Our Team
Teachers
Experience counts.
Our teaching staff complete a comprehensive Pilates teacher education program with Dianne Miller, who is a leading figure in the continuing evolution of the Pilates method, and is known internationally as a 'teacher of teachers'. The VPC teaching team is invested in continuing education through the Franklin Method and Ron Fletcher work. Our teachers provide expert and consistent instruction from beginner to advanced levels. We respect both the tradition and the evolution of Pilates to bring you the best quality Pilates training!
Mairin Wilde
Owner - Vancouver Pilates Centre
Program Director: VPC Teacher Education Program
Mairin Wilde became the owner of the Vancouver Pilates Centre in 2005, following a professional association with her mentor, Dianne Miller, that began in the early 1980’s.
Mairin’s career as a movement educator began in dance, and since the mid-1980’s has focused on the Pilates Method as the foundation for healthy movement. She was first introduced to the Pilates method by Dianne Miller in 1986, while they were both on the dance faculty of Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada. She continued her Pilates teacher training with certificates from both Dianne Miller (Level Two – 1995) and Pilates elder Ron Fletcher (Certificate of Merit – 2001). She also acted as Program Director of the Dianne Miller Pilates Teacher Education Program (DMPTEP) from 1995 – 2020. This ongoing collaboration with Dianne Miller grew to become the renowned Dianne Miller Pilates Center, and evolved into the Vancouver Pilates Centre today. Since 2005, Mairin continues to lead the VPC as a provider of excellence in Pilates training, with a superb staff of DMPTEP and VPC trained teachers.
In addition to Pilates, Mairin's background includes ballet and contemporary dance, including performance, teaching dancers and movement for actors and circus artists, as well as independent choreography. Her extensive background in movement modalities includes Pilates, Ron Fletcher Work, Franklin Method, Coordination Pattern Training, and ELDOA and Laban Movement Analysis.
Mairin Wilde is a lifelong learner who embraces the belief that any body can learn to move better and be more at ease in the world. With over 40 years of experience teaching movement, she specializes in creating rehabilitative exercise programs for a wide range of physical issues including scoliosis, joint replacement, arthritis, spinal dysfunction, Parkinson’s, etc. She believes that every person is capable of making positive change, and she is always ready to use every tool in her toolbox to help those who commit to that process with her. Her colleagues and clients continue to inspire her on the journey towards whole body health.
Certified Laban Movement Analyst (University of Washington) - 1985
Dianne Miller Pilates Teacher Education Program – 1995
Qualified Teacher of the Ron Fletcher Work™ (Certificate of Merit) – 2001
Franklin Method® Educator (Level 3) - 2011
Coordination Patterns™ Training- 2015
ELDOA (Level 2) – 2016
Karin Cote
Senior Pilates and ELDOA Teacher
Karin began her Pilates training in 1998 in Edmonton, Alberta with Steve Bryson after suffering a knee injury while pursuing a dance career. Karin moved to Vancouver from Alberta in 2000, completing the Dianne Miller Pilates Teacher Education Program and joined the VPC team shortly after.
Karin first experienced working with the body's neuromuscular movement patterns with Dianne Miller in 2000, where she developed a strong passion for understanding the qualitative aspects of movement revealed through our personal movement signatures. Karin continues to study Betsy Wetzig’s Coordination Patterns and Dynamics Training™. This comprehensive knowledge informs her Pilates teaching, providing a unique method of helping people move at low tension. She is excited about helping people make new discoveries in their bodies while creating room for joy in movement and in their daily lives.
Grant MacEwan Community College - Modern Dance Diploma
Dianne Miller Pilates Teacher Education Program – 2000
Franklin Method® Educator (Level 1) – 2012
Coordination Patterns™ Training Level 1 – 2015
ELDOA Level 1 – 2015
ELDOA Level 2 – 2016
Edmond Kilpatrick
Senior Pilates Teacher
Associate Program Director: VPC Teacher Education Program
Edmond Kilpatrick has dedicated his career to exploring the potential of the body in movement including twenty-four years as an elite professional dancer, over thirty years as a dance instructor, and eleven years as a Pilates teacher.
Edmond began his Pilates practice with Dianne Miller in 2004 while still a professional dancer. He has taught Pilates at the Vancouver Pilates Centre since completing the Dianne Miller Pilates Teacher Education Program in 2008. His Pilates teaching is enhanced by his training as a Level 1 Franklin Method Educator (2011) and ELDOA Level 1 certification (2015).
