ABOUT US

PILATES teacher, GYROTONIC® trainer and YAMUNA FOOT FITNESS practitioner.

Having had a successful career as a ballet and contemporary dancer in Europe Ingrid was introduced to Pilates as a way in which dancers were managing and rehabilitating from injury. When she returned to Australia in 1990 she underwent comprehensive Pilates training and later combined with a Physiotherapist to set up the 1st Physio/Pilates practice and the 5th Pilates studio in Sydney. Ingrid successfully ran this business for over 20 years comprising 2 big studios in Neutral Bay and Strathfield.

Ingrid’s vision has always been about creating an oasis from the busyness of life’s bustle, where people can come and do safe, effective movement/exercise to address the needs of their bodies (and minds) in a non competitive and caring atmosphere.

In 2002 Ingrid was introduced to The GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® which piqued her interest. She started training in Gyrotonic in 2013, eventually selling out of her large business in 2015 to explore more training in this System.

Ingrid couldn’t pass up the offer from a highly regarded Physiotherapist to open a boutique Pilates and Gyrotonic studio alongside his practice later in 2015 in Hunters Hill.

Over last 4.5 years Ingrid''s business has thrived, specialising in individually tailored Pilates and Gyrotonic sessions. It is one of only a handful of Gyrotonic studios in Sydney, however awareness of this fabulous System is growing and more teachers are training every year in Sydney and around Australia.

Ingrid has continued to keep her hand in the dance world having been asked to teach Pilates to assist the rehabilitation of the dancers of the Sydney Dance Company per professional year since its inception 6 years ago. She also enjoys working with the company dancers.

Ingrid is the mother of 4 children, 2 dogs,1 cat, numerous fish and chickens and is a Longueville local.

YOGA teacher

Some years ago I heard a fellow say he had been practicing yoga for 30 years and he finally understood why. And now, 20+ years into my own practice, I do too. It’s because after all this stretching, strengthening, breathing, studying, chanting, meditating and just paying attention, I’m feeling quite well. I work a physically-demanding day job and take no medications. Now in my mid-50s, I give a lot of credit to yoga.

See, yoga’s not just stretching. There’s way more to it. There’s this magic, alchemical, mysterious thing that happens when we get on the mat and move our bits around in this particular way. While scientific studies continue proving it, I’ll tell you that yoga simply improves life. Over 5000 years, a lot of really smart, dedicated and passionate people have a developed a really good way of helping ourselves live better. I’ve proved it to myself and it’s right there in every class. In 60 short minutes, we can go from feeling negative and stagnant to happy and energised.

Looking back, when I first began teaching, my Ashtanga-oriented classes made people sweat. We worked hard and got strong. I believed that if some was good, more was better. That was till I damaged both knees and overstretched my back. It took a while, but I’ve learned something about limitations and acceptance and the value of experience. I offer people a safe and sustainable way of making yoga part of their life. The classes are challenging but also accessible, with options to make the practice easier or more difficult, depending on your ability and preference.

These days, I know what it feels like to live in a 50-year-old body. I’m not as bendy or strong or fast as I used to be. Still, yoga practice has helped me reduce stress, kept me physically capable, created a steadier mind and more balanced life. I believe it can do the same for anyone regardless of age or ability.

GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® teacher.

Sydney born, Stephanie’s background is in professional dance, she danced 17 years in Munich, Germany as a soloist with the Bavarian State Ballet.
Always seeking new paths to improve her body and it’s capabilities Stephanie discovered the GYROTONIC Method early in her career and has practiced it religiously since her first session back in 2003.

Stephanie is a Certified GYROTONIC and GYROKINESIS instructor and has a Diploma in Dance and Classical Ballet Pedagogy from the University for Theatre and Music in Munich, Germany. Stephanie has been instructing GYROTONIC and GYROKINESIS since 2012 in Munich, Germany, London, England, Monte Carlo, Monaco, and since January 2019 she returned permanently to Sydney.

She has had first hand experience with Gyrotonic and pre and post natal exercising the method throughout her own pregnancy and rehabilitation to return to the stage.

Stephanie loves working with people using the GYROTONIC Method, attention to detail, taking time yet still finding a flow in the sessions.

PILATES and YOGA Teacher

Judits’ passion for movement started at a young age as a gymnast and ballet dancer and led her on a path of fitness and personal training. She was first introduced to Pilates in 2008 and was immediately hooked. She trained in Dubai and Australia in Stott Pilates, Polestar Pilates and PITC.

After several years of Yoga practice she completed her first Yoga Alliance Teacher Training course in Thailand in 2010 and became a certified Yoga Instructor. Judit has completed many Yoga certifications and continuing education courses including Vinyasa Yoga, Yin Yoga and prenatal Yoga.

She believes that Pilates and Yoga classes are the perfect combination of strength/stability and mobility/flexibility that not only work on the physical level but balance and nurture the mind as well, making it important practice for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Her passion for movement, attention to detail and encouraging and caring approach ensure her clients get the most out of every class. Judit believes that fitness should be fun yet challenging, she brings a supportive, encouraging and
uplifting spirit to her high performance yet fun classes, ensuring the clients will leave the class feeling balanced and motivated.

