CERTIFICATION:   How much you benefit from the Pilates Method depends on your commitment and the quality of instruction you receive. 
At the Authentic Pilates Studio we believe in maintaining integrity of the original work developed by Joseph Pilates. Our practitioners / instructors are certified by the “N.Y. Pilates Method” and “Romana's Pilates” which is the most comprehensive teacher training course available in the authentic method of the Pilates method. To develop their teaching skills, all instructors continue to attend regular workshops as well as the annual continuing education course to maintain their certification.
 

OLGA TAMARA - Director "Authentic Pilates Studio"

Olga has been working in the fitness industry on and off for the past 25 years. She was a professional classical dancer with the Australian Ballet Company from  1971 to 1976.  then certified as a personal trainer / fitness instructor in 1985.  In 1986 she  opened   “Designing Moves” teaching  Tone and Stretch body conditioning classes and managed the corporate gymnasium at “Carlton United”. She also taught movement classes to aspiring young actors at local drama schools in Nth Sydney and Paramatta as well as freelancing as dance coach at McDonald School of Performing Arts as well as giving private tuition classes to young dancers.
Olga trained in a number of Pilates studios over the years however it was when she  met  Cynthia Lochard, that she really experienced the true essence of the authentic Pilates Method as developed by Joseph Pilates almost 80 years ago. Impressed by the authenticity, quality and integrity of the Pilates Method of Body conditioning, Olga was motivated to study the method and became a certified instructor of “The NY Pilates Method” and Romana's  Pilates.  Olga now runs her own studio in Glebe where she trains her clients in the Pilates method from the very basics up to advanced level.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

BACKGROUND: Olga spent her early years travelling the world as a classical dancer with The Australian Ballet Company. She danced on stage with greats such as Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev and danced in the Australian Ballet’s film production of “Don Quixote”.
She resigned from the Australian Ballet Company in 1976 to pursue an acting career performing on stage, film and many television series including Cop Shop, Holliday Island and Chopper Squad to name a few. Olga’s first acting role in the ABC series “Glenview High” won her and ABC TV “Penguin Award” for the Best New Talent 1978. 

Olga joined  the Australian Ballet Company as guest artist in the 2006 Sydney season of Giselle. Her performance as "Bertha" marked Olga's first appearance with the company in 30years. She appeared on stage once again with the Australian Ballet Company in the "Steven Bayne's"  production of "Raymonda" during it's Sydney season 2007 and will appear as Madam X in the Australian Ballets production of  "Manon" during it's 2008 Sydney Season in December.

NIC WEARNE - Instructor

A keen sportsman, Nic began Pilates in 2001 as a way to prevent muscle soreness, injury and back pain caused by weight training and sports such as surfing and basketball. "I wanted to improve my flexibility and become more in control of my movement. As soon as I took up Pilates I could feel the benefits and decided to dedicate more time to understanding the authentic method". It wasn't long before I  became interested in the art of body control and how the biomechanics of our bodies affect activities in our everyday life".

Nic soon discovered the benefits of the Pilates Method in his own body and  undertook a rigorous training course with Cynthia Lochard to become a full time Pilates instructor.  He was fortunate enough to undertake his  apprenticeship  and study with the assistance and supervision of some of the best instructors available.

After completing his advanced component of the Pilates course in 2004, Nic took up teaching full time. He continues to learn his craft and traveled to  NY for the annual convention in the Pilates Method in 2006.

 

VALERIE GENNATAS - Instructor Valerie comes from a solid background in physical education from a number of discipline including martial arts, aerobics and strength training. After the birth of her second child she experienced sever lower back pain which was not remedied by her normal fitness regimen. A friend advised her to try Pilates. Valerie trained under the guidance of teachers from Romana's Pilates and eventually found relief from her her back pain. While training her own body in the Pilates method, Valerie became inspired and began training as an instructor. Her early training was in Den Hagg, Holland and then moved onto complete  her  training at Drago's in NY under Sari Mejia-Santo. Valerie has worked around the world as a Pilates instructor including Taiwan, Frankfurt, New York and Holland all the while gaining valuable skills and knowledge. Valerie arrived in Australia in December 2005 and gets great satisfaction of teaching a form of exercise such as Pilates that has great benefits for people of all ages and boy types.

CYNTHIA LOCHARD – Teacher/ trainer  - The NY Pilates Method and Romana's Pilates

Born in New York City, Cynthia Lochard began learning the Pilates Method in 1976 as a young dancer with the New York City Ballet. During this time she continued practicing the Pilates Method at Josephs Studio in New York City with Romana Kryzanowska. 
By the end of 1987 Cynthia moved to Sydney and from 1990 till 1992 was part of the Sydney Dance Company and later danced with The Bangara Dance Theatre. She then returned to New York City in 1994 to study as an instructor under the guidance of her teacher and mentor Romana Kryzanowska, one of the last remaining disciples of Joseph H. Pilates. 

Returning to Sydney later that year as a certified instructor of the Authentic Pilates Method, Cynthia opened her own studio. In 1998 she became a Teacher Trainer in the NY Method and is also a Level 2 instructor for Romana's Pilates. Cynthia now travels around the world to teach at seminars and workshops and continues to develop her skills in the method to insure that her studio here in Sydney continues to provide the upmost quality and integrity in the Authentic Pilates Method of body conditioning.

omana Kryzanowska  - Master teacher trainer

Romana started as Joseph Pilates protégé and star pupil in the 1940s. She has become the most pre-eminent and respected representative of the method and is now recognized internationally as the Grande Dame of Pilates.
Romans has been teaching the method for nearly six decades. Long ago Romana made a commitment to Joe and Clare Pilates to continue their life's work.
Romana is still fit in her 80's (an amazing testimony to the effectiveness of Authentic Pilates), travels extensively and visits the "Pilates Method Studio"  studio once a year to conduct Advanced workshops and Continuing Education classes. Her personal warmth, bright humour, clever wit, and vast knowledge of the method make her much loved and greatly appreciated.

Romana teaches Pilates as Joe intended it to be taught...
 She still teaches every day, and travels around the world and teaches and carries on this method, and makes sure that it stays as pure as it was when she learned it. This is very difficult because many who learned under Joe began to teach other people the way they'd been taught for their own bodies which isn't necessarily the way to teach everyone. Romana learned from Joseph how to break down each movement so it could be taught to each individual. That's the difference. Many who didn't stay with their training tend to teach slower or more therapeutically than originally Joe had planned.

 The annual workshop is being held in Sydney in April 2007 to provide the Australian based certified  instructors with continuing education in the authentic Pilates Method. This workshop is held annually around the world to ensure that the quality and integrity of teaching in  the Real Pilates Method is retained.