Instructor Trainers

With Bachelors and Masters degrees in Electrical Engineering, David worked for fifteen years designing computer chips for Intel Corporation. He was first introduced to Pilates in 2000 by a Physical Therapist as a cross training method for cycling and mountain bike racing. With a strong technical background, he was fascinated with the precision, biomechanics and effectiveness of the method. He pursued instructor training with several organizations before choosing the STOTT PILATES^® method and becoming a fully certified instructor. Passionate about Pilates, David changed career paths and became a STOTT PILATES^® Instructor Trainer in 2004. After teaching the program in Northern California for several years, he founded DFX Pilates which serves as the Merrithew^® Licensed Training Center for the Sacramento region. David became a Merrithew Lead Instructor Trainer in 2016.

Deborah discovered Pilates while obtaining a professional degree in Ballet and Modern Dance from the Dance Academy in Milan, Italy.

She started her STOTT PILATES^® training with Merrithew^® Lead Instructor Trainer Claudia Fink at Pilates Italia^® and in 2009 moved to Germany where she continued to focus on her Pilates education. In 2011, she became a STOTT PILATES Certified Instructor and immediately founded the Berliner Pilates Studio, where she enjoys training clients of all levels in the vibrant multicultural environment of Berlin.

She became a Merrithew Instructor Trainer in 2019, specializing in STOTT PILATES Matwork & Reformer. In addition to teaching Pilates and running her studio, Deborah is still passionate and active in many dance performance projects that are regularly presented at the independent art venues of Berlin.

Debra began her journey with STOTT PILATES^® after experiencing 18 years of chronic pain from injuries sustained in a car accident. She immediately took a liking to the STOTT PILATES method, realizing it was the only modality that actually worked to heal her body. Becoming a Full Certified Instructor in 2005 and an Instructor Trainer in 2006, her STOTT PILATES training is complemented by a background in dance and gymnastics. She is now a Merrithew^® Lead IT.

Debra works with people in all states of fitness and health. Her compassionate and intuitive way of working has guided clients with complex dysfunctions to gain more strength, mobility, and return to function. She also works with high-level professional athletes, including Cirque du Soleil performers. In 2014, she began traveling to Asia annually to provide STOTT PILATES^® and Merrithew^® professional training, certification, and mentorship of ITs. Debra loves teaching in the United States at Pacific Northwest Pilates in Portland and is in demand from many studios in Asia.

As a lifelong learner, Debra continues a deep fascination with anatomy, mindful movement practices, and fascia research. Having been immersed in the study of fascia since 2008, she has been consistently successful in addressing complex dysfunction through a fascial lens.

Denise has always had a love for fitness and after many years as a personal trainer in the exclusive Lyford Cay Club in Nassau Bahamas, decided to explore Pilates. After extensive training in Toronto, Canada, she returned to the Bahamas and opened a Licensed Training Center for Merrithew^® in 2005. Denise is a fully certified Instructor Trainer for Merrithew and has travelled from Australia to Italy to train future instructors in the STOTT PILATES^® method. Denise currently teaches Pilates, Total Barre^®, Pre and Post Natal exercise, Post Rehab movement and Active Isolated Stretching from her studio in Nassau, Bahamas.

Diane started her STOTT PILATES^® training in 2005, building on her group instructor and personal training practice. Diane’s passion for STOTT PILATES continued to grow as she took more Merrithew^® courses. Eventually, her practice was dedicated exclusively to STOTT PILATES.

Diane continued to diversify her fitness education, adding the ZEN•GA^® Instructor Foundation Course (2013), Total Barre^® Instructor Foundation Course (2014), Merrithew Fascial Movement Foundation Course (2017), and CORE^™ Athletic Conditioning & Performance Training Foundation Course (2018). In 2019, she certified as a Merrithew Instructor Trainer for STOTT PILATES Matwork and Reformer.

