instructors in the Pilates studio

Or-Yah Avni (ory)
A former dancer, Or-Yah Avni studied in NYC at the professional Trainee Program at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. She participated in dance projects as well as with her own choreography and performed in various projects including HATCH of Jennifer Muller, The Field and more. Her deep interest in different body-mind techniques has led her to continue deepening her education and she completed her yoga training at the Laughing Lotus Yoga Center in NYC and her Gyrotonic certificate in 2000. In 2005 Ory founded the first Pilates studio in Thailand, bringing this wonderful method to the Thai people. Ory is a Pilates teacher trainer from the PhysicalMind Institute. The Institute has the distinction of being one of the world’s foremost authorities on Pilates. Since 2005 Ory has certified more than one hundred Pilates teachers from all over the world. Or-Yah uses her deep knowledge of various dance and body-mind techniques to create well-structured and organized classes, emphasizing technique and art and incorporating flowing movement, breathing work, and fun. For the past eleven years, she has been teaching in New York, Tel-Aviv and Bangkok. www.or-yah.com > > > instructors for | Pilates | Yoga | Prenatal | Language | English, Hebrew |

Nicola Arthur (Nikki)
Before teaching Pilates I worked in London as a marketing events co-ordinator,the long hours and lots of standing around (in high heels!) combined with bad posture left me with a constant pain in my lower back. I was recommended to start pilates and began going to a studio near my home, I found it really helped my back and not only that but it was the first exercise i enjoyed so much I wanted to do it as often as possible. When the studio I went to became the first Physicalmind certifying studio in the UK during 2006 I decided to take the matwork course to further my knowledge of the method, I wasn't really planning to teach full time but I enjoyed it so much I decided to go on to take the Standing course in 2007 and then the apparatus course on the Cadillac, Reformer and Wunda chair later in 2007. I became fully qualified on the apparatus in March 2008 and have since taken a course in circular Pilates with Ory in Bangkok. In June 2008, after working for a year in a studio in the UK I came out to work at the Pilates Studio in Bangkok, I am loving living here and really enjoying working with people from so many different places and with so many different backgrounds. Every day is different and I learn a lot from my clients, I particularly enjoy it when you see how much better someone feels after a session. We have the opportunity to work with a lot of rehab clients here which is extremely rewarding, its great to see the changes Pilates brings to people's sense of wellbeing and confidence when they begin to feel stronger and free from pain. > > > instructors for | Pilates | Language | English |

Ormploy Chutrakul
I first started Pilates due to lower back pain resulting from playing tennis. Initially, I came twice a week for mat exercise. After a month of practice I found a lot of difference in my muscle strength, flexibility and my awareness when moving. After three months, my lower back pain never came back. As I enjoyed and felt the benefits on my body as the time passed, I then decided to take the Pilates certification course at The Pilatestudio. I never regret since I decided that. I learn more and more every day. I enjoy teaching a lot, because for me, teaching is giving, is helping. From helping injured people to increase body awareness, muscle strength and balance or teaching clients how to use their body more efficiently throughout their lives, to golfers and tennis players who use Pilates to increase their performance in games. Whatever happened for the short term results, the most importance is long term benefit to your body and mind and Pilates has many of those to offer. > > > instructors for | Pilates | Language | English, Thai |

Carrie Menke
Carrie is a certified STOTT PILATES® instructor with specialtytraining in ISP (Injuries and Special Populations) and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Washington State University. She returns to Bangkok after living and working in Tokyo, Seattle and Manila for the past 8 years. Carrie has been involved with fitness throughout her career, beginning with 10 years of dance and then later teaching aerobics and kickboxing in Tokyo and STOTT PILATES® in Seattle and Manila. Her experience with meditation techniques while living in Thailand strengthened her belief in the mind-body connection which is an integral part of the Pilates approach to fitness. Carrie is passionate about teaching Pilates after personally experiencing the benefits by discovering a new level of strength and body awareness. She is dedicated to improving the bodies and lives of others and is excited to work with people of all ages and fitness levels > > > instructors for | Pilates | Language | English |

