STOTT PILATES method to local students and clients.

Julie's love of body movement began at the age of four with classical ballet. Ballet has always given Julie the discipline, focus, and passion to explore many different avenues in the physical fitness industry which finally lead her to Pilates. Julie began her career as a Fully Certified STOTT PILATES^® Pilates instructor in June 2010. Immediately following her certification, she was employed at the Merrithew^™ Corporate Training Center and Head Office in Toronto, Canada. Continuously being inspired by her peers, her clients, and her passion for Pilates have all driven Julie to take her education to the next level; becoming an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew specializing in STOTT PILATES Matwork and Reformer. Julie currently teaches in both French and English in the French Riviera.

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.