Every person within the Melbourne Pilates Group has their own story to tell as to their Pilates journey. We pride ourselves in encouraging each of our Instructors to express their own individual style whilst maintaining the high quality teaching standards set within the Group.

Each Instructor is fully qualified to Industry Standards and is affiliated to an independant Pilates Association, such as The Australian Pilates Method Association (APMA), Stott Pilates & Pilates Alliance Australiasia (PAA).  In conjunction with the high standards set by the Melbourne Pilates Group, it is a membership requirement within these Associations that each instructor accrues Continuing Education Credits (CEC's) and stays at the forefront on the Pilates Industry.

You can rest assured that, regardless of which Instructor you choose, you will receive a first class Pilates workout designed specifically with your needs in mind.

Please click on the link below to read a short profile of each Instructor:

Greg Paterson

  • Director of the 'Melbourne Pilates Group'
  • Director of 'Pilates of Armadale', 'Pilates of Elsternwick', 'Pilates of Kew', 'Pilates of South Yarra', 'Pilates of Black Rock', 'Pilates of Brighton' & 'Pilates of Mornington'

Greg Paterson opened his first Pilates studio in Armadale in 2002. Since then he has opened a further six studios around Melbourne and also formed the Melbourne Pilates Group with Paul Higgins. He is an APMA qualified Pilates Instructor and also a qualified and practicing Clinical Naturopath and Personal Trainer. Greg uses all of these skills and knowledge in the way he teaches his clients.  (Top)

Paul Higgins

  • Director of the 'Melbourne Pilates Group'
  • Director of 'Pilates of Armadale', 'Pilates of Elsternwick',  'Pilates of South Yarra', 'Pilates of Black Rock', 'Pilates of Brighton' & 'Pilates of Mornington'

Accredited with the APMA at their highest level of Professional Practitioner Level 4 and an Approved Instructor Training Course Provider, one of only 3 in Victoria, Paul is the co-founder of the Melbourne Pilates Group with Greg Paterson and has 7 studios across Melbourne. Paul emigrated from the UK in late 2002 and since then has firmly stamped his presence on the Australian Pilates Industry. Through his training school, Empathy Pilates, he has gained a formidable reputation for training high quality instructors in Victoria and, indeed, across Australia. Paul was introduced to Pilates in the UK in 1994 and after four years as a regular client he trained with the prestigious Body Control Pilates Association, a world leader in the Method. Paul has worked with many elite athletes including English Premiership soccer players and even Australia's own Pat Cash.  (Top)

Melanie Smith

  • Manager of 'Pilates of Kew'
  • Human Resource Manager of the Melbourne Pilates Group

Melanie was first introduced to Pilates in 1999 whilst training as a dancer and very soon realised how it could improve her performance. In 2004 she completed her apprenticeship style Pilates instructor training in Melbourne. This was an intensive course specialising in rehabilitation and she has been working as an instructor ever since. Melanie also works as a personal trainer and holds the Certificate 4 qualification. Now a Level 4 Professional Pilates Practitioner with the APMA, Melanie enjoys working with a variety of clients from professional dancers through to triathletes as well as those people with injuries.  (Top)

Barbara Miranda

Barbara discovered Pilates while working as a Physiotherapist in Brazil and soon came to realize that Pilates could be the answer to her desire in improving quality of life for her clients. Barbara completed her Pilates course in 2003 and since then has worked with many different clients who have had various types of injuries. With her Physiotherapy background Barbara is able to thoroughly assess clients and make sure that their Pilates sessions meet there specific needs. Having recently migrated to Australia she is in the process of becoming a member of the APMA, following which she hopes to meet the requirements of the Australian Physiotherapy Council and practice Physiotherapy in Australia as well. Barbara brings to the Melbourne Pilates Group and her clients over 8000 hours of professional experience from overseas.  (Top)

Lou Conyers

  • Director of 'Pilates by Lou'

After many years as a self-confessed gym junkie, Louise fell in love with Pilates when she started studio sessions to add some variety to her exercise program. Through her own practice Louise learned how Pilates could help improve posture & reduce pain. After two years of regular Pilates sessions Louise decided to train as an Instructor so she could share her passion with others. Since completing her STOTT PILATES Certification, Louise has fulfilled her lifestyle choice and walked away from the stressful corporate career with the associated MBA and instead embraced her new career as a full-time Pilates instructor. Louise is a Level 2 member of the APMA and a Level 1 member of the PAA .  (Top)

