Instructor Trainers

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.

Rebecca holds a BFA in Dance from California State University Long Beach and is a certified STOTT PILATES^® Instructor. She was introduced to Pilates in 1994, which further sparked her fascination for body awareness, alignment and core-strength. In 2013, Rebecca became an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^® specializing in STOTT PILATES. Rebecca enjoys creating a workout experience that suits each person's specific needs, fitness goals and skill level whether they are athletes, those suffering with chronic pain, rehabilitation from surgery, or those who are simply seeking to learn more about their bodies. She loves watching the positive changes brought about by practicing STOTT PILATES and empowering her clients with a mind-body awareness that can be carried into their everyday lives. When Rebecca is not teaching Pilates or dancing, she can be found climbing in the North Cascades or backcountry skiing.

Renata graduated as a Physical Educator from the University of São Paulo with experience in research, teaching and management. She has worked in Pilates since 2005 and started her STOTT PILATES^® education in 2007. In 2010 she became an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^®, specializing in STOTT PILATES Matwork, Reformer, Chair, Cadillac, Barrels as well as CORE^™.

René has been active in the fitness industry for the last 16 years. In her early fitness career she was a group exercise instructor and personal trainer for the YMCA. She was introduced to Pilates in 2004 and began applying the stability principles of Pilates to her personal training clients. In 2009, she received her STOTT PILATES^® certification and became an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^® in 2013.

She enjoys helping her clients achieve their fitness goals regardless of their fitness level and working with those who have special needs because of health issues or injuries. She continually strives to increase her skills and knowledge of the human body and movement so her clients will receive the highest quality training available.

Ricardo received his STOTT PILATES^® certification in 2007 and became an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^® specializing in STOTT PILATES in 2013. He is the Manager of Pilates BodyHarmony, a STOTT PILATES Licensed Training Center in Cyprus. Ricardo teaches group and private classes and works with elite and amateur athletes for performance enhancement and rehabilitation. His work is distinguished by his ability to motivate and inspire his students and clients to reach beyond their capabilities and comfort zone. Moreover, his portfolio includes a series of training and therapeutic courses, including Sensory Motor Learning, Muscle Activation, Trigger Point and fascia release. Ricardo hails from Bogota, Colombia. He began his career as a ballet dancer, and through dance, he ultimately discovered Pilates - a decisive turning point in his life. Ricardo was the first Merrithew Instructor Trainer in Cyprus.

After completing her bachelor’s degree in Japan, Rie moved to Toronto, Canada to pursue her avid interest in the human body and passion for health and wellness. She received her STOTT PILATES^® certification in 2006, excelling further to become a Merrithew^® Instructor Trainer in 2008. Rie applies her expertise to deliver high quality education to students as a Lead Instructor Trainer and in her work as Education Programming Specialist at the Merrithew’s Head Office in Toronto. In addition to teaching students and supporting Instructor Trainers, she is involved in developing Merrithew Education and expanding Instructor Trainer resources and website content. She also became a Registered Homeopath in 2015, furthering her passion to help people in the pursuit of holistic health and wellness.