Jakki Tobin – Director, Physiotherapist, Pilates Instructor + Breathing Educator
I grew up in England but I was actually born in Sydney. I have always been a very keen sportsperson, playing tennis, netball, and hockey as a kid. Now as an Australian adult I still play tennis but have a love for the surf and running. I love hanging out with my family and friends, playing board games, relaxing with our animals (dog, cat, guinea, rabbit, and snake!).
I qualified as a Physio in England and worked in London before coming out to Sydney in 2002. As a young physio, I always loved neurology and the Bobath method which emphasised the importance of understanding normal movement patterns. I was fascinated with how effective and skilled this method was in working with people with neurological impairments.
On moving to Sydney there were few Bobath practitioners to learn from so I turned myself towards musculoskeletal physiotherapy and developed an interest in Pilates. I found Pilates to be very similar to the normal movement treatments I had loved. I started to focus on courses and learning in my own body different movement methods such as Pilates, Franklin, Gyrotonic, Yoga, and Martial arts. I have had many incredible teachers that have put up with me and my questions, always trying to understand how all movements break down into the basic foundations.
The more pilates and normal movement I taught, the more I noticed the differences in the way people breathed and how those who improved the most had an ease to their breathing that was very hard for others to achieve. Hence my special interest in breathing developed and I absolutely love seeing the results now as I teach normal breathing.
Recently I have started studying Connect Therapy by LJ Lee a Canadian Physiotherapist, a truly incredible Physiotherapist who I believe is starting to change our profession. I can’t wait to keep learning more.
I love meeting and listening to people, trying to understand their stories and how we can help them. Everyone is unique and has the ability to tap into their body’s potential. I learn from every client I teach.
Something from my bucket list…New York Marathon…hopefully, 2022!
Andreina Innocenti – Pilates Instructor
I was born and grew up in Venezuela. I danced all my life and also got a dentistry degree. I came to Sydney in 2012 for a 6-12 month holiday with my partner and after a year living here, we did not visualise ourselves anywhere else.
As a dancer, movement was always a very important part of my life and Pilates was part of my training. I did my Pilates training in Australia and not long after that I met Jakki. I completely felt a connection with her and the vibe of the studio.
Mixing all the things I love the most, science, movement, teaching and a whole holistic approach where I see each client as wonderfully unique. Definitely working with people is what inspires me to be better every day. Seeing changes in my clients and being surrounded by lovely people who love what they do.
Graeme Morton – Office Administrator
Embarking on adult life this year working at The Pilates Centre Mosman and having some amazing down-time too. Not yet convinced what my mission in life is, I am grateful to have a year to reflect and make decisions for my future.
I grew up in Cape Town and moved to Sydney at the start of year 11 in 2019. I completed my HSC at Mosman High School. I absolutely love living in Sydney and look forward to my future here. I have thoroughly enjoyed attending weekly Reformer Classes here for more than a year now. I definitely can’t complain!
Ava Rodriguez – Movement Specialist
No age is too early or too late for optimising your well-being! That pretty much sums up Ava’s outlook on training.
Ava was educated in Remedial Pilates by Alan Herdman in London and has since had the privilege to earn certificates in Neurokinetic Therapy which involves soft tissue release.Furthermore, Ava has an FRCms (Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist) certificate which qualifies her as a Mobility Specialist!
She holds workshops for professionals regarding training and rehabilitation. She tailors each program to every individual.
The work in Ava’s classes is very specific… everything has a purpose. We put our minds in to it and we laugh a lot….because everything is better with a smile!
Shani Morton – Director, Office Manager
I grew up in Johannesburg but lived in Cape Town for 10 years before we moved to Sydney at the beginning of 2019. I love spending time with my family and dogs, preferably outdoors but binge-watching a series or playing board games is also great. I exercise every day by either walking, hiking, doing Pilates or cycling.
I have a lifetime of experience with admin, numbers, people and organising anything that moves! I qualified as a teacher many moons ago and did a BCom Information Systems part-time while teaching. I am at my happiest serving others and making things happen. I did community work for 10 years in Cape Town and loved the fact that I could make a difference in my neighbours’ lives.
I have also always enjoyed Pilates and know the benefits are life-enhancing and in some instances, life-changing. This is why I feel blessed to be able to be involved in offering Pilates to our clients.
Mindy Byrne – Pilates Therapist
Gypsy wanderer and master of the creative Pilates cue, Mindy Byrne is our “Fly In Fly Out” instructor based in Mullumbimby.
Introduced to Pilates for her own lower back pain care, proper training followed, replacing work as a chef, which was rugged on the body.
Mentored by Physiotherapists, self-care and injury/pain management focus her work. The prospect of getting better with time, is something Mindy loves enabling clients to embrace.
Pilates principles – with fine-tuning informed by real-time ultrasound workshops – have evolved her style, well-described as “subtle but powerful”.
Mindy nurtures clients holistically and has many clients that have been under her care here for more than a decade. If you’re one of the lucky ones – to keep her chef’s hand in – she also cooks delicious meals occasionally for clients and colleagues to take home for lunch or dinner.
Being “on board” with Jakki’s Breathing Easy coursework, Mindy utilises this dimension which offers a new level in finessing self-care with new and long-term clients alike.
Millie McFarlane – Pilates Instructor
I have always been active and had an interest in health and wellbeing. I discovered Pilates (through Jakki) as a teenager due to various horse-riding injuries. I instantly fell in love with the benefits it had on me both physically and mentally. I was inspired by my amazing instructors, and in 2018 became certified through Polestar to teach Reformer.
I enjoyed my Reformer training immensely and decided to continue my learning in all Pilates apparatus. I am currently finishing my 500-hour training through BASI to become comprehensively trained.
I believe that Pilates is beneficial to everyone, I have seen first-hand how it has helped my body and injuries. I love working closely with my clients to help them achieve their goals. As well as Pilates I am also interested in food, cooking, and nutrition. I am studying for a Bachelor of Health Science in Nutritional Medicine. I look forward to one day combining my two passions.
“The Pilates Centre Mosman has been an important addition to my life. Having undergone spinal surgery, a shattered and repaired right ankle and a left knee replacement, I was rather unstable and wonky on all fronts! The professional staff, who have backgrounds in physiotherapy and dance, have guided me to build up stability and strength, with increased flexibility and balance. ” ~ Dawn
Working together is success.
