New Committee members

Joanne Bezzina

With over thirteen years of experience teaching Pilates throughout the Sydney metropolitan area, Jo has amassed a tremendous amount of industry knowledge and experience. Her deep understanding of Pilates repertoire, anatomy and biomechanics, coupled with boundless patience and a sense of humour has established her reputation as a highly sought after practitioner. Jo’s passion for the Method continues to deepen as the years progress.

When she’s not running Sydney Centred Pilates Studio, Jo is kept busy within the Pilates community. She was recently announced the winner of the 2017 Pilates Anytime Next Teacher Contest. You can find her classes online on the international subscription website Pilates Anytime. Jo is also an educator and examiner for international training organisation Polestar Pilates, as well as being a Principal Trainer level member with the PAA.

As part of her support to up and coming Pilates instructors, Jo offers regular study groups to trainee teachers, mentors local physiotherapists and Pilates instructors and writes regularly for blog Spirited Pilates. Passionate about the wider Pilates Community in Sydney, Jo founded the Sydney Pilates Instructors ‘Meet Up Group’ in February 2016 an initiative designed to develop the Sydney Pilates instructor community. Jo was invited onto the 2017 conference subcommittee and co-ordinated the ‘meet and greet’ function.

Jo believes that by working together we can continue to advance Pilates and promote its benefits. The desire to see the Pilates Alliance grow and for the wider Pilates community in Australia to feel represented by a national organisation, is what prompted Jo to join the Pilates Alliance Committee. Jo’s special interest is in education  standards within the Pilates community. Her goal whilst serving on the committee is to assist in any way to further develop thorough certification processes. She hopes that in this will improve recognition of Pilates as a profession and continue to raise the reputation of the Australian Pilates community internationally.

Lisa Jackson

Lisa is the Founder of Core Pilates Brisbane, a Principal Trainer under the Pilates Alliance Australasia and a Faculty Member for PilatesITC. Lisa has established Core Pilates Brisbane as the main training centre for PilatesITC students in Queensland. She is also a Licensed Buff Bones® Instructor, the Buff Bones® Faculty Teacher for Australia.. In 2015, Lisa was the Brisbane Pilates Trainer for Cirque Du Soleil “Totem” and again with “Kooza” in 2017.

Lisa has a vibrant personality and infectious passion for Pilates that resonates in all that she does. Her teaching philosophy is client-centric, emphasising correct movement patterning, posture awareness and general well-being. She is dedicated to seeing growth and change for her clients, and believes in nurturing a “stronger connection to yourself”; a concept found in the beauty of Joseph Pilates’ work.

Lisa began her Pilates journey in 2001 whilst living in Los Angeles. After undergoing major arm surgery, due to a malignant melanoma, she undertook Pilates rehabilitation. Lisa was immediately drawn to the sense of empowerment that Pilates gave her, recognising the physical and mental benefits as something that would become a passion for many years to come.

In 2003, Lisa trained at the Physicalmind Institute in Los Angeles and New York. Returning to Australia in 2006, her passion for learning and a desire to further explore Joseph Pilates’ work led her to Sally Anderson, the Founder and Director of Pilates International (PilatesITC). She has since completed her Diploma and Advanced Diploma through PilatesITC and continues to study both nationally and internationally with distinguished Pilates and movement teachers.

Lisa has an ongoing curiosity towards the body, and is a strong believer in continued education and personal growth. She is committed to sharing the many benefits of Pilates with her clients, and student-teachers looking to make a genuine difference to the lives of others.

Lisa hopes her knowledge and experience, from working both in the US and Australia, will bring to the PAA a drive and passion to help keep moving Pilates forward as a professional industry, so that instructors are better recognised for the results they are already achieving with so many people and the dedication and effort they all put in to their work.