Instructors
Maiko
My journey to Pilates
I once suffered constant neck and shoulder pains due to my Scoliosis, and sitting long hours in front of computer working as a secretary in a corporate setting. Massage therapy and alternative holistic treatments were great, but they only brought temporary relief from pain. As a result, I turned to Pilates as a form of rehabilitation, and slowly but surely, I started to feel more relaxed and pain gradually got better.
Having experienced the benefits of Pilates, it lead me to quit my corporate lifestyle and begin training as a Pilates instructor.
As a late bloomer, it definitely was a challenge in many ways, but I DID IT and it was all worth it.
My goal is to spread the joy and benefits that Pilates has given me, and to assure people that it is never too late to start!
In my free time, I enjoy spending time at home cooking plant based meals, and to wind down with a glass of wine!
Certified Level 1 Mat and Reformer STOTT PILATES instructor
Keiko
My path to Pilates hasn’t been an easy one. I was an executive secretary until marrying and having two children. Shortly after the birth of my children, my mother passed away, prompting me to pursue better physical and mental health through yoga. I became a yoga instructor, only to find that there was a “performance” aspect to instructing, which added to my stress. I felt dull physical pain internally even while resting, which ultimately led me to become interested in learning more about the body in detail and how to maintain a healthy, balanced body as we age.
As I started to learn and eventually guide my students on conditioning the body through Pilates, I started feeling fulfilled in what I was doing and wanted to be able to support my students further. I started learning machine Pilates and immediately was enthralled by how the machine helped improve range of motion, spinal flexibility, and one’s own awareness of the body’s positioning and movement.
I have come to realize that in order to have a healthy mind and body, it’s essential to not only focus on creating a beautiful figure, but also to improve the body’s functionality by understanding fundamentally how the joints and muscles work together.
With the help of the reformer machine, which can be adjusted to each individual’s needs, we can work on maximizing muscle movement and spinal flexibility. I also like to incorporate exercises that can also be done outside of the studio, with the ultimate goal of getting to the bottom of and solving my clients’ biggest pain points.
Having experienced how Pilates helped me through a difficult time in my life, I would be thrilled if I can now support my clients on their journey to a happy, healthy and beautiful future.
Hobbies: Playing with cats, cooking, health and wellness, being one with nature
Eiko
Hi there, I'm Eiko!
Even though I have a calm personality and move at my own pace most of the time, I have surprised myself with the big life decisions I have made. Leaving regular employment and moving to Australia was one such occasion when I followed my instincts. And it became a real turning point for me.
I immediately fell in love with the city of Melbourne, so I decided to stay, and found a job as a Remedial Massage Therapist at a clinic. While working and learning about the human body, I also studied for a diploma in Remedial Massage. This naturally lead me to explore Pilates, in which I had already been interested for a considerable time. My Pilates career began for real after I became Stott certified in Melbourne in 2013.
If you learn Pilates, flexible strength will radiate from the very core of your body; you will regain the power and flexibility that should always have naturally been available to you, and as a result you will be comfortable in your everyday life.
I try to make my sessions as fun and easy to understand as possible, in order that my customers may experience the benefits of Pilates to the fullest extent.
I like to spend time in nature and in the onsen, where I meditate, examining the thoughts, dreams and passions inside of myself. My hobbies are jazz dancing and watching movies. Melbourne is still my second home.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. I am really looking forward to meeting you all at the studio!
Cheers!
Siobhan
My pilates journey began in 2018 when I moved to Japan to further my studies. As with all students, I had to carry books in my backpack to and from school and spend periods of time hunching over my computer. Over time, I developed severe back pain, which was complicated by my scoliosis. That’s when I decided to give Pilates a shot. The graceful, controlled movements that characterise Pilates immediately appealed to me, especially as I was familiar with such movement from ballet training I received when I was younger. Needless to say, I fell in love with the elegance of Pilates after just one class. And on a more practical front, I found that Pilates did, indeed, ease my back pain. Since then I have been both a convert and a promoter, and have consistently practised Pilates, reaping a huge improvement in my posture and alleviating my back pain. In 2021, I took a break from my studies and returned to Malaysia. While continuing to practise pilates, my parents encouraged me to build my passion for pilates into something more serious. I took their advice and enrolled for a course in Pilates education and certification under BASI Pilates. As I began to teach more and more, I noticed the immense personal satisfaction it brings me. Nothing gives me a greater feeling of fulfilment, than to see one’s students steadily improving and getting stronger. I cherish the mental transformation that comes from Pilates - the “can do” mentality that emerges with each milestone achieved and target met. My goal as an instructor is to share my passion with you, my customers, and enable you reap all the benefits Pilates can offer.
Manami
Hi! I'm Manami and my passion for pilates started when I was looking for a form of exercise to help with my posture and overall health! I have had bad posture since I could remember and it was getting worse from studying at a desk all day in university. I was recommended to try pilates out by my sister and I instantly fell in love with it. Since then, I have obtained my certification in teaching from Breathe Education. I love pilates because it allows you to push yourself beyond your limits. As an instructor, I enjoy challenging my students and giving everyone the belief and confidence that YOU CAN DO IT!
A little about myself: I was born and raised in Los Angeles! I am currently studying abroad at Waseda University and I am a senior at the University of Southern California. I have a pet Chow Chow named Kuma and I love to travel around the world.
Malu & Pinky
Meet Malu & Pinky, our studio Mascot!
Job description: Cuddles , tummy rubs
Working day: Irregular