Originally from Canada, Diane has had the good fortune to be able to live in Maui, HI for the last decade. Diane is responsible for co-creating annual retreats in Maui called “Pilates in Paradise.” These retreats host STOTT PILATES instructors who want to gain further education and motivation in Pilates and movement.

In addition to traveling and teaching, Diane continues to teach at her own studio, Pilates Kihei (privates and duets) and also offers group classes at Fluid Motion Maui.

Dot became certified as a STOTT PILATES^® Instructor in 2003, and in 2009 she became an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^® specializing in STOTT PILATES. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Windsor in 2004, and is currently working on her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. In 2001 Dot received her certification as a Yoga Teacher by the Sivanada Yoga Group, and has acted as both the instructor and owner of The Yoga Centre in Windsor since that time. She brings over 10 years of experience in teaching movement, and keeps her programming interesting and up to date by taking a variety of continuing education workshops.

Eden is the owner of Makai Fitness – Pilates | Yoga | Wellness. Throughout her career as an Instructor Trainer, she has embraced the philosophy of progress over perfection and values health span over life span. She believes that Pilates and movement keep both the mind and body active and engaged in ways everyday life does not, helping to restore balance where we naturally become unbalanced.

As an Instructor Trainer, Eden’s greatest passion is seeing students grow into confident, capable teachers. She finds deep fulfillment in guiding others along their teaching journey. She also views STOTT PILATES^® as the most rigorous and comprehensive certification she has pursued—both in its requirements for qualification and its emphasis on continuing education. For her, it is the perfect complement to all of her fitness passions.

While completing her Journalism degree in Australia, Elisha found Pilates and fell in love! She spent her college breaks taking multiple classes and she eventually studied to become a Fully Certified STOTT PILATES^® Instructor as well as a Cert IV Personal Trainer. The STOTT PILATES method of exercise and contemporary approach to mind-body fitness peaked Elisha’s interest and so in 2012, she was accepted into the STOTT PILATES Instructor Trainer Program at the headquarters in Toronto. Currently an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^® specializing in STOTT PILATES, and CORE^™, she continues to attend a variety of courses and workshops to make sure her knowledge is always up-to-date.

Elizabeth Ulseth was first introduced to STOTT PILATES^® in 2003 as a method of cross-training for dance and skating. After her first few classes, she was hooked! Fitness has always blended with Elizabeth’s passion for movement of all kinds, from high level athletic performance to regaining strength after injuries and physiotherapy.

After earning a B.S. in Dance from MNSU, Mankato in 2011, Elizabeth knew that Pilates was the next step of her career. She began the STOTT PILATES Intensive Mat-Plus^™ and Intensive Reformer courses at the SweatShop in 2011; became a STOTT PILATES Certified Instructor in 2016 and a Merrithew^® Instructor Trainer in 2017. Elizabeth encourages clients to tune into their bodies to move effectively and efficiently. She’ll help you maximize your potential and meet your goals in a safe and intelligent way.

Elizebeth Ellison is a Lead Instructor Trainer with a BA in French, French Literature, and Art History from Tulane University. She began her movement career as a competitive gymnast and is a certified personal trainer through NASM, ACE, and NCSA.

She became a Fully Certified STOTT PILATES^® Instructor in 2008, earned Instructor Trainer Rookie of the Year in 2009, and was named a Lead Instructor Trainer in 2011. Elizebeth also holds advanced credentials in Functional Range Conditioning, Kinstretch, NeuroKinetic Therapy, Functional Movement Screening, and other modalities that support intelligent, evidence-informed movement.

After working in multiple studios and at a Licensed Training Center in Atlanta, she opened Buckhead Body Shop in 2016—a boutique Pilates studio dedicated to empowering clients of all ages through mindful and functional movement.

As a longtime Floating Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^®, specializing in STOTT PILATES^® and the HALO^® Trainer, Elizebeth has traveled extensively, teaching and mentoring instructors around the world.