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
- Melanie Smith
- Kirsten Jorgensen
- Lou Conyers
- Sue Catton
- Amy Kellett
- Louise Albrecht
- Kim Lewin
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)
- 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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)