Heather Thomas Shalabi became a Pilates devotee ten years ago, after moving to Hong Kong. Her recognition of the benefits of Pilates, and passion for the discipline led her to embark on intensive training with Master Trainer Dawnna Wayburne at IsoFit, with whom she also studied the Gyrotonic Expansion System® of movement. Heather was an instructor at the Aberdeen Marina Club and IsoFit before opening Flex in January of 2005. Pre and Post Natal conditioning through Pilates and the Gyrotonic Expansion System® is an area Heather has studied extensively, having practiced both systems of movement regularly during her first and second pregnancies. Heather’s interest in movement and the body stems from her decade-long training in classical ballet whilst a young girl. She is also a dedicated practitioner of yoga, having initially studied at Jivamukti Yoga in New York City for many years, prior to living in Asia.

Certified Polestar® Pilates – Mat, Allegro and Studio; Gyrotonic Expansion System® apprentice; and Fusion Fitness® certification

Anna Serafinas Luk graduated from London’s Rambert School of Ballet before dancing as a soloist with the Essen Ballet Company, Germany and later with the Bavarian State Ballet in Munich. In 1987 she obtained her diploma in dance education with distinction from the Royal Academy of Dance in London and lectured at various performing arts schools in the United Kingdom before settling in Hong Kong in 1991. She was the Ballet Mistress for the Hong Kong Ballet from 1992-1995 and has since been a guest teacher there as well as serving as a member of that institute’s Artistic Advisory Committee. Anna’s love of Pilates stems from her early introduction to the method in London as a dance student. Her interest in the field has continued to expand over the years, leading to her partnership Heather Thomas Shalabi in the establishment of Flex in 2005. Anna also teaches the adult advanced Ballet class as well as the Gifted Young Dancers Programme at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

Certified Polestar® Pilates Instructor Mat and Studio; ARAD dip PDTC

Victoria taught Pilates for seven years in London, before moving to Hong Kong in the spring of 2009; she was recruited to work at Flex Studio and has been one of the studio's Senior Instructors for the past year and a half. Her dedication to Pilates began at the age of 16 whilst at The Royal Ballet School. After a career performing and teaching ballet, she studied Pilates under the highly-regarded Alan Herdman and later, the Body Arts and Sciences method. Victoria’s enthusiasm is at the core of her teaching style and she strives to constantly refine her knowledge of body movement, control and posture to tailor each session to the needs and goals of her clients.

Certified; Body Arts and Science International (BASI), Alan Herdman, ARAD Dip RBSTC.

Jan comes from a fitness background. In 1993 she qualified as a Group Fitness Instructor and taught a variety of classes including Aerobics, Step, and body Conditioning. She became interested in teaching clients on a one to one basis and in 1999 qualified as a Fitness Personal Trainer. Jan first discovered Pilates ten years ago, and since 2005 has studied the Pilates Method extensively. She is still amazed at the improvements people achieve with regular practice of Pilates. Jan is passionate about sharing her knowledge with others and has genuine compassion and empathy with her clients, always looking for the best ways to help them achieve their goals. Along with her own personal practice of Pilates, Jan is an avid runner and dragon boat paddler. She is interested in Holistic Health Therapies and holds diplomas in Aromatherapy, Indian Head Massage and Swedish Body Massage.

Certified Polestar® Pilates Instructor – Mat, Allegro and Studio; Fletcher Method Towelwork® and Spine Corrector Certified; ACE & NASM Certified Fitness Personal Trainer; NASM advanced certification as a 'Corrective Exercise Specialist'; CPR. & AED certified; Pilates Method Alliance member

A long-time Hong Kong resident, Lyndsay was a keen horse rider growing up and has always enjoyed keeping fit. A riding accident prompted her to take up Pilates as a means of rehabilitation, and she loved it so much she undertood certification with PhysicalMind and Ron Fletcher. Lyndsay's wonderful training incorporates Fletcher's unique Towelwork, and she brings fluidity and dynamic energy to all of her sessions. A Pilates instructor for more than five years, Lyndsay is the Ron Fletcher Teacher Training Facilitator for Hong Kong, a personal trainer and fitball trainer.