Suzanne Sim
From the moment Suzanne experienced her first Pilates class, shefelt an instant rapport with its fluid movements which are akin to dance, She also discovered the wonderful stretching it gave the body.  Regular sessions at the Pilates Studio in Bangkok led to noticeable improvements to her body. It was encouraging to see results in such a short time! As her core strength developed, the back aches which she had for years, also decreased. Suzanne completed the Physical Mind Institute’s Pilates training course for mat and equipment at the Pilates Studio Bangkok in May 2006. She had also completed the Movement and Foot Workshop by Leslie Powell in May 2006. Suzanne sees her role as a teacher and facilitator. By directing the clients to better body awareness, they will develop improved posture while building both strength and flexibility. Suzanne would like to enable clients to apply Pilates techniques back into their daily lives at home, work and play. > > > instructors for | Pilates | Prenatal | Language | English |

Birgit Rappold
started to teach Aerobics in 1998. After years of teachinghigh-impact aerobics the time was right for her for a change and to integrate Pilates into her sportive career. Having experienced herself the positive impact of Pilates for her posture, strength and wellbeing she became a Certified Pilates Instructor in 2006, shortly after the first Plates lessons were offered in here hometown Munich. She taught there until 2006 when she moved to Hong Kong continuing her teaching passion in her new home. In Hong Kong she embraced the opportunities to teach more one-on-one sessions as well as Pilates for pregnant ladies and especially for post-partum ladies. Birgit will start her training to become a Certified Trainer for the Cadillac and Reformer in November 2008 at The Pilatestudio Bangkok. Birgit has a Master in Clinical Psychology and is a Certified Life Coach and Behavioural Therapist. Supporting people in achieving personal goals is just part of her true passion and teaching sports just felt absolutely right for her as it supports increasing personal awareness and reinforce the inner connection between body and mind. And isn’t there anything more beautiful as discovering a rich soul in a well trained body! > > > instructors for | Pilates | Language | English, Graman, Italian |

Ruth Baker
Ruth grew up in Western Australia and has always loved to be active. She started exercising regularly doing aerobics and then weight training as a young adult, but then moved into competative rowing and triathlons. In January 2003, Ruth herniated two discs in her back while wake boarding and was told she would never run again. It was devastating news, but she wasn't prepared to accept it to be true. Her searches for rehabilitation led her to Pilates and then she was hooked. Not only did it mean she could run again, but she ran better than ever before, successfully completing a half marathon in 2004. She also became confident enough in the rehabilitation of her back to learn kite surfing. Ruth has lived and worked as an engineer in Australia, Canada, England, Korea and Thailand. She moved to Thailand in 2006 and at the end of 2008, she took the Physical Mind Institute Certification course with Ory at The Pilatestudio, Bangkok where she now teaches. She really enjoys teaching Pilates, and loves to learn more about the relationship between the body and the mind. > > > instructors for | Pilates | Language | English |

Eleni Petrak
Eleni began dancing at the age of seven in Athens, Greece. After her graduation from the State Dance School in Athens, she began her exploration of Contact Improvisation and various modern dance techniques. She also started teaching ballet, modern and improvisation for adults and children. In 1995 she moved to New York City where she began her formal studies in Shiatsu, Zero Balancing and Reiki. During this time she also became a certified Yoga and Pilates instructor. She enjoys teaching people how to find the connection between body-mind-spirit in a positive, respectful atmosphere. She believes that a correct structural alignment, an essential breath and a concentrated focus will optimize your practice and your every day life. Eleni moved to Bangkok, Thailand one year ago with her husband and her 2 year old daughter. She is happy to be part of the international community at The Pilates Studio. > > > instructors for | Pilates | Language | English, Greek |

Tiffany Hebard
Originally from California, Tiffany has lived in Bangkok since 1997.She was always physically active and took many different types of classes over the years, including aerobics and resistance training, but, after developing a bulging disc and chronic shoulder problems, she decided to seek out alternative forms of exercise. Always interested in mind-body disciplines, she started attending Hatha and Vinyasa yoga classes a few times a week and learned to meditate. She had heard about Pilates for years and longed to try it, but was disappointed that she couldn’t find a studio in Bangkok. In 2005, a certified Ron Fletcher Pilates instructor moved into her neighborhood and her life was changed. She attended group mat classes and private sessions on the reformer. She was amazed at how fast she saw the benefits; her strength, flexibility and body awareness improved; with the improved core strength and flexibility, her low back pain disappeared. And Pilates was the perfect complement to her yoga practice. When her private Pilates instructor moved back to the U.S. a year later, Tiffany discovered the Pilatestudio in Bangkok. She practiced regularly, and, after realizing that this was the exercise method she would commit to for the rest of her life, decided to become a teacher. She started the Teacher Certification Course in November 2007, completed her certification in November 2008 and has been teaching at the studio and in Nichada Thani since Feb 2008. After experiencing firsthand the power of Pilates, she is passionate about bringing the benefits of the method to others. > > > instructors for | Pilates | Language | English |

