Instructor Trainers
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.
Ineke Rush
Mindful Movement Collective
Newark, California, USA
IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, & Barrels; Total Barre®; Halo® Training
Additional credentials and designations
ACE, CMT, Adjunct Faculty at Ohlone College
Bio
Merrithew® Lead Instructor Trainer Ineke Rush Madsen began her training in Pilates at the age of 12 in New York City with Carola Trier, a colleague and student of Joseph Pilates, with whom she trained extensively. She simultaneously trained at the Dance Theatre of Harlem School where the syllabus was influenced by Kathy Grant.
After a 10-year career as a professional ballet and modern dancer with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Cleveland San Jose Ballet, Ballethnic Dance Company and Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre, Ineke pursued STOTT PILATES® Certification with Merrithew. She is fully certified to work with all levels, as well as those with post-rehab injuries and other special conditions. She has been an Instructor Trainer since 2004, and was designated Lead Instructor Trainer in 2016. She has taught STOTT PILATES Certification courses and workshops throughout the Bay Area, Northern California, and in Reno, Nevada.
Ineke is a Certified Personal Trainer with the American Council on Exercise and is licensed by the State Medical Board of Ohio in Massage Therapy. She is a Total Barre® and Halo® Training Instructor Trainer for Merrithew. She is also a certified yoga instructor (200 RYT).
In 2006 Ineke opened Mindful Movement Collective in Newark, California, a movement and wellness center which became a Merrithew Licensed Training Center in 2008. She opened a second location in Pleasant Hill, California, in 2017. She teaches at both locations and is also on faculty at Ohlone College in Fremont and Newark, California, in both the Athletics and Theatre and Dance Departments.
See where I teach
Irina Uemura
Floating
Tokyo, Japan
IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, & Barrels
Bio
Originally from Russia, Irina started her ballet training in early childhood. She discovered Pilates while rehabilitating after a knee injury and since then has used Pilates as a part of her training regime. Pilates helped her prolong her dancing career and avoid injury.
Retiring from dance in 2012, Irina obtained her STOTT PILATES® Certification, and in 2016 she became an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew® specializing in STOTT PILATES. Currently Irina teaches in Tokyo, Japan.
Irma Leissring
Floating
West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Chair, Cadillac, Barrels, ISP
Additional credentials and designations
MFA, TRX, GYROTONIC®
Bio
Irma earned her Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from the University of California, Irvine in 2001. While studying for her MFA in 1998, she took her first Pilates certification. In 2002 she earned full certification in STOTT PILATES®. Irma is now an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew® specializing in STOTT PILATES. Her passion for correcting form and healing the body motivated her to add her certifications in Active Isolated Stretching in 2010 and in 2011 she became certified in TRX® Suspension Training. Irma is also a certified instructor for GYROKINESIS® and GYROTONIC®.
Ishbel Cavaleri
Pacific Northwest Pilates Education
Portland, Oregon, USA
IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer
Bio
Ishbel started practicing yoga with her mom when she was five years old and has practiced and studied yoga ever since. After a serious back injury, Ishbel began studying Pilates as a means of stabilizing her spine. She fell in love with the way Pilates transformed her body and has been teaching yoga and Pilates for the past 10 years. Ishbel is the owner of Nomad Yoga & Pilates, LLC, a business that brings yoga and Pilates classes to people in their homes and offices. She is an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew® specializing in STOTT PILATES® and has also earned a variety of Yoga certifications. Ishbel works extensively with individuals who are recovering from injuries, and loves watching the progression from instability and pain to stability and ease-of-movement and easily relates to the relief that Pilates brings to people’s lives!
See where I teach
Jaada Harding-Peterson
Intermountain Pilates Training Center
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, and Barrels, CORE™
Bio
Jaada has been professionally committed to fitness for over 20 years. Her passion for health allows her to encourage people to attain a better quality of life. Excited to be part of IPTC, she is a Fully Certified STOTT PILATES® Instructor and an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew® specializing in STOTT PILATES Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair & Barrels and CORE™. Discovering Pilates has been fulfilling and she loves sharing this amazing fitness approach with others. Jaada loves the Utah summers, enjoys hiking, boating and sitting by the pool, while actively pursuing many other avenues of fitness. Whether it is traditional step aerobics or kickboxing, core training to Zumba, Spinning® or yoga, she continually strives to educates herself and teach others.