Kate Noonan

Kate has always had an interest in health and fitness.  She also holds a degree in Human Movement and an Advance Diploma in Myotherapy.  Whilst working as a Myotherapist, Kate found exercise prescription one of the most successful means of alleviating people's pain and discomfort.  Kate started doing Pilates herself after running left her in pain with stress fractures in her feet.  She preferred the effect Pilates had on her body both physically and aesthetically and decided to pursue a career as an instructor.  She undertook courses through the Pilates Institute of Australia and has since furthered her knowledge and undertaken the Empathy Pilates instructor training course, giving her an APMA level 2 qualification. 

She loves helping people and finds Pilates the perfect way of enabling people to cope with the physical demands busy lives place on our bodies.  Personally, Pilates allows Kate the strength and endurance to raise her three beautiful children.  (Top)

Kate Lister

Kate started Pilates in 2004 after injuring her back in a surfboard training session. She immediately fell in love with Pilates and everything it stands for.   During this time she was studying Myotherapy at RMIT university and was training as an Ironwoman for surf lifesaving.   Having the knowledge of how and why the body works in the ways it does, and then  doing Pilates for her own rehabilitation, sparked an interest that led to her completing a course herself.

Originally DMA (Dance Medicine Australia) trained, Kate began working with the Physiotherapy clinic where she was doing her rehab immediately upon the Course completion.   This proved to be a great opportunity to expand Kate's knowledge and passion for clinical rehabilitation and general health in daily living.   In 2008 she moved to the Sunshine Coast to further her opportunities within surf lifesaving and trained and competed full time as a life safer for 2 years.

At the beginning of 2010 Kate completed the BASI (Body Arts And Science International)  Pilates Course adding once more to her extensive knowledge and experience.    Kate enjoys working with a variety of clients, from athletes to those with acute and chronic pathologies.  (Top)

Sue Catton

Sue ’s personal success with Pilates drove her to want to learn more.  Having left her busy corporate role in Human Resources to have a family, Sue had the time to study Pilates and attain a Level 2 APMA Certification.  On completion of her course, Sue joined one of Melbourne's most reputable studios in Malvern.  There she taught both studio and private clients.  Her experience includes working with clients who have been referred from physiotherapist etc., along with clients needing to improve functional movements and build strength.  She enjoys the similarities to her HR Director role where she can assist people in achieving their goals.  Sue works at both Elsternwick and Brighton studios. (Top)

Kirsten Jorgensen

  • Director of 'Pilates of Mornington'

Since the completion of her Diploma in Pilates Instruction, Kirsten has gained extensive experience in teaching a variety of clientele. During her time teaching at ‘Inbalance’ Studio in Ivanhoe she dealt with many clients that had been directly referred from Ivanhoe Sports Medical Clinic and later, whilst working with the Accident Sports and Spinal Physiotherapy Clinic and Dance Clinic in Collins Street, Melbourne she again experienced a broad spectrum of injured clients from professional dancers to scoliosis and MS sufferers. By using Pilates to rehabilitate her own traumatic injuries, such as a ruptured ACL and a prolapsed cervical disc, Kirsten now manages to live her life pain free and is very passionate about passing this knowledge through to her clients. She enjoys challenging healthy fit clients and also working to assist clients to move and live without pain.  (Top)

Julia Frankish

Julia holds a Level 4 Professional Practitioner qualification with the APMA and has been instructing Pilates since 2005. Her training was comprehensive and specifically focused on rehabilitation.   Julia has worked closely with physiotherapists and other practitioners within the industry. As a result she has an in depth knowledge of physiology and her teaching reflects the individual physical and mental needs of her clients. She has also been a Dance Teacher for 12 years.    Julia regularly attends conferences, lectures and workshops as part of her ongoing education and to stay current with research and trends within the industry.    Her sessions are individually tailored and are focused on specific rehab, movement efficiency, body conditioning, posture retraining, and injury prevention and general conditioning. She enjoys working with a variety of clients and has particular interest in low back pain, pelvic instability and lower limb dysfunction, scoliosis and dance conditioning.  (Top)

Anna Maginness

Anna has always had an interest in the health industry starting her career as a nurse at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Always staying fit Anna's fitness regime eventually led her to Pilates. Whilst having her 4 children Anna personally found Pilates one of the best ways to recover from each pregnancy and maintain her range of movement, muscular strength, stamina and proper posture. With the children old enough she decided to pursue a career as a Pilates instructor and has since undergone the Empathy Pilates instructors training course and is now APMA level 2 qualified. She enjoys the dynamic nature of this career choice and is always attending workshops to further her knowledge.   It is Anna's desire to be able to share some of her knowledge and be able to assist many who want to live a pain free, fit & healthy life.

