"I hope to instill an awareness and joy of just how beautiful it is to REALLY move. There is potential for incredible expressiveness in the most pedestrian gestures and the discovery of this my goal for all my students.
We spend most of our lives not really making full use of our bodies and the challenge of really settling into and making use of our faculties is the focus of my class. I love when a student realizes the incredible things they are actually capable of doing."
Clinton Draper – BFA Dance Ryerson University, TPP certified Pilates instructor
Clinton Draper has been teaching Pilates since 2005 and brings over 15 years of experience of working with the body to his classes. Clinton has a BFA in Dance from Ryerson University and worked as a professional modern dancer and teacher. He received his initial Pilates Training in Toronto through the Total Pilates Process. This training has been supplemented with numerous workshops in Stretch Therapy, Franklin work and other Somatic Practices. After his initial teacher training Clinton developed an interest in the rehabilitative possibilities of Pilates and went on to take numerous Contemporary Pilates courses from STOTT Pilates. At this stage it is the Classical work and approach which resonate most and so Clinton’s current training has been focused on interactions with teacher’s from Romana's Lineage and with other first and second generation Master teachers.
With a training background in dance, fitness and rehabilitation, Clinton's classes have something to offer for everyone of any level. It is important for Pilates training to be functional and be applicable to your daily life and Clinton will do his best to give you the skills to apply what you learned in the real world.
Lela Dawson - The Pilates Centre
Lela Dawson is a Classical Pilates Teacher, NPCT Certified and a BCRPA Trainer of Fitness Leaders. She has been teaching Pilates for over 15 years, and is a graduate of the Pilates Center Teacher Training Program. Lela is a passionate advocate of health and wellness and looks to inspire people of all fitness levels, ages and sizes to experience the benefits of Pilates and how the method will positively enhance their everyday activities and the quality of their lives.
Alison Denham – The Pilates Centre
Alison Denham is a Classical Pilates Instructor and a Contemporary Dance Artist. She has been applying Pilates to her restorative movement practice for over 15 years. Her love of movement extends into her teaching and she is passionate about guiding and empowering clients to find functional movement and alignment. She is a graduate of the Pilates Center Teacher Training Program.
“I see Pilates as movement technique for your LIFE. I want my students to feel both the physical and mental benefits of moving, strengthening, and healing the body.”
Emily Krilanovich – B. Education UBC / Balanced Body
Emily is a born teacher and lifelong learner. She received her B.A. and B.Education from UBC in 2000, and has taught as a Certified BC School Teacher for over 20 years. In addition, as a Toronto RCM trained and certified pianist, she taught private piano lessons for 12 years while raising her children. Emily has always loved moving! She trained as a ballet dancer until age 14, took up long distance running as a young adult and skate skiing in her thirties.
Emily found Pilates in 2009, after suffering a back injury that would not heal using traditional rehabilitation methods. She appreciated having ownership over her healing as she was guided through the Pilates repertoire. In addition to healing her back, she noticed how her dedicated Pilates training greatly improved her posture, core strength, balance, coordination and prevented injury while pursuing her outdoor passions of running and skiing.
Emily started her Pilates Teacher Training in 2019. She has earned a Pilates Mat Diploma from Physicalmind Institute Canada, and Pilates Mat, Reformer, and Apparatus Instructor Certification through Balanced Body Education.
“Come discover new ways to work your body leaving you feeling stronger, balanced and aligned.”
Chelsea Wissink - Balanced Body/Body Harmonics
After years as an athlete in team sports Chelsea found Pilates in 2012 and quickly fell in love with the mindfulness of the movement. After each class, she left feeling a deeper connection to her body mentally and physically. Wanting others to feel this positivity and connection all the while working up a sweat she decided to dive in and in 2014 she completed her Mat certification at Body Harmonics in Toronto, Ontario. She has gone on to complete additional courses in postural alignment, men’s movement, strong supple spine, hip and the knee and Pre/Post Natal. She completed her reformer training with Balanced Body in 2018/19 here in Vancouver, BC.
With a focus on targeting the whole body in fluid movement you can expect to discover muscles you may not have realized you had! Chelsea’s classes are structured to be fun, approachable and challenging for all levels be prepared to work, sweat and laugh while listening to some great tunes.
“Our bodies are intelligent, resilient and designed to move! Let’s move together!”
Olga Voropaeva – The Pilates Centre
Olga is a lifelong student of movement. Growing up as a dance enthusiast and yoga lover, she has always felt a strong connection to the body.
Olga was initially drawn to Pilates for healing and personal growth purposes. Recovering from several stress and work related complications with her spine, and living with chronic pain, she was instantly amazed by how quickly her body responded and 'opened up’ after only a few pilates lessons. Pilates has made a significant impact on Olga’s physical and mental health and she truly believes in the power and longevity of this work.
Olga loves how Pilates brings people together from all ages and walks of life and how it provides a 360 degree perspective to movement and wellbeing. Whatever the day brings, she encourages her clients to have fun and move with playful curiosity. She is excited to share her knowledge and passion with the pilates community and empower people to learn how to trust in their bodies so that they can experience their full movement potential.