Ron Fletcher Method; PhysicalMind Institute

Previously working in Luxury retail in the Middle East and in Asia, Anne decided soon after discovering Pilates at Flex to focus professionally on the practice. She finds Pilates a balanced experience for body and soul and is now grateful for the opportunity to share her love for Pilates with others.

Polestar® Pilates Studio Apprentice.

Michelle is a certified Polestar Pilates Allegro and Studio instructor, as well as a Gyrotonic® apprentice. Her regular practice with Pilates began in 2004 to recover from a long term sports injury. Over subsequent years, she has constantly been amazed by the visible improvements people could achieve with only minor changes in daily habits , and the urge to understand more about Pilates began to take root. By chance, she undertook her first teaching course and eventually switched out of her branding career to become a full time instructor.

Michelle's innate desire to learn and dig deep, combined with strong communication & observation skills have given her the tools to explain Pilates concepts in an understandable and interesting manner. Her goal is to progress further into Gyrotonic® and anatomy studies to provide a holistic workout for her clients. Michelle is passionate about teaching, and will always push her clients a little harder with the greatest amount of care. She is happy that through teaching Pilates, she is helping others give themselves the priceless gift of a healthy body. She knows everyone will benefit from it and urges even the most active individuals to give Pilates a try.

Upon graduating from University with a degree in Economics, it wasn’t long before Leah realized her life would be much better spent on the mat than in a cubicle. A native Californian, she is based in Hong Kong and travels around the globe teaching yoga. She has numerous certifications from veteran teachers in the US including Erich Schiffmann, Ally Hamilton, and Shiva Rea. She is also Nike’s Global Yoga Ambassador.

Leah bring years of dedicated practice, study, and training to her teaching, rooting into the traditional foundation of yoga, but also soaring out into a contemporary understanding and integration into the truth of each individual today. She teaches the physical postures as a way to stay vibrant, healthy, and well, while also diving into the deeper layers of exploration: quieting the mind, calming the emotions, and awakening the spirit. 

Early Bird Flow, Lunchtime Yoga, Pre-Natal Yoga, Warrior Flow

KookHee was born in Korea and adopted to Sweden at a very early age. While traveling in India in 1994, she was introduced to Sivananda Yoga and a few years later, she started practicing Ashtanga Yoga. In the practice of Ashtanga, KookHee felt she had found her yoga path: a continuous flow of poses, like a dance.  Certified by Yoga Arts in Bali and Byron Bay, KookHee has studied with many great Ashtangis including Pattabhi Jois, and has taught in Costa Rica and Hong Kong over the past nine years.

Through the many changes of her own body, KookHee is experienced in adapting the practice and its postures to all different bodies in different phases of life. She offers the balance of a strong training background with the softness that naturally comes with being a mum. Her most important practice today is learning acceptance and flexibility through her son.

Raised in London and Hong Kong, Tara is a certified yoga teacher from the Art of Living Center in Bangalore, India. She has further qualifications from the Los Angeles based YogaEd(c) programme, which specialises in yoga for children. She currently teaches at numerous schools in Hong Kong, as well as private instruction. Tara is looking forward to teaching classes in the new premises of Flex Studio.

 

With extensive training from the U.S. and Australia, Peggy is a certified pre- and post- natal yoga instructor, an Energy Medicine Therapist and a Childbirth and Childcare Specialist.  She is also a Lululemon Ambassador for the year of 2009-2010. 

Peggy’s passion is to embark her students on a "personal development" process utilizing many tools to tap into their hidden potential.  She has extensive experience in guiding women and their partners through the journey of pregnancy, birth and parenting experiences.  Her style is known to be effective, immediate, and calming, and can change perceptions about how we see ourselves and the world.  She believes we all live for moments of connection and recognition of the truth; simply remembering that simple joy in life will bring us love, freedom and equanimity.  

 

Laura's athletic start in life began with gymnastics, with which she earned a gymnastics scholarship to the University of Calgary in Canada. After graduating, it was onto running, triathlons and adventure racing. It wasn't until Laura was pregnant with her son Dylan that she took up yoga. She studied with Michel Besnard in Hong Kong, through whom she gained her Yoga Alliance teaching certificate. In addition to the practical side of sports and yoga training, Laura also holds a Masters of Sports Science and is a certified personal trainer (NSCA -PT) and conditioning specialist (NSCA - CSCS).