Meet the educators
Chrisen Presence
Workshop Names
Chrisen Presence is a Pilates educator from Sydney, Australia, with over 16 years of experience in the Pilates industry.
Having taught more than 20,000 Pilates classes and trained thousands of instructors, Chrisen is passionate about helping Pilates teachers become more confident, effective, and sought-after.
Known for his energetic, contemporary approach to Pilates education, Chrisen combines traditional Pilates principles with modern movement science and practical coaching strategies. His workshops focus on real-world teaching skills, including cueing, programming, class flow, tactile teaching, and creating stronger, more engaging classes.
Chrisen has worked with instructors, studios, and educator teams across multiple countries and has presented at international Pilates conferences and industry events. His teaching style is practical, interactive, and immediately applicable, giving instructors tools they can confidently use in their very next class.
Sophia More
The Power of Touch - Effective Hands on Technique
Unleash the Magic of the Magic Circle - Precision, Strength and Control
Sophia More, a seasoned Pilates practitioner and longtime Pi Studios teacher, has over 20 years of experience. Originally training under Holly Murray, she embraced Classical Pilates as both a practice and a philosophy.
Now a Teacher Trainer on Pi’s Full Comprehensive Teacher Training Programme, she mentors aspiring instructors while continually refining her practice through advanced training.
Passionate about movement, Sophia’s personalised approach helps clients unlock strength, flexibility, and vitality. She has trained with esteemed figures like Bob Liekens and Kathi Ross Nash.
Julia Oravisto
Creative Class Planning - Building Towards Advanced Pilates
Originally from Helsinki, Julia has been teaching Pilates for over 15 years. Comprehensively certified through Polestar Pilates Australia, she spent seven years living and teaching in Australia before returning to Finland to found BAY STUDIOS in 2017. Today, BAY STUDIOS includes two studio locations with four reformer spaces, an online platform, and a teacher training programme, where Julia has been educating and mentoring instructors for the past six years.
With a background in contemporary dance, studied in Finland and Germany, Julia’s teaching is deeply influenced by somatic practices including Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique, and improvisation. These influences have shaped an approach that values curiosity, movement quality, and intelligent progression while staying true to the principles of Pilates.
Passionate about helping both teachers and clients develop a deeper understanding of movement, Julia is known for creating classes that are thoughtful, creative, and accessible, challenging people to explore their potential without losing sight of the essence of the method.
Shirah Perry
Demistifying the Psoas and Unpacking the Hip Flexors
Originally from Philadelphia, Shirah began her movement career as a ballet and contemporary dancer. After completing her BFA in Ballet Pedagogy she moved to New York City, where she worked as a dancer, dance teacher, and choreographer. While exploring the dance community in New York, presenting work and participating in local and international dance workshops and festivals, Shirah sought out Pilates as an avenue both to cross-train and as a potential additional source of work. She completed a Comprehensive Pilates certification and began working as a Pilates instructor in New York before eventually landing in Berlin in 2016.
As she gained experience, Shirah fell in love with teaching functional movement and dove headfirst into her work as an instructor. While teaching barre and contemporary Pilates, she completed a yoga certification (200RYT) and pursued continuing education in anatomy, therapeutic exercise for breast cancer and chest wall surgery, prenatal and postpartum exercise, and restorative yoga. She is currently completing a certification as a postpartum corrective exercise specialist (PCES). Shirah has taught in North America, Europe, and Africa, and is the co-founder of Regarding Form.
Cecile Kaltenbach
Cécile has been a professional ballet dancer for over 19 years.
She studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris before leaving France to perform with renowned ballet companies around the world. After dancing with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal and the Royal Swedish Ballet, she settled in Berlin, where she has been a Demi-Soloist with the Staatsballett for the past 14 years.
Throughout her career, Cécile has faced many injuries. After a serious foot injury and surgery in 2009, she discovered STOTT PILATES while rebuilding her body with a one-on-one instructor. Returning to the stage stronger than before, she quickly realised the importance of Pilates as an essential part of her training and recovery.
In 2020, she completed the STOTT PILATES Instructor Training and is certified in Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, and Barrels.
During her first pregnancy in 2023, Cécile developed a passion for pre- and postnatal Pilates after experiencing its benefits firsthand. She went on to become a PCES (Pregnancy & Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist) and has completed further training in diastasis recti and pelvic floor function.
Her goal is to share the tremendous benefits Pilates has on both body and mind, helping pre- and postpartum women navigate this transformative stage of life with confidence and strength.
Kirill
Strength Training within the lens of Pilates
Sophie richards
Working with Athletes
With over 15 years of experience as a Pilates coach in Berlin, Sophie has worked with a wide range of clients, supporting rehabilitation, injury management, and long-term movement health. Her experience includes working with clients navigating hypermobility, spinal conditions, neurological disorders, pre- and postnatal recovery, post-operative rehabilitation, osteoporosis, arthritis, and other complex musculoskeletal conditions.
Before becoming a certified STOTT PILATES® Instructor, she spent many years performing professionally as a circus artist, specialising in doubles trapeze and aerial rope. This unique background has shaped her understanding of movement, body mechanics, injury prevention, and the remarkable strength and resilience the body can develop.
Her approach combines clinical knowledge with thoughtful, individualised programming, helping clients move with greater confidence, strength, and ease.
SUSAN TOBIASON
Links in Pilates system, getting to know Joe’s work?
A native Californian, professional dancer, and choreographer, Susan has been teaching Pilates and dance for over 15 years across San Francisco, Berlin, and most recently, Barcelona. She discovered Pilates while recovering from a dance injury and has been passionate about its transformative benefits ever since.
Susan trained extensively in ballet under Jacqueline Hepner, Principal of the New York City Ballet, before continuing on scholarship with Stage 7 Dance Theatre and the Pennsylvania Ballet. Alongside ballet, she has studied and performed Contemporary and Hip Hop dance styles.
Classically trained in Pilates through the New York/East Coast tradition, Susan completed her comprehensive education with renowned teachers Sharon Gallagher-Riviera and Carol LeMaitre of Pilates Education Lab, as well as Mat and Springboard training with Jill Harris of Informed Body.
Her classes blend the precision, alignment, and discipline of her dance background with an intentional flow and keen eye for movement. Known for her ability to identify and address dysfunctional movement patterns, Susan has extensive experience working with injury rehabilitation, pre- and postnatal clients, and helping people build lasting strength. In Berlin, she even earned the nickname "The Slayer."