Edmond has designed the VPC Teacher Education Program in collaboration with Mairin Wilde. His work on the curriculum is informed by his Master of Arts in Education degree from Simon Fraser University. His graduate work shaped the program in creating a structure that engages, challenges and supports students through layers of teaching, embodied learning and student-centred exploration that continually reinforces the learning experience.
Prior to teaching Pilates, Edmond had a career as a professional dancer in two of Canada’s major ballet companies, and as an independent contemporary dancer, choreographer and filmmaker. He taught dance in many professional and pre-professional contexts including ballet and movement theatre for the School of Contemporary Arts at Simon Fraser University between 2008 and 2017.
Diploma in Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet School - 1990
Dianne Miller Pilates Teacher Education Program – 2008
Franklin Method® Educator (Level 1) – 2012
ELDOA Level 1 – 2015
MA Education (Simon Fraser University) – 2018
Carolyn Woods
Senior Pilates and ELDOA Teacher
Originally from Alberta, Carolyn moved to Toronto in 1988 to pursue a career in dance. Carolyn danced with Dancemakers, under the direction of Serge Bennathan for 16 years. As a part of their company training, Dianne Miller was brought out every year to teach Pilates mat work to complement the rigourous demands of dancing full time. Recognizing the unique value of Pilates, Carolyn travelled to Vancouver in 2004 to complete the Dianne Miller Pilates Teacher Education Program. She taught at The Pilates Centre of Toronto with Rucsandra Mitrea from 2004-2011. While in Toronto, she also trained in Myofascial Stretching and the ELDOA technique developed by renowned osteopath, Dr. Guy Voyer.
In 2011, Carolyn moved to Vancouver to join Mairin Wilde and the VPC team. Carolyn is known for her caring and encouraging nature and is passionate in helping others rediscover strength and confidence in their bodies.
Dianne Miller Pilates Teacher Education Program – 2004
Myofascial Stretching – 2005
Franklin Method® Educator (Level 1) – 2012
International Teacher Training Level 1 Program in Kundalini Yoga – 2014
ELDOA Level 1 – 2015
ELDOA Level 2 – 2016
ELDOA Level 3 – 2018
ELDOA Level 4 – 2019
Pamela Blackmon
Pilates Teacher
In 2001 Pam discovered Pilates while teaching fitness, which revolutionized how she worked on her own body and with her clients. She began building a new career as a Pilates teacher training first through the PhysicalMind Institute, then continuing her education through the Dianne Miller Pilates Teacher Education Program Level 1 theory modules at the Vancouver Pilates Center.
Pam taught fitness from 1982 - early 2000's, starting her career in Health Sciences at UBC in Sports Nutrition and Healthy Weight Loss. She is certified in BCRPA and has experience teaching all levels of fitness classes including Step, Ball, Bootcamp and Yoga.
As an avid trail runner, Pam has completed 12 half-marathons and credits Pilates for keeping her injury free! Some of her other hobbies include rowing with the Fort Langley Community Rowing Club, paddle-boarding, kayaking and hiking.
BCRPA Fitness Leader Certification – 1982
PhysicalMind Institute Initiation Pilates Teacher Training – 2002
Pilates Apparatus Instructor Training - 2006
Dianne Miller Pilates Teacher Education Program Continuing Education – 2008
ELDOA Level 1 - 2018
ELDOA Level 2 - 2018
_edited.jpg)
Kathy Pomeroy
Pilates Teacher
Kathy has been a dedicated student of Pilates for over 20 years. She is a graduate of the Dianne Miller Pilates Teacher Education Program and joined the VPC teaching team in 2016. Her experience with Pilates before and after her hip replacements demonstrated the value of Pilates in creating healthy movement. In addition to her background as a fitness instructor, she has also studied Coordination Patterns™, The Franklin Method and ELDOA.
Her extensive background motivates her to help others overcome physical challenges, develop strength and competence, find joy in movement, and be truly at home in their body. Kathy’s current passions are gardening, kayaking and West Coast swing dancing.
Franklin Method® Educator (Level 1)– 2012
Dianne Miller Pilates Teacher Education Program - 2013
Franklin Method® Educator (Level 2) – 2013
Franklin Method® Educator (Level 3) – 2015
Coordination Patterns™ Training Level 1 - 2015
ELDOA Level 1 - 2015
ELDOA Level 2 - 2016
ELDOA Level 3 - 2019
Tilly Schalkwyk
Pilates Teacher
Tilly started Pilates in 2001 when she had numb fingertips due to nerve compression in her neck. After 2 years of Pilates for rehabilitation, she continued to progress with her Pilates practice.
