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Alison
Alison’s extensive background in movement began at age
6 when she started dancing. She also took up Yoga and Karate
as a child and very early on developed a strong understanding
and passion for fitness and exercise. At university, Alison
studied science specializing in genetics and bio ethics, and
later worked as a researcher in genetics.
Alison also took an interest in athletics, competing for Melbourne
University, and eventually discovered Pilates on the advice
of her coach. In 1996 she moved to New York to undertake the
full certification program. She trained there with Romana
and Bob Liekens, doing many workshops with various master
trainers. Alison also studied the Elaine Petrone Method and
Active Isolated Stretching with Jim Wharton whilst continuing
her passion for dancing on Broadway. Soon after returning
to Australia, Alison opened her first Pilates studio which
has expanded to the Elsternwick premises today. She continued
in athletics and presented on ‘Core stability for Athletes’
at an International Congress in 2004, spreading her findings
on the value of Pilates in athletic performance. Undertaking
the Teacher Trainer’s Certification and becoming a Peak
trainer of instructors has augmented her passion for teaching
and spreading Pilates.
Sandra
Sandra’s early years were dominated by a passion for
long-distance swimming and surf life-saving. She had a strong
grounding in Yoga throughout childhood and taught Yoga classes
for some time from Beginner through to Advanced levels. Sandra
then discovered athletics with the Melbourne University Athletics
Club and competed in sprinting and pole vault. Graduating
with a Literature Major from Monash University, Sandra traveled
abroad for some time to New York, London and Europe working
in various fields and continuing her swimming and athletic
training. Sandra finally discovered Pilates in 1999 and immediately
undertook the full certification program, graduating at the
very top of her class. Over the years, Sandra has supplemented
her skills with courses in Active Isolated Stretching, Miracle
Ball Therapy and has attended various Master classes and workshops
in New York. Sandra is currently undertaking her Teacher Trainer’s
Certification to enable her to train teachers in future.
Birgitta
Originally from Sweden, Birgitta has a background in competitive
tennis and coaching in Europe and Australia. She has completed
a Swedish University Degree specializing in Professional Tennis
Coaching and has accrued various levels of education and experience
in the fitness industry including personal training, fitness
instruction, Swedish and Sports Massage, Hatha, Njana and
Raja Yoga and Classical Pilates. Trained by Peak Pilates,
Colorado USA, she is currently studying a Bachelor of Exercise
Science and working for Simply Pilates. Birgitta is also developing
her own business ‘The Pilates Boutique’. Her career
highlights include: Professional Tennis Pro, St Tropez/France
and at Australian Open Tennis for 5 years, and being introduced
to the wonderful world of Pilates.
Darby
Darby is a certified instructor through Peak Pilates®
based in Colorado, USA. She has been involved with Simply
Pilates since early 2004. Darby holds a Bachelor of Science
degree in Business Administration from Miami University in
Oxford, Ohio. After spending seven years in the computer industry
doing software/hardware support and training, her family moved
to Ontario, Canada. There she spent four years volunteering
her time to Nursery schools, teaching Dale Carnegie® courses
and raising her two daughters. The next move took her family
to Nashville, Tennessee where Darby spent most of her time
teaching primary/preschool children and playing tennis. Past
hobbies include teaching aerobics, lacrosse, softball, and
racquetball. When she isn’t teaching Pilates, Darby
enjoys tennis, sailing, photography, exploring Australia,
helping her daughter’s soccer team and spending quality
time with her daughters.
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