“Every moment of our life can be the beginning of great things.”
— Joseph Pilates
Ciara Parry
Director | Senior Clinical Pilates Instructor | Exercise & Sports Scientist (BESSc Ex Phys)
Ciara is a Senior Clinical Pilates Instructor with a passion for helping her clients to achieve their goals and overcome their limitations. Ciara believes in a holistic approach to working with clients to ensure their individual needs are met in their entirety.
Ciara’s Pilates journey started with matwork classes, “I was looking for something to help my body move better after sitting at my desk and in my car for hours on end in my corporate job”. She did matwork Pilates for years until her sister told her about the reformer. She did two private sessions and then 2 weeks of unlimited classes and was hooked. She started her Certificate IV in Pilates straight away and then went on to study her Diploma of Clinical Pilates straight after. “Pilates taught me that I don’t have to be perfect, I don’t have to take the hard option, I can take things at my own pace. I learned to be intuitive and listen to my body as it would feel different each time I was in the room. Pilates taught me to exercise to feel strong, resilient, and empowered and to stop exercising to be thin or to look a certain way. I hope that I can help other people with their unique Pilates journey.”
Ciara's passion for helping people has driven her to study a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science and is doing Post Graduate studies in Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation. Her interests are in special populations and sports psychology. Ciara is also a Support Worker for people who have a disability. Through this she wants to make Empower Pilates Studio a place where all people can belong and feel safe.
Ciara's classes will provide you with a full body workout utilising traditional and contemporary Pilates principles. Classes will also incorporate functional and stability exercises to train your body to perform more efficiently both in class and in your regular life.
“Empower Pilates Studio is a community that welcomes you and celebrates you, exactly how you are.”
Mellanie Reinholdsten
Creche Manager | Reception
Mell, with two LL's, is an energetic, fun loving and caring person. You can feel her warm and caring energy when you meet her. She will make your little ones feel comfortable so you can relax and enjoy your class.
Mell has many years of experience working with children of all ages and abilities at childcare centres.
Mell has Certificates II and III in Community Services, WWCC, current 1st Aid and Anaphylaxis Training. She has also gained knowledge and experience through being a mother herself to 3 amazing children.
Mell is looking forward to meeting your little ones.
“It’s amazing watching children learn and grow through play.”
Samina Merdjanic
Senior Clinical Pilates Instructor
Samina has always been active. She danced and played team sports until she injured herself in her late teens. She went straight to the GP, where she was instilled with fear. “I was told I could no longer dance or play sport; it was disheartening to say the least. I stopped moving my body. In hindsight, I should have sought advice from a movement specialist.”
Years later, Samina decided to start Pilates. It took her some time to take the plunge and join a studio, as she thought she didn’t have a Pilates body or that she wasn’t fit enough or strong enough. Turns out, she was. Turns out, EVERY BODY has a Pilates body!
Samina been told by many of her clients about how they have been intimidated to start Pilates and her passion is to help change that perception.
Samina is qualified in Clinical, Reformer and Matwork Pilates and continues to educate herself around movement using science-based evidence. “I want to help people move fearlessly and freely. In a class with me, we use functional and freeing movements that benefit your day-to-day life.” Samina’s classes celebrate what our bodies can do.
“Let’s minimize restrictions within our bodies and focus on what we can do and not what we can’t do.”
Haylee Pokrywka
Senior Clinical Pilates Instructor
Haylee is a Pilates Method Teacher and holds the Government Accreditation with Pilates [PITC] International Training Centre in their Diploma of Professional Pilates Instruction.
Haylee has been working in Injury Management and Prevention in the Resources Sector for over 15 years and has a high level of experience with a variety of High Risk Conditions. Her additional qualifications and Interests are in Womens Health including Pregnancy and Post Natal Support, Scolio-Pilates (Pilates for Scoliosis), and Pilates for Seniors.
Haylee holds Registration with Australia’s two Governing bodies; Pilates Association Australia and AUS Active. She is also Student Mentor for the Pilates ITC Qualification, and is passionate about training the next generation of Pilates Instructors. If you are a Pilates student seeking Self Mastery, Observations or Co-Instructions please reach out to us.
Yvette Boyd
Pilates Instructor
Yvette is passionate about wellness as a whole & getting people moving their bodies. She has always been active growing up with dancing & roller skating. Yvette had her babies at a young age & continued to stay active, always trying new ways to move her body. Yvette’s daughter suggested for her try reformer Pilates because she thought she’d love it. After doing 2 classes Yvette was hooked and signed up do to her Cert IV Pilates Instructor course.
Yvette did many of her teacher training hours with us at Empower while she was in training. The thing Yvette loves the most about Pilates is that it’s for everyone & that with so many options in the class everyone is able to move their body in a way that feels good for them.
Yvette is also qualified to teach barre.
“Yvette’s passion for wellness and movement inspired her to become a Pilates Instructor.”
