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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.

Chase Owens
John Garey Fitness & Pilates
Long Beach, California, USA

IT qualifications
CORE™

Additional credentials and designations
B.S.

Bio

Chase earned his B.S. in Kinesiology in early 2012 with a focus on Fitness from California State University, Long Beach. He began at John Garey Fitness & Pilates as a certified personal trainer through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America and since has earned accreditation through Johnny G Krankcycle, TRX Suspension Training, and the Spinning/SpinPOWER program. Most recently, Chase earned the prestigious title of CORE Instructor Trainer through Merrithew®, enabling him to train and certify other instructors. The combination of these certifications, along with years of experience in both traditional and corporate fitness settings, promotes a perfect blend of science, fun, creativity, and motivation in each class. Expect to be challenged and inspired each time you embark upon a workout with Chase.

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Chau Pham-Kid
Pilates South Texas
Houston, Texas, USA

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

Additional credentials and designations
BS, MS Engineering; ACE® Personal Trainer; TPI Level 1 Certified; Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher (NCPT); MELT METHOD® Instructor, Level 1; TRX® Suspension Training® Qualified Instructor

Bio

Chau earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The primary focus of her studies was ‘human factors’, the practical application of optimizing performance and movement, concepts that she incorporates into her instruction today.

Chau became a Merrithew® Instructor Trainer in 2006, and was then awarded the additional designation of Lead Instructor Trainer in 2014. Chau has instructed STOTT PILATES® certification courses in North America, South America and Europe. She is the owner and education/program director of Pilates South Texas, the exclusive Merrithew Licensed Training Center in Texas.

In addition to her many credentials listed above, she is also a GYROTONIC® & GYROKINESIS® Instructor and is qualified in YOGA for LIFE® and Muscle Activation Techniques Jumpstart Upper Extremities, Lower Extremities and Spine and Trunk.

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Cherie Boschma
Inspire Health
Atlanta, Georgia, USA

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

Additional credentials and designations
BFA

Bio

Cherie obtained her BFA in Dance from University of North Carolina School for the Arts and began teaching Pilates in Toronto at the Merrithew® Corporate Training Center in 1993 after training under Moira Merrithew. She became an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew specializing in STOTT PILATES® in 1998, and has instructed at the following LTCs: Equilibrium - Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; Bodycenter - Seattle, Washington; Full Circle Studio - Vancouver, BC and currently Inspire Health - Atlanta, GA.

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Cheryl Cote Alden
Northeast Pilates Education Center
Bedford, New Hampshire, USA

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

Additional credentials and designations
Physical Therapist

Bio

Cheryl is a physical therapist and fitness enthusiast with over 20 years of teaching experience. She graduated from the University of Vermont in 1996 and was first introduced to Pilates while working as a PT. Quickly realizing the benefits to the rehab population, she pursued her STOTT PILATES® certification in 2000 and is now a Lead Instructor Trainer for Merrithew®, teaching STOTT PILATES and STOTT PILATES Rehab. She is the owner of Symmetry Pilates Center in New Hampshire where she teaches classes as well as works one on one with clients. Cheryl is an avid runner and triathlete and is a two-time IRONMAN finisher completing Ironman Lake Placid (2011) and Ironman Coeur D’Alene (2013). A lifelong athlete, Cheryl enjoys educating and motivating others to reach their personal fitness goals – knowledge is power.

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Chloe Ng
VIM Pilates
Hong Kong, Hong Kong

IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer

Bio

Chloe, a fully Certified STOTT PILATES® Instructor and Instructor Trainer, brings a wealth of experience from her training in ballet, contemporary and modern dance. She dedicated her teenage years to dancing and studied at the California Institute of the Arts, majoring in dance. Afterward, she embarked on her Pilates training journey in 2018 and commenced teaching in 2019. Driven by a lifelong passion for teaching and education, she pursued the Instructor Trainer role in 2023, marking a new chapter in her career.

Chloe's goal is to foster a learning environment that is welcoming, respectful and diverse, ensuring that students derive maximum benefit from each course and emerge as exceptional instructors. She prioritizes the input of her students, valuing their perspectives as much as her own.

