ABOUT US:

The Movement Refinery was established in Market Street, Melbourne in January 2006 by studio director, Nicholas Psarros. He has received 'pedigree' training in Australia and travels overseas annually to update his skills with International master trainers most recently in the USA (New York, Miami, San Francisco) and South Korea (Seoul) this way Nicholas’ skills are finely tuned.

After three serious injuries as a full-time dance student, Nicholas continued his personal Pilates classes with leaders of three different Pilates methods. Nicholas adopts an open-minded teaching method which leads to clients enjoying a fuller understanding of Pilates and GYROTONIC®. His personal experience with chronic pain and injury means that he understands your process, lifestyle impingements and goals.

With so many styles of body conditioning under his belt as well as the knowledge of actual movement acquired as a professional dancer, Nicholas can program the best session for you and you alone. A doctor prescribes different medication to patients with different issues and this how the best of the best exercise instructors work.
Nicholas continues to enjoy the clinical approach of Pilates as well as the more free-flowing sensations created by the GYROTONIC® approach to life. While both methods have the objective to create an unblocked, free moving, healthy and strong physicality, their repertoire and teaching methodology are totally different. This being said, whichever method you choose, you will receive the best of both worlds.

All instructors are trained and updated in anatomy and physiology, injuries and conditions and understand the methods of both Pilates and GYROTONIC®. In addition to their own specialist training, the instructors are regularly given workouts and educational tutorials by the studio director and invited industry leaders.

Nicholas Psarros – Director – is certified in:

• Dance Performance (QUT)
• Pilates (full certification)
• GYROTONIC®
• GYROKINESIS®
• GYROTONER®
• GYROTONIC JUMPING-SLIDING BOARD

Annalisa Birdsall – Senior GYROTONIC® instructor:

Born in the USA, Annalisa moved to Australia in 2005. Having taught at some of the most reputable GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® studios in the USA and Australia, Annalisa is without doubt the most experienced GYROTONIC® teacher in Melbourne. A session with Annalisa will surely give you the essence of the work and a wonderful workout. You will appreciate her eight years of knowledge of the methods and additional years of experiential movement as a professional contemporary dance artist. In addition to her supreme teaching skills, Annalisa holds a Masters degree in counseling.

I am inspired to welcome Annalisa as senior instructor at Gyrotonic Clifton Hill.

Liz Hewett – Senior Pilates instructor and Exercise Physiologist

Liz Hewett, B App Sci (Human Movement), Grad Dip Ex Rehab, is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and Pilates Instructor. Liz completed her Pilates Instructor training in 2001 through APMA (Australian Pilates Method Association) and is a level 3 instructor.

Liz has a particular interest in combining the scientific principles of exercise science and programming, with the movement therapy techniques of the traditional Pilates Method. You are in safe and knowledgeable hands as Liz is frequently asked to lecture for training courses and present at industry conferences.

Her passion lies in combining principles of exercise science with Pilates, to create a movement therapy which teaches individuals to move with more efficiency, less pain and more stength and flexibility. Liz is also a provider of services for Workcover and insurance claims using exercise as rehabilitation.

As of March 2008, Liz will be appointed as Body Conditioning Specialist to the Australian Ballet School. This is a highly prestigious position where Liz will work part-time in collaboration with Australia’s most experienced movement health care professionals including Physiotherapists, Soft-tissue therapists, sports physicians and GP’s to ensure that the dance students receive the best education of how to use their bodies while preventing and managing injuries.

I am both proud and excited to welcome Liz to the team of The Movement Refinery as Senior Pilates instructor.

Hayley Armstrong - Pilates Instructor

Hayley fell in love with movement as a dancer and completed her VICFIT qualification in 2004/5 while continuing to work in corporate Melbourne! In search of additional movement instruction and information Hayley completed the Australian Pilates Method Association Level 1 course with Paul Cini in 2006. In addition to teaching Pilates equipment classes, mat work sessions and circuit classes Hayley also owns and operates DanceMax school of Dance. Established in 2002 Hayley teaches many forms of dance to many little munchkins who like to move and shake it!

Monday evenings at The Movement Refinery will be much brighter with Hayley on board.