Anna works at the Brighton Studio.  (Top)

Amy Kellett

Amy is accredited with the APMA as a Level 2 Instructor. Amy was introduced to the Pilates Method while training as a classical ballet dancer. It was during this time that she not only felt the benefits of Pilates and the changes it brought to her dancing, but developed a great interest and passion for the Method. She completed her Australian Pilates Method Association Instructor Course in 2008 and over the past 2 years has continued to develop her teaching skills while working with a wide variety of clientele. She is constantly furthering her knowledge and skills by attending workshops and conferences. Amy loves the challenges and rewards that come with working with each and every individual client!  (Top)

Bei-zhen Zheng

Bei-zhen is an experienced practitioner and instructor over a wide variety of disciplines within the fitness industry. Building on a foundation in professional gymnastics for China she has taken an active interest in Pilates and Yoga over the last few years. Following the completion of the APMA Level 2 Pilates Instructor Course Bei-zhen has taken every opportunity to further develop her expertise in the practice and instruction of Pilates. She is driven by the personal satisfaction achieved when her clients obtain improved posture, health and a sense of well-being after practicing the Pilates Method. She believes Pilates fills some of the gaps in other exercise programs, is a excellent method of pre-conditioning athletes as well as helping unfit or injured people to develop a foundation of strength and flexibility. Outside of Pilates she has been attending oil painting classes for last few years and she sees this as a form of meditation for her wellbeing. She likes being with friends and people enjoying fun times and good food.  (Top)

Prue Schafferius

Prue discovered Pilates while studying for a Diploma in Dance Teaching and Management in 2006. She was amazed at the results which included reduced low back pain, improved balance and an overall improvement in her dancing. After completing her Dance Diploma, Prue went on to become a member of the APMA and is delighted to share the benefits of Pilates with her clients.  (Top)

Louise Albrecht

After an early introduction to gymnastics and dance, Louise has revisited her love for movement by completing the Level 2 APMA course at Empathy Pilates with Paul Higgins. She is passionate about encouraging people to achieve their goals, whether this be getting ready for a ski season, maintaining good posture, working with and healing someone's pathologies or just to relax.

Louise is working at our South Yarra, Brighton and Elsternwick studios. (Top)

Nariman Sraeildin

Nariman is a qualified APMA level 2 Pilates Instructor. Her Pilates journey began in 2002 after the birth of her first child & it was not long before she realised the benefits the Method gave her. This strong belief and passion for Pilates led her to pursue a career in this field. Nariman has had a lifelong love of fitness, having completed a number of marathons and enjoyed practicing Pilates for over 8 years. She is a school teacher by trade and has also worked in the field of personal training.  She continues to develop and diversify her skills by training with a variety of different Pilates teachers and attending workshops.

“I hope that my clients will feel the same passion and motivation as I do for Pilates. I encourage every one to work hard to achieve maximum results and reach their goals and maximum potential in a safe and appropriate way, while not forgetting that magic element of fun!”  (Top)

Kim Lewin

Kim began her training in England studying classical ballet, tap and modern dance, anatomy, physiology and musical theatre. She was introduced to Pilates by a former student of her college, a ballerina from the Royal Danish Ballet.

Kim began her teacher training for Pilates in 2007 at a physiotherapy and Pilates studio in Auckland, New Zealand. She then extended her training at Synergy Studio on Waiheke Island, focusing on classical repertoire and STOTT based exercises, where she also taught for the past four years. At the same time she developed her own Pilates classes specifically for dancers, to help aid their training and improve their overall strength and flexibility.

Having recently moved to Australia with her fiancé, Kim is excited to be working for the Melbourne Pilates Group and to help clients with their pathologies. She is particularly interested in improving people’s posture, core strength and reducing pain and stress. (Top)

Copyright © 2010 Melbourne Pilates Group | Pilates MelbourneWeb design by unityworx studio