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Cholthicha Srivisal
Breathe Pilates
Singapore, Singapore & Bangkok, Thailand

IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, & Barrels, ISP; ZEN•GA® Mat & Reformer; Total Barre®; Halo® Training

Additional credentials and designations
MBA; ARAD; Certificate of Higher Education in Dance Education; IT for Antigravity® Aerial Yoga & Suspension Fitness; certified Yoga Alliance teacher; Gyrotonic, Gyrokinesis, and Gyrotoner trainer; FRC; Kinstretch® Instructor; IKN Certified

Bio

After graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a master’s degree, Thicha spent 15 years working in the banking industry before leaving the corporate world to follow her long-time dream of becoming a Pilates Instructor. After suffering back and ankle injuries in 2002, she experienced the therapeutic benefits of Pilates first-hand and decided she wanted to teach others. She obtained her full STOTT PILATES® certification in 2007 and became a Merrithew® Instructor Trainer specializing in STOTT PILATES the following year. Thicha was awarded the prestigious title of Lead Instructor Trainer, and focuses on the education and training of the STOTT PILATES method. Her passion for movement originates from her many years as a professional ballet dancer and a dance educator. She holds a Certificate of Higher Education (Dance) from the University of Surrey, UK, an advanced-level certification from the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), and is a registered RAD teacher. She is also a certified 200-hour Yoga Alliance teacher, GYROTONIC, GYROKINESIS and GYROTONER trainer.

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Chrissy Connelly
Floating
Southampton, United Kingdom

IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, & Barrels; ZEN•GA®

Additional credentials and designations
GYROTONIC®

Bio

Formerly a member of the British Olympic Windsurfing Team, Chrissy enjoys working with a range of clients from international athletes to rehabilitation clients. Chrissy became a STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor in 2004 and furthered her training to become an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew®, specializing in STOTT PILATES in 2007, and ZEN•GA® in 2013. Currently she works alongside physiotherapists and sports masseurs in a studio well equipped with STOTT PILATES equipment, where she teaches as a Merrithew Lead Instructor Trainer in group classes as well as one-on-one personal sessions.

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Christine Heckel
Balance: Pilates Training Center
Richmond, Virginia, United States

IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, & Barrels, ISP; ZEN•GA®

Additional credentials and designations
ACE Certified Personal Trainer, NPCP Certified

Bio

Fifteen years of classical ballet training brought Christine to Merrithew® and inspired her to become a Merrithew Instructor Trainer, specializing in STOTT PILATES® and ZEN•GA®. Christine owns and operates Breathe Pilates Place (2015) in La Plata, Maryland, and trains her clients in STOTT PILATES and ZEN•GA principles.

In addition to her studio, Christine also provides STOTT PILATES training at Balance Pilates Training Center, a Merrithew Licensed Training Center in Richmond, VA. Plus, she teaches Pilates and ballet clients throughout the Northern Virginia, Southern Maryland and Washington D.C. metro areas – including at Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA, and College of Southern Maryland in La Plata, MD.

Christine is also an ACE Certified Personal Trainer. She continues to challenge her own body to learn new movement forms through the study of circus arts, flying trapeze and aerial yoga. In 2020, she became a Merrithew Lead IT.

Christos Alexiou
Floating
Geneva, Switzerland

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

Additional credentials and designations
Bachelor of Physical Education and Sports Science

Bio

Christos was born in Greece and studied Sport Science and Physical Education at Democritus University of Thrace, Greece. He earned his Bachelor degree in 2004, and after coaching in different sports, he focused and specialized in Pilates. Christos studied at the Corporate Training Center in Toronto where he became fully certified in 2011 and shortly after became an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew® specializing in STOTT PILATES®. He currently teaches at the I Love Exercise Pilates Studio in Geneva, Switzerland.

Claudia Fink
The Studio/Pilates Italia
Milan, Italy

IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, & Barrels, ISP, SPX, Rehab Matwork & Reformer; Total Barre®; ZEN•GA® Mat & Equipment; CORE™; Halo® Training

Additional credentials and designations
Osteopath; Fitness and Aerobics; Iyengar Yoga; Cancer Rehabilitation Specialist; Multiple Sclerosis and Neurologic Rehab Specialist; Myofascial Release Techniques; Isometric Rehabilitation Specialist and Pink Program® Instructor Trainer

Bio

Claudia first got involved in aerobics and fitness in Paris, France where she was studying for a bachelor’s degree in Business and Tourism. She was drawn to Pilates for rehabilitation after several athletic injuries and soon discovered the STOTT PILATES® method. She became an Instructor Trainer and taught at the Corporate Training Center in Toronto until she opened her studio and Licensed Training Center, Pilates Italia, in Milan, Italy and a satellite location in Brussels, Belgium. Claudia is proud to be a Merrithew® Lead Instructor Trainer. She is also an Osteopath. Claudia is fluent in four languages and is a cancer, multiple sclerosis, neurologic and isometric rehab Specialist, as well as a Pink Program® Instructor Trainer. She strives to continue her athletic life, and loves teaching students and clients alike.

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