Lead Instructor Trainers

Known for his clinical knowledge, endless humor, and abundant energy, Marshall earned his first fitness certification and began training clients in 1986. He holds a Masters degree with a special emphasis in Biomechanics and Athletic Training and is an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^® specializing in STOTT PILATES^®. Marshall presents on behalf of Merrithew^® and divides his time between client assessment, staff development, instructor training, and writing.

Marta began her training with STOTT PILATES^® in 2005 and became a Certified Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^® in 2007. She was granted Merrithew Lead Instructor Trainer status in 2018.

Mary Jo is a dedicated fitness professional with over 30 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. She is committed to coaching individuals on effective ways to achieve optimal health, movement, and fitness, empowering them to live with energy, happiness, and motivation. Mary Jo has been STOTT PILATES^® certified since 2002 and brings a comprehensive background in Yoga, Gyrotonic, functional movement, ZEN•GA^®, and Fascial Movement. She is a passionate advocate for holistic wellness, integrating mindfulness, embodied cognition, and bio-hacking to inspire limitless human potential.

Mary Jo currently serves as a STOTT PILATES Lead Instructor Trainer at Live Metta Pilates in Long Beach, California, where she has led comprehensive STOTT PILATES workshops and courses since 2003 while mentoring Instructor Trainers and students and upholding high standards of instruction. Alongside her Instructor Trainer role, she continues to work with private clients and has taught ZEN•GA programs since 2013 and Fascial Movement education since 2022, guiding mind–body training that integrates functional movement, strength, endurance, flexibility, and dynamic stability with a focus on myofascial health. Since 2018, she has also worked as a Certified Human Potential Coach, supporting transformative growth through mindfulness, embodied cognition, and bio-hacking. Across her career, which began in 1990, Mary Jo has accumulated more than three decades of hands-on experience helping clients and students achieve meaningful health, movement, and performance outcomes.

Melissa has always had a passion for movement and physical health, obtaining her Physical Therapy degree from Marquette University in 1989. She became certified as a STOTT PILATES^® Instructor in 2001 after working in a variety of clinical settings with a specialized focus on Geriatric Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. Melissa became an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^® in in 2002 and is a Lead IT for STOTT PILATES. She continues to add variety to her repertoire by taking new workshops and integrating that material into her programming.

Melissa Harrington is an Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^®, specializing as a Lead IT in STOTT PILATES^®, who has been working in the fitness industry since 1995. In addition to teaching Pilates, she is a certified Yoga instructor and faculty member of YOGAspirit, a certified Holistic Health Counselor, NSCA certified Personal Trainer and an ACE Group Exercise Instructor. Melissa lives on the north shore of Boston with her husband and two stepchildren. She is known to bring a healthy dose of humor and warmth to her teaching.

Melissa is the owner of mind.art.core PILATES PERFORMANCE, rated the Chicago Reader’s “Best Of” Pilates Studio 2014, 2016 and 2017. Having received her training at the Merrithew^® Corporate Training Center in Toronto, she began teaching as an Instructor Trainer in Toronto, and is now a Lead Instructor Trainer for Merrithew^® at her host site in Chicago. Melissa has taught throughout the US, in New Zealand and in South Korea. Melissa is proud to be an IT not only for STOTT PILATES^® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chairs & Barrels and ISP, but in Merrithew's other branded programs, Total Barre^® and ZEN•GA^® Mat. She has trained extensively in injuries and special populations, Pre and Post-natal, is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and the creator of m.a.c. Pilates for Kids! She has been highlighted in Wellness Magazine for her Pilates for kids program, on CTV’s Breakfast Television and is currently publishing a book. Melissa earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre at York University in Toronto, and in 2010, received her Masters Degree in Contemporary Performance from the Buddhist-inspired Naropa University, specializing in Body Mind Centering Techniques and experiential anatomy. Her creativity is witnessed through her classes, which are innovative and challenge the boundaries of Pilates and functional fitness. From the novice to advanced, post-rehab to the elite athlete, Melissa is able to weave her knowledge of biomechanics with her creativity and energy, creating fun, efficient and transforming sessions. Melissa is active as a Movement Director for various theatre companies in Chicago and has written and produced a comedic web series about a Pilates studio, called, "The Studio." You can find Seasons 1 and 2 here: www.thestudiowebseries.com

Melissa Wong is the co-founder of Pilatique Pilates Studio in Singapore and Malaysia. After completing Bachelor of Business Studies in Charles Sturt University, she started her Pilates journey in 2000, founded Pilatique in 2005, and become Merrithew^® STOTT PILATES^® Lead Instructor Trainer since 2008. Apart from being a multi-lingual educator and instructor, Melissa manages the studio businesses in both countries, focusing on Training & Development. Holding the motto of “Planting Good Seeds” close to her heart, Melissa trains and grooms instructors to constantly explore, to discover, and to elevate their expertise in teaching and to educate the coming generations. Melissa is one of the pioneer and one of the most sought after Pilates Educator in Malaysia and Singapore, and Pilatique is the source of many elite instructors and studio entrepreneurs to date.

Meredith has over 20 years of experience in the health and fitness industry teaching fitness classes, personal training, developing workshops and programs for special populations, coordinating group fitness and aquatics programs, delivering physical therapy services and managing a large medically-based wellness facility. When working with clients and patients, Meredith employs a unique combination of traditional physical therapy with fascial training, Pilates and structural integration techniques.

Meredith has been a Pilates Instructor since 2000 and worked with Merrithew Master Instructor Trainer PJ O'Clair to develop the Merrithew^® Fascial Movement Foundation Course.

Meredith is now a Lead Instructor Trainer in Merrithew^® Fascial Movement as well as Halo^® Training. She owns two studios in New Hampshire, USA, Brookline Bodyworks and Bodyworks at Depot Square.

Michaela's fitness career has taken her all over the world. She was a dancer in her native home of Germany before becoming certified as an ACE Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer while spending time in the United States. Michaela completed her STOTT PILATES^® Certification in New York and in the U.K. and went on to become a Merrithew^® Lead Instructor Trainer. Michaela also specializes in the complete STOTT PILATES Repertoire, including all Matwork and Equipment levels, as well as Total Barre^®, ZEN•GA^®, Merrithew^® Fascial Movement, and Halo^® Training. In 2002, Michaela founded Pilatesbody, the first Merrithew Licensed Training Center in Munich, Germany. She is also the author of best selling books about Pilates.

A lifelong athlete and native Californian, Michele started classical Pilates training in the ‘90’s to supplement her training and love of running marathons as well as providing a counter-balance to her first career as a pharmaceutical industry marketing executive. A move to The Netherlands combined with motherhood prompted Michele to focus on fitness and Pilates; she earned her first STOTT PILATES^® Certification in 2005, became a Merrithew^® Instructor Trainer in 2009, and since 2018 is a Lead Instructor Trainer.

In 2010 Michele established CorSano Pilates^™ in Ottawa, Canada, her boutique studio and Merrithew Host Center serving a varied client base. She teaches individuals who seek customized training to help overcome injuries, poor alignment and compensatory movement patterns, as well as professional and amateur athletes who seek to improve their performance.

As a Floating Lead IT for Merrithew, Michele loves the challenges and excitement of teaching assignments abroad— mentoring instructors from other countries and sharing her knowledge and years of experience.