your teachers
Kim Paxton – Director and Teacher
Originally from New Zealand, Kim’s early training began in ballet and modern dance. Moving to Melbourne at age 16, she continued to study Ballet full-time, eventually leading to a contract dancing with the Guangzhou Ballet Company, China. After her time here, Kim relocated to Canada where she attained her Teacher’s Certificate through the Royal Academy of Dance, teaching dance to children.
At this time, Kim decided to pursue Pilates teacher training, having been exposed to it throughout her years as a dancer. Initially training with Tracy Friesen of Integration Pilates (Edmonton) she has since continued her education with the Pilates Center in Boulder Colorado, Pilates from the Center, Vancouver (under Matilda Christensen) and has also attained a certification in Pre and Post Natal Pilates from the Center of Women’s Fitness (US).
Relocating once again to beautiful Adelaide, Kim has since been studying Massage therapy as a complement to the Pilates Method.
Kim is passionate about teaching the Pilates method – encouraging a healthy lifestyle to her clients through the Pilates Method and knows first hand the benefits regular practice of Pilates can bring. Kim continues to pursue education wherever possible to benefit her clients.
Currently, Kim is a Peak Pilates Teacher Trainer in Training and looks forward to being able to teach and mentor future Pilates instructors.
Kim is also a member of the PAA – the Pilates Alliance of Australasia
Karen Ellis
Karen was introduced to various forms of dance from a young age. As a teen she attended the Centre For The Performing Arts College, and it was here she was first drawn to Yoga. Expecting to be able to breeze through the class with her dance background, Karen was shocked by the flexibility, strength and mental focus of the mature aged Bette Calman.
Karen says: ‘I recently read Bette Calman was 83 last year, and she’s still bending over backwards to spread the benefits of Yoga. The article said she teaches up to 11 classes a week with no sign of stopping. This is what I want for myself, and I’m learning it doesn’t happen by accident. If I personally don’t keep my body moving I can feel the difference’
Over the years Karen has attended classes from various disciplines of yoga with senior teachers, primarily Flo Fenton.
Karen was introduced to Pilates in the late 80′s, but it was several years before she was to pick it up again under the tutelage of Peak Pilates trainers Alison Percic and Sandra Gillett, of Simply Pilates, Melbourne. Karen has also studied under Anthony Lett of Fitzroy Pilates (Melbourne) studying the ‘Innovations In Pilates’ method and completed the formal qualification with him at his studio, she has been a guest teacher for him both in his studio in Melbourne and has helped present his work internationally.
Says Karen ‘My classes are designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of age or flexibility and have a focus on stretching the primary muscles known to be involved with causing hip, back & neck pain. I have been fortunate in my Pilates teachers, they have given me clarity and discipline. There certainly were easier options!, but I am ever grateful and truly believe in the saying ‘ Your only as good as the shoulders you stand on’. Life is a teacher and after having become a mother of three I find the practice of Pilates & Yoga invaluable’
Nadia Cusimano
Nadia is originally from Europe, born in Milan she moved to Arnhem and Berlin where she lived for 15 years before moving to Adelaide in 2011. She has a Diploma in Physical Education & Sport and a BA in Performing Arts, European Dance Development Center. Working as a professional dancer, she has performed extensively around the world as a member of Sasha Waltz & Guests company till 2002. Nadia has also collaborated on projects with several imminent international choreographers /directors.
In 2007 she studied Pilates with MA teacher Eduardo Laranjeira (trained in N.Y. by Romana Kryzanowska) and is comprehensively certified through Peak Pilates. She has taken further workshops with Kelly Moriarty, Rodrigo Galliano, MA teachers Michael Fritzke & Ton Voogt and Peter Fiasca.
Since 2008 she has being teaching at the Pilates Zentrum Studios in Berlin and she moved to London to work at the Pilates Room Studio where she continued as well her education with Linda Zurak MA teacher from The Pilates Center in Boulder, Colorado and with Deborah Henley MA in Boulder and director of the Pilates Room. She continues to study, attending workshops in London and Paris with Amy Taylor Alpers Director of The Pilates Center in Boulder USA.
Nadia is also a SME™ Somatic Movement Educator through the Body Mind Centering School® in El Sobrante in California, USA where she got her Diploma in 2009. More informations on www.bodymindcentering.org