Joung-ah Ghedini Williams
Joung-ah found her way to yoga while working for the UN Refugee Agency in Rwanda. She found that her time on the mat helped her live her life and give her best off the mat. She found joy and clarity in her breath and has practiced yoga for thirteen years. She has been blessed to study with inspirational teachers like John Friend, Amy Ippoliti, Desiree Rumbaugh and so many others. She is an Anusara-inspired teacher who is also certified by Yoga Alliance and specialized to teach prenatal and postnatal yoga and who loves to share the joys and benefits of yoga. Joung-ah moved to Bangkok in October 2005 with her husband, Craig, and still is enchanted by Thailand's gentle people, beautiful landscapes and delicious food! They have a four-year old son, Kim Carter and a one-year old daughter, Indigo, who teach Joung-ah about love and the true meaning of yoga every day. > > > instructors for | Pilates | Yoga | Prenatal | Language | English |

Atinuj Tantivit (Atty)
Growing up in Bangkok, Thailand, Atty was involved in many sporting activities—swimming, sprinting, squash, scuba diving and Ultimate Frisbee — to name a few. While residing in the USA, she scuba dove for work as a marine ecologist and played Ultimate Frisbee competitively on an all women’s team in Miami, Florida. After knee and ankle injuries that put her in the hands of physical therapists for months, she decided to take up something that was more soothing on her body. She started practicing Bikram Yoga to strengthen her body and continued when she returned to Bangkok in 2004. Since then Atty has been working as a jewelry designer/maker. When at her jewelry studio, she either works on the computer or at a jeweler’s bench. Her lower back, shoulders and neck bother her after many hours of work. She found info about Pilates on a website for professional jewelers—many jewelers found Pilates to be very helpful in easing their pain. She started practicing Pilates when the Pilatestudio was first opened in Bangkok. Since then she’s been hooked. Pilates gave her what she was looking for—a form of exercise that works on both strengthening and stretching the body. Pilates not only eased her pain from working, it also helped with her Ultimate Frisbee skills. And as a bonus, she was able to lose a couple of inches off her waistline that she wasn’t able to lose while doing other type of exercises! She took PhysicalMind’s Initiation and Concentration 101 at the Pilatestudio and is now working as an apprentice teacher. > > > instructors for | Pilates | Language | English, Thai |

Wolfgang W Sachtleben
Yoga has been an encouraging and reassuring companion of mine for over 10 years, always by my side to lift the spirit and the spine. It is a fun and playful friend during the sunny times and a caring and supportive one during the quiet moments.My professional background in architecture complements my beliefs in Iyengar Yoga. Human anatomy being an architecture of nature by itself. I embrace a search for simplicity in alignments and details, clarity of form and an enjoyment in movement. Believing that a strong and grounded foundation gives permission to build up a practice in a creative and experimental way, allowing both body and mind to grow and expand. In the past 10 years, I have followed the concept of effortless effort through self-practice and teaching. That effortlessness carries with it an understanding and compassion, preventing injuries of both body (physical) and mind (psychological).I have been formally trained in Ashtanga / Vinyassa Flow and now I continue pursuing yogic knowledge through Iyengar Yoga, a yoga style that pinpoints to precision and clarity. My love of architecture and yoga guides my practice into a journey that brings awareness not just on the mat but also in all details of everyday life. > > > instructors for | Yoga | Language | English, German |

Orit Bar-Artvinsky
Unlike some of my past splendid Pilates instructors who came from a background of dance and fitness training, I was way far on the other side of the scale; a mother of (then) two little children (today – of 3), working in a full time job in IT and busy finishing my MBA degree, I was basically juggling between my duties with absolutely no time for any physical activity routine. I was at the beginning of my 30’es but already started to feel the decline in my physical condition. This was when I started training in Pilates and shortly after was amazed to discover that there is actually a physical activity I can love…Not only I could SEE the change in my body, but more importantly I could FEEL the change; my lower back pain was gone, I felt stronger, my posture improved dramatically and even this stiffness in the neck got better. I became so fascinated with Pilates that I’ve decided to study it more seriously… Back then we were leaving in Pretoria, South Africa so I decided to register to the Pilates Control coure in Pilates Teaching Methodology by ‘Top Condition SA – Control Conditioning’ institute under the dance department in the Tshwane (Pretoria) University of Technology, and became a fully qualified Pilates instructor for mat and apparatus. After moving to Bangkok I started working in The Pilates Studio with Ory and all the wonderful Pilates instructors at the studio. I feel fortunate to be able to assist people with the tools the Pilates method have provided me with, and I can always point myself to them as a walking proof of the wonders of Pilates… I love the fact every day introduces me to new people and new challenges, and I am proud to be a member of such a professional team! > > > instructors for | Pilates | Language | English, Hebrew |