Hayley Hollett
Pilates Instructor
Hayley has always been a very active person, from playing basketball, soccer and horse riding when she was younger to joining a gym when she got older. Hayley first fell in love with Pilates over 13 years ago. She will never forget her very first Matwork class and the feeling she got afterwards that just left her wanting more. Hayley knew immediately that she was hooked on this method of movement. She then discovered reformer Pilates almost three years ago and knew that she wanted to turn this passion into a career.
In December 2021 Hayley gave birth to her son. After practicing Pilates through her pre and postnatal journey, an achievement that she is very proud of, Hayley decided to complete her Certificate IV in both Matwork and Reformer Pilatesthat whilst she was on maternity leave.
Those who know Hayley would know that she absolutely loves a challenge and you can definitely expect to feel challenged in her class and be left feeling like you have had a full body workout!
Hayley is fully qualified in Matwork, Reformer Pilates and Barre.
“One of my main goals is to also help other mothers or mothers to be, feel empowered to move their bodies in a safe and supportive environment, throughout their pre and post natal period just as I had done.”
Sandra Goh
Pilates Instructor | Podiatrist
Sandra attended her first pilates class about 5 years ago and immediately fell in love. “It was my friend who brought me to an introductory class. I couldn’t even touch my toes, I was not flexible! But I left my first reformer class wanting more and even though I was so sore, I went back everyday.” Pilates was not only a medium for Sandra to stay active, it provided her with an escape and downtime from the intense hours of studying and uni placements.
As a runner, Sandra was also experiencing weak and clicky knees. She wanted to stay active whilst strengthening and providing a safe rehab program to return to activity. Pilates provided just what Sandra needed and more. It was the time to connect and check in with herself, and she believes the best investment she has made for her health.
Outside of Pilates, Sandra is also a high risk podiatrist. She loves how we can integrate movement to assist with the mind and body connection. Sandra has a passion for continuing to upskill herself and is always on the look out for new evidence or challenges.
“I look forward to getting a sweat on with you. Achieving mini goals along the way. See you in the studio. ”
Khrin Regan
Pilates Instructor
Khrin is a movement enthusiast with an appreciation for setting her clients up for success. Khrin loves to work with all body types, conditioning, and abilities.
Contrology is the discipline in which Khrin loves to teach her Pilates. However, she also enjoys creating creative flows, inspired by other contemporary styles. Khrin enjoys giving her clients choice, allowing you to feel in control of your movement and learning.
Khrin has completed her certificate IV in Pilates Matwork and Reformer and is confident working with prenatal clients.
“Whether you are new to Pilates, or a Pilates expert, Khrin welcomes you to join her class.”
Tonya McDonnell
Pilates Instructor
Pilates is only a recent journey for Tonya, having had a lower back complaint for most of her adult life she was looking for a way to help strengthen her body as well as increase her mobility.
Tonya started taking Pilates classes 2 years ago and slowly started to notice the change in her body, gaining increased flexibility and an overall improvement in her balance and alignment.
She realised one day that it had been over 6 months since she complained of having a sore back and just knew then that this was the path for her.
Having had such a positive experience with Pilates Tonya knew that she wanted to do this for a career so she could help others reach their full potential for their bodies, just as she had done.
She signed up the very next week to become an instructor and has since completed her Matwork and Reformer certifications. Tonya is
currently working through her Diploma of Pilates instruction.
“Tonya is looking forward to a long and fulfilling career with Pilates and just loves that this job makes her and others happy every day.”
Alicia Fuller
Yoga Teacher | Pilates Instructor
Alicia is a certified mat Pilates instructor, yoga, yin yoga teacher and is currently studying a bachelor of Chinese medicine at endeavour college of natural health. Her passion lies in viewing movement as a form of medicine and deep nourishment for the body. It is her philosophy that movement should be for everyone and everyone’s bodies and that the goal isn’t necessarily to be able to do new things but to achieve greater depth in the ‘simple’ or ‘foundational’ moves. Alicia hopes to bring a safe and nurturing space for clients to explore their edges and connect to themselves on a deeper level.
“Alicia’s classes are suitable for all levels, you are guaranteed coming out of your one hour practice feeling relaxed, centred and renewed.”
Nano Yoshii
Pilates Instructor | Primary School Teacher
Nano's passion sparkles when she sees someone becoming empowered and it is her life mission to support as many people to feel this way. That passion for empowerment is what has driven her to become a primary school teacher and Pilates instructor.
Nano's classes focus on each individual's ability, learning how their body works and the body mechanics involved through the movements and exercises. She loves to work with her clients to set goals and work on achieving those goals together. Nano's clients say she is a bit cheeky, so expect a few sneaky challenges along the way in each class.
Nano has a very kind and open heart and is always looking forward to hearing about your day, or week and what makes you sparkle.
“I am really looking forward to seeing you in my class soon!”