As a healthy living advocate, Judit practices a variety of Yoga, Barre, Pilates and Aerial training on a daily basis, which keeps her fit and always inspired.

Jen discovered Pilates when it was used as part of her treatment to recover from injuries sustained as a dancer. She was passionate to learn & share this with others after witnessing first hand the restorative benefits of the method.
Pilates as a means of rehabilitation has always been a key area of focus with Jen, whether it is aiding people recover from injury or surgery. She spent two years working for a physiotherapy practice that incorporated Pilates as a treatment method. She has worked with hip replacements, knee & shoulder reconstructions, spinal injuries, fractures, osteoporosis & osteoarthritis.
She loves helping people get out of pain & optimising body strength and mobility.
Pilates is a fantastic medium to correct posture, realign the body, restore balance in muscle groups and promote the integrity & longevity of the joints of the body.

“Every individual is different & I enjoy tailoring each session to take into account the needs of the body in front of me. That involves release tight muscles, strengthen weak muscles, improving posture, co-ordination & balance. That all comes wrapped up in a rewarding & challenging Pilates work out”.

Jen was a professional dancer before opening a successful dance school in Sydney’s inner city. She spent 15 years teaching movement to children & adults through dance. She continues to enjoy teaching movement, but now it is through the Pilates method.

Katrina has been teaching movement for 30 years and owned Ultimate Performance Edge Pilates (UPE Pilates ) for the last 20 years. Katrina completed her B.A in Dance and Diploma for Secondary Education beginning her career as a high school PDHPE and Dance Teacher. During her tertiary studies she also completed a comprehensive Pilates Instructor course with Nicole Vass and Ingrid Shaw. She has been a member of the Australian Pilates Method Association – the peek industry body - ever since and has held roles on the council, teaching on various Pilates courses as well as at UTS Sydney. Over this time Katrina has taught clients of all ages and abilities for injury prevention, rehabilitation and general fitness from the ages of 8-92 years old. She has also taught many Australian representative athletes as well as professional sporting teams. Since completing the Yamuna Foot Fitness training she has been able to successfully help hundreds of people relieve their foot pain and problems and has developed a real passion for feet with her hands on approach. Many physicians, physiotherapists and podiatrists now refer to Katrina for foot treatment and rehabilitation.
Katrina is currently teaching Pilates and Yamuna Foot Fitness at Body in Song, Double Bay. www.bodyinsong.com

Katrina also comes to Yogabowl a couple of times a week to do one on one foot sessions for those people who need/desire specific attention and hands on therapy.

Chelsea trained at Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy and at the English National Ballet School and worked as a Soloist in the Slovak National Ballet from 2010-2019.

Chelsea discovered Gyrotonic during her time in Europe and used it as a form of rehabilitation coming back from an injury. Shortly after she decided to undertake her Gyrotonic Teacher Training as she saw how beneficial it was to her career as a ballet dancer. Chelsea is currently a freelance ballet teacher, whilst studying a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science and plans to undertake a Masters of Physiotherapy in 2022.

Certification and training:
GYROTONIC® Level 1 Trainer.
GYROTONIC® Applications For Dancers Level 1
GYROTONIC® Applications for Juliu''s wrapping system.
Pilates mat APPI

I grew up in India, immersed in the sounds and smells of that crazy wonderful country that was, and will always be, my first home. But it took living in Sydney, my now forever-home, to fall in love with this kind of yoga. Restful, warm, squishy, kind, inclusive yoga.

I did my initial Restorative Yoga training with Mitch Gibson and went on to complete 200 hour Hatha and 50 hour intense yin training modules. I teach yoga for the mind and from the heart, and the benefits the body receives are simply a huge added bonus for me! Through these classes I hope you fall in love with yourself, knowing that you really are enough, exactly as you are.

When I’m not on the mat, I can be found knitting or reading, drinking copious quantities of chai, hanging out with my soccer mad boys or being a slave to my beloved rescue pussycat Tinsel. x

Magdalena is a certified Pilates Instructor and Personal Trainer with 10 years of experience in private, semi-private and group sessions on all pieces of apparatus, group mat and barre classes. She is skilled in teaching clients with different requirements, incl. rehabilitation, pre & post natal workouts, fit & flexibility enhancement as well as stress reduction and general need of mental and physical wellbeing improvement.
After graduating from two universities (MA in sociology, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland and BA in choreographic performing arts, University Saint Denis, Paris, France), she has obtained diplomas in fitness and sport management from Australian College of Sport & Fitness, Sydney, Pilates Mat Instructor Certification from Mental and Power Academy, Poland , Pilates Studio Instructor Certification from Polestar Pilates, Sydney and additionally diploma in business from Australis Institute of Technology and Education, Sydney.
Magdalena has also completed numerous professional courses and workshops.
But more than anything Magdalena is passionate about movement. “Pilates said: ‘Change happens through movement and movement heals’. This sentence accompanies and inspires me throughout my professional life. I have always believed in people and their potential of improvement. This is also true for me. What was supposed to be a one- year improvement in English in Sydney 13 years ago, has become a life-changing journey. And it is not finished, I continue my education with workshops and courses, but the most powerful learning tool is working with my clients. It humbles me every time when I see how one’s mental state influence the body and the other way around. Their potential together is infinite