In 2016, after retiring from a 50+ year career as a nurse, she began working with the studio founder, Dianne Miller, under the Dianne Miller Pilates Teacher Education Program. Tilly continued with her teacher training once the VPC Teacher Education Program was re-launched.
Tilly brings her heart and experience from working with people as a nurse and is endlessly fascinated with the intricacies of each individual as they explore the possibilities of movement.
VPC Teacher Education Program (Level 2) – 2022
Lindsay Jongbloed
Pilates Teacher
Lindsay began Pilates at the VPC in 2015 and is currently participating in The Vancouver Pilates Centre Teacher Education Program.
She feels most alive when moving and Pilates has helped her move more freely and with ease. She is looking forward to helping others find that ease of movement for themselves so they can take it with them into all aspects of their life.
She grew up cycling, hiking and camping throughout B.C. and still loves exploring and finding new surprising corners of Vancouver and the province!
VPC Teacher Education Program (Level 2) – 2022
Noelle Young
Pilates Teacher
Bio coming soon...
VPC Teacher Education Program (Level 2) – 2022
Intern Teachers
VPC also provides internship opportunities for student teachers working towards their Comprehensive Teaching Certificates. The following interns are currently fulfilling their requirements for each program.
Martin Gotfrit
Intern Teacher - Dianne Miller Pilates Teacher Education Program
Martin began Pilates in 1989 at Dianne Miller's Pilates studio and has been practicing continuously since. He took an early retirement from SFU to do the teacher training with Dianne in 2016 to both teach as well as to deepen his understanding and technique. Pilates has been an integral part of Martin's life, contributing by virtue of the way it builds awareness of as well as organizes and strengthens the body. He enjoys teaching because it combines ongoing study, personal practice and the subtle skill of "seeing" the whole body in movement. He appreciates the team environment at VPC and finds inspiration from each teacher's continual pursuit of their craft. Martin also continues his 50 plus years as a composer and multi-instrumentalist.
VPC Teacher Education Program Interns
Jenny Choi
Ann Cui
Geoff Dagg
Bridgit Lam
Klaudia Mohandes
Lorrene Parks
Administrative Team
_edited.jpg)
Lila Hough
Operations Manager
Lila comes to us from sunny Australia, with a smile to match! She has an extensive administrative background having worked in many customer service and administrative roles, covering accounting support, events management and hospitality management. Lila has really enjoyed taking on the role of Operations Manager here at VPC, overseeing the front desk, making sure the studio is running smoothly, and assisting Mairin with anything else that pops up!
Lila is new to Pilates but has quickly fallen in love with the practice. She has been overjoyed at the great progress she feels in her body!
Leighla Claydon
Reception/Administration
Born and raised in Vancouver, Leighla’s passion for fitness, yoga and holistic health began at the age of 17. She now has 10 years of experience working in the health and wellness industry, including front desk reception and as a yoga teacher, group fitness instructor, and personal trainer!
Leighla wants to show as many people as possible a way of life that would bring them happiness beyond what they could imagine through health and wellness. Leighla sees health as living a life in balance. Her goal is to empower others and to help them achieve the confidence to pursue their dreams.
Emma Berrow
Reception/Administration
Emma initially joined our team as a cleaner, supporting the studio during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we were excited to transition her to the administrative team when the opportunity presented itself. Emma is a newcomer to Pilates - but she already feels at home on the reformer and at the front desk! She is quickly adjusting to the sense of calm and confidence that her Pilates practice brings.
From a young age she has danced nearly every day, and is grateful to have found another medium in which to explore functional and joyful movement.
Jane Grocott
Reception/Administration
Jane was familiar with our studio before joining our team - she assisted one of our VPC-Teacher Education Program students with their practical teaching exams. We were pleased to officially welcome her to the team in July 2022.
She is a fine art student at Emily Carr University who specializes in painting. She has spent many hours painting portraits, so is very interested in how the body moves. She looks forward to incorporating Pilates into her regular routine and is excited to experience how Pilates can benefit her own body, as well as her painting practice!
She also likes to stay active by biking and hiking and played soccer competitively for most of her life.