Mia Ohrn
More than a certified Hatha and Prenatal Yoga teacher, Mia Öhrn has been a devoted yoga practitioner for over ten years. With yoga philosophy as a speciality she bridges the gap between the yoga mat and life outside the studio. Her conviction that life is richer when guided by yogic principles fuels her passion for teaching. With the memory of carrying her own son still fresh, she loves to share how yoga can support women through both pregnancy and birth. She believes there is nothing more powerful than a pregnant lady, displaying the wonder of nature's infinite creative power. > > > instructors for | Yoga | Prenatal | Language | English, Swedish |

Nat
Nat has always been a physically active person. She did gymnasticsas a child and has studied dance for a number of years. She started practicing yoga while working professionally as an IT consultant in New York City in 2003 and has been a dedicated yoga practitioner ever since. Nat was certified as a Bikram Yoga instructor and taught yoga in New York, and as visiting instructor in Florida and Manila before moving back to Thailand with her husband in 2006. Yoga has helped her realize how important it is to nurture body, mind and spirit, and to develop a sense of well-being. In addition, during her pregnancy, practicing yoga was a wonderful experience that proved essential in staying strong and healthy throughout those months, helping her in dealing with the physical and emotional changes that occur during and after pregnancy. In 2007, the pregnancy brought her back to New York to train with Laura Staton and Sarah Perron, the founders of 'Baby Om' Yoga for Mothers and Babies. At the Core, Nat now teaches 'Mommy & Me' class to introduce a dynamic and nurturing yoga practice that mommies and babies can enjoy and receive the benefits from together. > > > instructors for | Prenatal | Language | English, Tahi |

Preenun Nana (Toom)
Bangkok born Preenun Nana (Toom) has been working in art and cultural fields for many years. She has been practicing yoga since year 2000. Through her two great teachers, she has learnt that yoga was far beyond only physical aspect but it also helped developing healthy state of mind and being more present and mindful in what she was doing. Yoga gradually floated into her way of thinking, seeing and doing things. Now, for her, yoga means the way of healthy living. With the intention to pass the beauty of yoga to other people, Preenun has decided to take up the training as Yoga instructor. She was certified from Indian founded institute, Kripalu School of Yoga, Massachusetts, USA. What Preenun has to offer is the eclectic style of Yoga based on Kripalu Philosophy, which allows the practitioners to experience the wholeness of practicing asana, pranayama -breathing exercise, and meditation at the same time. It is an approach that create a non-judgemental awareness and to be present for the experience. This lets those who practice explore the subtle inner world of the body and mind, encouraging them to find their own yoga practice from the inside out. She usually incorporates Yoga Nidra, the deep relaxation technique into her class to guide her students to experience a deep relaxed state of body and mind. Preenun is also interested in working with pregnant women. She strongly believes that through yoga, the pregnant women not only gain physical benefits during their pregnancy but also this will help preparing them mentally and spiritually through the beautiful path of becoming a mother. She then took the Prenatal yoga certification course with the knowledgeable faculty of the Pilates Studio and joined the teaching team since year 2008. > > > instructors for | Yoga | Prenatal | Language | English, Thai, French |

Claudia Fischer
Claudia Fischer is a long time practitioner of conscious living and has lived in Bangkok, Thailand for the last five years. Her interest in body movement began as a child studying ballet and she has developed  this interest while exploring athletics, aerobics and martial art. Thai massage, Pilates and Yoga studies followed in the 1990s. While she completed her Pilates training she expanded her interests to include Gyrotonic Expansion System® and Gyrokinesis®. Claudia is currently expending her Pilates studies with Pilates elders Ron Fletcher through The Ron Fletcher Program Of Study (Tucson/Arizona). > > > instructors for | Gyrotonic | Language | English, German, French |