Brent Anderson PhD, PT, OCS, President and CEO
A licensed Physical Therapist and Orthopedic Certified Specialist for more than 13 years, Brent is a leading authority in performing arts medicine and Pilates-evolved techniques for rehabilitation. He lectures widely at national and international symposia and consults with professional dance companies, schools, and conservatories throughout the world. In addition, he owns and operates two of the nation’s most comprehensive Pilates conditioning and physical therapy centers. These highly successful studios have become the model for many other Pilates studios worldwide.
Contact Brent Anderson directly: brent@polestareducation.com
Brent received his degree in physical therapy at University of California, San Francisco in 1989 and is currently adjunct faculty at the University of Miami, Division of Physical Therapy. His doctoral thesis explored the impact of Pilates rehabilitation on chronic low back pain using psycho-emotional wellness and quality of life measures. Brent is a 15-year member of the American Physical Therapy Association for which he formerly served as President of its Performing Arts Special Interest Group. He is also a longtime member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science.
Dawnna Wayburne Polestar Pilates Asia Inc.-Education
Director
Dawnna Wayburne has been closely involved in the
area of physical training for most of her life and, since early childhood,
was trained in Ballet, one of the most technical and demanding of physical
disciplines. Dawnna is a Registered teacher of the Royal Academy of Dancing
as well as an Associate Diploma holder of the Imperial Society of Dancing.
Since 1973 Dawnna has trained intensively in the Pilates field and has,
over the years, worked with Master teachers of universal repute some of
whom worked with Joseph Pilates himself. Dawnna was the first to set up
a combined Gyrotonic® / Pilates exercise studio in Asia. The success
of her programme can be directly related to her ability to develop and
maintain high instructor standards and the fact that she has been able
to bring together a variety of training techniques to create a unique
exercise environment from which clients and students alike benefit greatly.
Dawnna a Education Director of Polestar Pilates Asia Inc.,the Asian Licensee and a Principal Educator for the Polestar Pilates® Education LLC, based in Miami Florida, world leaders in the field of Pilates instructor
training for fitness and rehabilitation professionals. She spends a considerable
part of her time conducting in-house and external instructor training programmes in Hong Kong and other cities in Asia.
A true movement and training specialist, Dawnna attends seminars and courses
in the fields of Pilates, Gyrotonic® (she is a Level 2 Master Trainer
) and other mind-body exercise methods on a regular basis all over the
world.
Contact Dawnna directly: Dawnna@polestarpilatesasia.com.hk
Shelley Power
Shelly Power is the Director of Education for Polestar Pilates Education. Shelly is also one of Polestar's Principal Educators, and has taught for Polestar Pilates Education since its inception in 1992. She has been a member of International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS) since 1996, and is a member of the Pilates Method Alliance. Shelly danced professionally for twelve years with the Sacramento-based modern dance company Dale Scholl Dance/Art. During this time she also trained dancers from the Sacramento Ballet in Pilates. She received her BS degree in Dance from California State University, Sacramento, where she served on the faculty from 1992-1998.
Sherri Betz
Sherri Betz, Physical Therapist, is a 1991 graduate
of Louisiana State University's School of Physical Therapy. Utilisation
of Pilates-based methods for treatment of the pelvic girdle are integral
to her practice as a physical therapist. Sherri has developed Women's
and Corporate Wellness Programmes covering a variety of topics and has
been involved with research leading to her authorship of The Osteoporosis
Exercise Book: Building Better Bones. She is the Western Regional Director
for Polestar Pilates Education's Rehabilitation Programme, and is Director
of Pilates Programmes at Western Athletic Club's Courtside Club.
Sherri is owner of TheraPilates Physical Therapy, Santa Cruz, California
You can contact Sherri Betz at:
Dav Cohen
Principal Educator, Polestar Pilates Education
Dav entered into the fitness world in 1992 as a certified personal fitness
trainer. He began his study of Pilates exercise techniques also in 1992
while in Los Angeles, California with Kim Lee. His interest in the movement
sciences and rehabilitation led him to pursue a Master of Science Degree
in Physiotherapy, which he received from the University of Miami in 1998.
