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STAFF
Heather Low, B.FA (dance), Studio Owner
It is Heather’s belief, and experience, that physical health is supported and improved through the mindful practice of movement. Her own experience with Pilates began as a dancer while completing a BFA at York University. She trained to teach the comprehensive system of Pilates with Moira Stott of Stott Pilates (1996) and is a PMA® Certified Pilates Teacher (2007).
Over the years, studies with 2nd and 3rd generation Pilates teachers have inspired and deepened her understanding of the system of Pilates: Amy Taylor Alpers and Rachel Taylor Segel, Marie-Jose Blom, Michelle Larssen and recently, Colleen Jorgensen.. She has also been inspired by workshops/lectures with the Pilates ‘Elders’ at PMA conferences - those first generation teachers who studied directly with Joseph Pilates. Related disciplines also influence her work: Anatomy Trains (Thomas Myers), Developmental Movement Patterning, Laban Movement Studies (Jane Ellison, Helen Walkley), Body-Mind Psychotherapy (Susan Aposhyan), as well as yoga and Qi Gong. Heather was Vice President of the Pilates Association of Canada from 2001 to 2005 and, in 2004/5 participated in a focus group that developed standards for the BCRPA’s Pilates Fitness Leader Specialization. Heather has taught several Pilates Teacher Training programs: at Meridian Pilates 2001/02 and 2003/04, at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2004/05 as well as Stott Pilates courses in her earlier days of teaching. She is thrilled that Meridian Pilates has teamed up with Balanced Body University and is again offering Pilates Teacher Training.
Heather is inspired by the many minds and bodies she encounters daily and is grateful to be able to follow her passion by teaching the insightful work of Joseph Pilates. She is most rewarded by witnessing change in the bodies and minds of the people she works with and by the atmosphere of inspiration that surrounds her in the studio.
Heather is currently on partial maternity leave with her two young sons, Rocket and Lucas, but will be gently working back into a teaching schedule in early 2010.
Certified Pilates Instructor
Nikki’s passion for movement began at the tender age of 3 when she took her first promising steps in gymnastics and dancing classes. In her late teens she explored the joy of music and movement in the Group Fitness environment. With her passion for choreography, Nikki found a creative outlet in her freestyle step classes. In her early 20’s she entered the world of weight training, working as a Personal Trainer for several years in various gyms and outdoor environments in both Australia and London. Through her own desire to seek new ways of working with the body she discovered Pilates where the combination of breathing and slow controlled movement revealed a more intelligent, graceful pathway to physical well-being.
Nikki is a certified level 1 Pilates Instructor with the APMA (Australian Pilates Method Association). She has additional experience with rehabilitation, fit ball, small props, pregnancy and post-natal work. Over the last few years she has experimented with other movement therapies such as Feldenkrais, BMC (Body Mind Centering), Laban and Somatic Movement therapy to enhance her own body awareness. She has also gained experience with Swedish/Deep-Tissue massage, Reiki, Reflexology and recently with sound healing using Tibetan bowls. Her love of travel and adventure has led her from her native Australia to gain work experience in New Zealand, England and now Canada.
Nikki offers a unique, sensitive approach in a supportive and nurturing environment where clients are motivated to rediscover the joy of movement through the connection between body and mind. Her love and passion of healthy living has inspired others, enabling them to enjoy their own well-being and vitality.
CERTIFIED PILATES INSTRUCTOR
Erin Murphy's interest in movement and dance began at age 5. She danced in Vancouver at Arts Umbrella's Professional Program and in Ballet B.C.'s Mentor Program. Her dance career took her to Montreal and then to New York City. While in New York, Erin began to study Pilates and loved the strength, energy and movement it gave her.
Erin completed her teacher training in Pilates at The Kane School of Core Integration in NYC and subsequently graduated from The Pilates Center Teacher Training Advanced Program in 2004 in Boulder, CO. She is also currently completing her Master's Program through The Pilates Center.
Erin is passionate about sharing the profound benefits of Pilates and inspires her clients to take what they learn in their lessons into their everyday lives. She challenges her students to safely push their physical and mental boundaries, to feel strength, freedom and confidence in their bodies.