See where I teach
Jacqueline (Jackie) Gallant
Floating
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Chair, Cadillac & Barrels, ISP; Rehabilitation; CORE™, ZEN•GA® Mat
Additional credentials and designations
B.Sc. P.T.
Bio
Jackie has always been involved in sports, fitness and physical health, which led her to a Physical Therapy degree from Université de Montréal in 1993 and she continues to add post-graduate courses to help improve her practice. In 2005, she tried a STOTT PILATES® Mat course and saw the potential of incorporating it for her patients to help restore function and ability. She started using her anatomy background along with her new skills in Pilates and saw great results with everyone - from rehabilitation patients to group and private clients. An active teacher in Pilates for over nine years, she earned her Full STOTT PILATES Instructor Certification in 2012, and became a Lead Instructor Trainer for Merrithew® specializing in STOTT PILATES. Jackie specializes in acute and chronic general orthopedic conditions, sports medicine, post-surgery rehabilitation, breast cancer and postural dysfunction in kids and teenagers. Jackie is fluent in both French and English.
Jacqui Pilkington
Conscious Education
Denver, Colorado, USA
IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer
Additional credentials and designations
NPCP Certified Instructor
Bio
Despite dedicating over 12 years to competitive dancing and volleyball, Jacqui discovered her true passion when she stepped into her first Pilates class. Captivated by the deep-strengthening, functional workout, she became a passionate advocate for Pilates — an exercise that left her feeling challenged, energized and grounded, both physically and mentally.
After graduating from Regis University with a degree in Public Relations & Marketing and beginning a career as a Marketing Director, Jacqui left it all behind when she realized it was time for her to share her passion for Pilates with others. She became a STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor in April 2019 and founded her studio, REFORM Pilates & Barre, in June of the same year. She went on to obtain her STOTT PILATES Full Certification in April 2021 and STOTT PILATES Matwork and Reformer Instructor Trainer in March 2023.
With a passion for form and attention to detail, Jacqui tailors each workout to meet her client’s needs and challenges them to build endurance and strength. She is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of everyone who walks through the door.
See where I teach
Jacquin Lin
Floating
Osaka, Japan
IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, & Barrels
Additional credentials and designations
Physiotherapist, Redcord Neurac instructor
Bio
Jacquin graduated from the Department of Physical Therapy in Taiwan, and obtained her Physiotherapy license in 2007. During her first year working, she was introduced to a type of exercise called "Pilates" and discovered STOTT PILATES® in 2009. Jacquin noticed that many Pilates trainers were dealing with a language barrier in the process of becoming certified, so in 2014, she decided to become an Merrithew® Instructor Trainer specializing in STOTT PILATES. A Redcord Neurac instructor, she uses her passion and knowledge to help others who are interested in becoming a STOTT PILATES Instructors.
Jaeeun Kwon
PAFGYM Pilates
Seoul, Republic of Korea
IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, & Barrels
Additional credentials and designations
Bachelor of Physical Education, Ph.D. in Sports Medicine
Bio
Jaeeun discovered Pilates after trying various exercises to treat herniated discs following an accident. In addition to renewed health, she found an increased amount of energy as a result of doing Pilates. Filled with a desire to share her story (and this energy), Jaeeun opened her own studio in 2007. Three years later, she began providing instructor training through Merrithew’s STOTT PILATES® instructor training course.
As part of her continuing development to support a wide range of health and fitness enhancements for her clients, Jaeeun recently completed her master's degree and PhD in Sports Medicine.
See where I teach
Jamie Casey
LiveMetta Pilates
Longbeach, California, United States
IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer
Additional credentials and designations
TRX, TaeBo, ACE, AFAA
Bio
Jamie is an incredibly dynamic Instructor and her passion for fitness is obvious. Besides motivating clients and helping them achieve their fitness goals, Jamie is a Fully Certified STOTT PILATES® Instructor an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew® specializing in STOTT PILATES Mat and Reformer. Jamie has numerous other certifications and specializes in many styles of fitness including: CORE™, Athletic Conditioning &, Performance Training™, Instructor, Certified TRX Instructor, Certified TaeBo Instructor, Certified ACE Instructor and Certified AFAA Instructor. She has over 26 years of experience in the fitness industry and has created and presented fitness programs for 24 Hour Fitness and FTP fitness in Japan.
See where I teach