Since then Dav has worked in a variety of fitness and rehabilitation settings, including Orthopaedic Physiotherapy clinics, fitness centres, health clubs and with the Miami City Ballet. As a Principal Instructor with Polestar Education, known internationally for it‚s Pilates-evolved rehabilitation and fitness curriculum and certification, Dav conducts Pilates teacher training workshops and seminars locally and nationally. Most recently, Dav has worked in Denver, Colorado as the Pilates Program Director for HealthSouth and then for the Athletic Club at Denver Place.
His Pilates experience includes teaching group Reformer and Mat classes, private and semi-private lessons utilizing all the Studio equipment, as well as Pilates-based rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation.
Contact Dav Cohen directly: dav@polestarpilates.com
Andrew Nicholls
Introduction
Coming from a strong sporting and exercise physiology background, Andrew Nicholls has honed his academic knowledge with practical and hands on training in Asia for the past 12 years. Taking particular interest in movement integration and strength training, his passions are working with elite movers, golfers and swimmers, as well with the general populace with the aim of increasing awareness and understanding of their own bodies and movement patterns.
Andrew resides in Singapore where he runs his own Pilates studio and movement specialist business, concentrating on instructor training and certification in Diploma and Certificate personal training, and Polestar Pilates certification courses throughout Asia. A strong and very passionate communicator and teacher, Andrew energetically delivers equally well to an Asian or international audience, across a wide range or sporting and movement disciplines.
1989 - BPE - Bachelor of Physical Education – majoring in exercise physiology and corporate health and fitness.
1990 - Honours (2A) - Research into Stress Management programs for Primary level students.
1995 - MEd - Master of Education – focused on education technology, teaching methodologies, communication models, advanced exercise physiology and corporate/public health programs.
All completed at the University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. 1987-1994
Professional:
Bonze Medallion, Austswim.
Level 1 Coaching – Badminton, Basketball
First Aid Certificate.
Polestar Pilates – Allegro 1-3 (reformer) – internationally certified
Polestar Pilates - Matwork 1-3 – internationally certified
Polestar Pilates – Studio 1-3 – internationally certified
Polestar Pilates Asia Host, Mentor and Educator
Mirko Turla
Originally from Italy, Mirko has been in the fitness industry since 1996 working in London, Sydney and currently based in Hong Kong. Mirko holds qualifications in Group Fitness, Indoor Cycling (RPM), Aquafitness, Pilates, Gyrotonic and Personal Training through RSA, Les Mills, Physicalmind, Polestar, Gyrotonic Expansion System and NASM. An AASFP (Asian Academy of Sports and Fitness Professionals) lecturer for Aquafitness and Group Fitness, Mirko has also presented workshops and masterclasses in China, Thailand and Malaysia. He is currently working on the Polestar Pilates Educator track. As a teacher trainer, Mirko looks forward to sharing his passion for fitness to many more instructors around the world!
Samantha Robinson
Sam began her career studying dance and performance arts in her native Sydney, Australia. She adapted her classical training to the fitness industry which bought her to seek new challenges in Hong Kong via Sydney and London and is currently nearing completion of an MSc. in Exercise Science. More recently Sam has added Pilates to her repertoire, studying Polestar Pilates Matwork, Allegro and Studio. After the required intensive apprenticeship period, Sam qualified as a Polestar Educator in Mat and Allegro and is in the process of working towards her Studio educator status as well. Sam’s broad experience in dance and fitness has proved beneficial to her development as a Pilates instructor, bringing a wealth of knowledge to impart to her clients. She is also is a regular guest instructor and staff trainer at Chiva Som Health Resort, Thailand and is a regular Health and Fitness convention presenter.
ALASTIAR GREETHAM, M.C.S.P.
Alastair has been a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists for 20 years. He trained in the military, working mainly in the area of Orthopedic Rehab. His main areas of interest and expertise are Sports Rehabilitation and his research has led him to study many different disciplines and he now specializes in movement and posture related problems. Alastair is also trained in hypnosis and Neuro-linguistic programming and a Principal Educator for Polestar Pilates Education. He lectures worldwide on the applications of Neuro-Linguistic programming with regard to movement re-education.