Erin is excited to be returning to teaching after giving birth to her daughter Isabella in the summer of 2010.
Certified Pilates Instructor
Kobi is an Australian Pilates instructor with six years teaching experience. She apprenticed at Riseley Physiotherapy and Pilates in Australia in 2003, and completed her formal Pilates certification with the Australian Pilates Method Association in 2004. As an undergraduate degree, Kobi completed her BSc in Physiotherapy in 2007. As an adjunct to this, she completed her Level 1 Sports Physiotherapy in 2008. Kobi is also trained in the Franklin Method, which she incorporates into her work as a Pilates instructor. In early 2009, Kobi completed her Level 3 Bowen Therapy certification through Fascial Kinetics in Australia. Although this is a soft-tissue technique, Kobi integrates the principles of fascial release into Pilates sessions to encourage client relaxation and flexibility. Kobi is passionate about all aspects of her work, with a focus and particular interest in neurological conditions and general injury rehabilitation. She enjoys teaching clients to experience movement, and helping them to find and maintain an improved quality of life.
Certified Pilates Instructor
Marlis came to Pilates through Dance. After eleven years of classical Ballet training with Dianne Miller - her introduction to Pilates - she studied dance and movement theory at Simon Fraser University for another three years before leaving to dance professionally in Toronto. Her Pilates conditioning enabled a high-performance career that included Les Ballet Jazz II, Confidanse, and her own critically-acclaimed avant-garde company, Xcalibre. Post Xcalibre, Marlis continued to dance commercially while working toward a degree in Rehab Medicine at the University of Toronto. Two years in, plans changed when odd jobs morphed into a new career as a production designer for Much Music/Chum Television, Bravo, and Virgin, among other high-profile clients.
To maintain her health and balance in a high-pressure industry, Marlis engaged in many fitness trends and disciplines, such as yoga, aerobics, weight lifting, and martial arts. However, the more she experienced workout-related injuries, the more she saw Pilates as the ultimate challenging, effective, safe and sustainable form of movement that can benefit the whole body at all stages of life. Marlis’ own painful experience with a serious work-related back injury only reinforced her belief in the transformative power of Pilates.
Another twist of fate brought Marlis back to Vancouver where she again shifted gears and decided to apply her years of dance and Pilates experience to a new calling, completing her teaching certification in 2007. Adding a certificate in “Rehab through Pilates” in 2009, she is dedicated to developing her knowledge and skills to benefit her clients’ health and wellness. Marlis also believes that the experience of learning should be fun as well as insightful and strives to bring that to all of her classes.
Angela Stevenson
Certified Pilates Instructor
Angela received her first Pilates Certification at Meridian Pilates Studio in 2001, where she continued on as an instructor until 2004. Angela then moved to Los Angeles to study with Marie-Jose Blom-Lawrence at Long Beach Dance Conditioning where she completed the Advances in Pilates Technique and stayed on to tutor students and work as an instructor.
Since returning to Vancouver in 2005, Angela has been fortunate to continue to work with Marie-Jose Blom as an assistant for her various international workshops and conferences.
Angela is happy to be back in Vancouver and teaching at Meridian Pilates where her journey began. She is also currently working as part of the team at Diane Lee and Associates in White Rock, BC, where she works with the physiotherapists and clients to bridge the gap between rehabilitation and movement therapy.
Angela’s love for continuing education in the mind-body field is always being integrated into her teaching. Pilates is the foundation to Angela’s work, whether helping clients with rehabilitation and/or physical fitness or challenging top athletes.
Angela is excited to be offering a Pilates teacher training program at Meridian Pilates, and sharing not only the Pilates repertoire but the understanding of how to adapt this to individual clients’ needs.
Stephanie McCann, BSC, Applied Health/Kinesiology
Certified Personal Trainer
Certified STOTT Pilates Instructor
After completing her degree in Applied Health/Kinesiology, Stephanie went on to pursue a successful career in Track & Field for Canada. It was during her 7 years as an elite athlete that Stephanie discovered her passion for helping others with a focus on health and wellness.
Stephanie has trained with STOTT Pilates in both level 1 and 2 Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, Barrels and is continuing to take courses. She has experienced numerous injuries during her career as a pole vaulter and therefore is focused on continuing her education more specifically towards rehabilitation and injury prevention.
Stephanie is embarking on a new phase of her life and is committed to the health and well being of all her clients.
Training and Certifications:
- Bachelor of Science in Applied Health/Kinesiology
- Certified STOTT Pilates Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair and Barrels Instructor
- Completed the STOTT ISP Course (Injury and Special Population)
- Certified Personal Trainer (NASM)
- Certified BCRPA Strength & Conditioning
Athletic Achievements:
- Canadian Olympian (Athens, 2004)-Finalist 10th
- 2 time Bronze medalist at Commonwealth Games
- Bronze medalist at Pan American Games
- 4 time Canadian Champion
- 6 time Canadian record holder
"Impossible just takes a little longer"
Certified Pilates Instructor
Cinzia discovered the joy of movement in her adult life. Through Pilates she discovered how concentration and imagination could help her connect with deeper structures in her body to find fluidity, balance, and release. Becoming passionate about Pilates, she trained with the Physical Mind Institute and started teaching in 2002. In 2005 she transitioned into Pilates full-time and began to experience the many rewards of teaching.
Teaching keeps her imagination fueled as it travels through the many avenues connecting mind and body. She has developed a keen interest in helping clients who are dealing with pain and those who are managing and progressing through rehabilitation. She has pursued further training in rehabilitation of the hips, knees, shoulders and spinal conditions. She also explored Feldenkrais as well as the Franklin Method. Recent training includes: "Rehab through Pilates" with Collen Jorgensen, Stretch Therapy with Kit Laughlin, Pilates for Osteoporosis with Sara Meeks, and Core Stability with Marie-Jose Blom. During the last year she has started somatic studies which bring further insights into her own body and the bodies of her clients.
Cinzia brings focused, constant, keen attention to her sessions with clients affected by spinal conditions, (arthritis, scoliosis, slipped and herniated disks, osteoporosis), and hip, knee, or shoulder injury. She has also enjoys working with pre and post-partum women, helping them find center and balance . She strives to lead each client into smoother and more efficient movement patterns through their Pilates session so that they may transfer them into their every day life.
Connie Myers
Certified Personal Trainer
Connie graduated with a Bachelor in Arts degree from Simon Fraser University in 1989. She danced as a soloist and also with the SFU Off Centre Dance Company under direction of Vancouver choreographers Iris Garland, Santa Aloi, Grant Strate and Monique Girard. While attending SFU her ballet teacher Dianne Miller brought a Pilates Reformer to class for a movement demonstration. Connie was immediately intrigued and a new exploration of movement began. She went on to train as a teacher at the Dianne Miller Studio before certification was available and later on in her career received her papers from Joseph and Clara Pilates. protégé Ron Fletcher of the Ron Fletcher Company.
Connie is also an author of a self published book titled Pilates Matwork at a Glance and has taken Level I & II Biokinesiology.
Her Pilates philosophy is that every body is different and every body will react differently to any exercise program. Her teaching style ensures that each person learns the core foundations and then learns how to take the valuable personal insights they have gained into their daily lives. Her twenty five years of teaching experience has helped her develop a keen eye for observing the body and how it connects. She is Pilates Reformer, Matwork and Apparatus Certified.
Office STAFF AT MERIDIAN PILATES
Marcy Glanzberg
Office Manager
Marcy manages our office with enthusiasm and a genuine interest in all who walk in our doors. Her passion for customer service is apparent in her welcoming smile, personable nature and from her tireless efforts in communicating with both clients and staff regarding scheduling. Marcy never gives up until the ‘right fit’ is found for each client.
Jasmyne Murdoch-Finney
Reception
Jasmyne is our part-time evening receptionist. Jasmyne’s friendly and easy manner makes for smooth sailing for all queries and schedule changes. You will always get a welcome hello and help with any of your questions.
Elizabeth Nonay
Elizabeth started Pilates as a client in 2009 and loved it so much, she left the corporate world and joined us a member of our office team. We are excited and so very grateful to receive the benefits of her amazing organizational skills.