About Us
Mona Valdes MD
Studio Director, Owner
Mona’s background as a Medical Doctor is a tool that helps her evaluate her clients’ fitness needs. During her years of medical practice she learned the great benefit of a holistic approach in treating her patients.
Mona’s passion for Pilates was sparked by the realization that this method puts value on the body’s ability to heal. Once the mind-body connection is established the body can correct and transform itself . In order to understand Joseph Pilates Contrology method more comprehensively, she has been studying classical Pilates in depth.
She is an active mother of 5 who believes that Pilates is a means for people to engage in the activities and lifestyle that they love. The method allows continued performance at the highest levels, while helping to prevent injuries caused by muscular imbalances and bad habits.
Morgan Thiessen
Morgan moved to BC from Edmonton to pursue her Pilates career full-time. She is a Pilates instructor and professional ballet dancer. Morgan is STOTT Pilates and Garuda certified in Advanced Matwork (both Pilates and Garuda), Advanced Reformer and Apparatus (both Pilates and Garuda), and Garuda Barre.
She has been practicing Pilates since she was 13 years old, and kept up with this training consistently, to complement her ballet training. The love for Pilates bloomed and she began to see a new career right in front of her. Being able to help others with the knowledge she has gathered over the years is a source of fulfillment.
She has had the privilege of working with a great variety of clients, teaching private lessons to clients with past or present injuries. Her passion for Fascia work is a great asset to help clients with various auto immune conditions, active aging, as well as high level athletes like hockey players, figure skaters, and dancers.
Pamela Osorio
Pam is a certified STOTT Pilates Instructor Mat & Reformer. She got fascinated with Pilates while she was a client herself because of the total body workout she got and the freedom of movements.
However, she never thought that she would be teaching this until an opportunity for a career change came when her family decided to move to Canada, from running her own storage business to now inspiring others on the benefits of Pilates. This led her to getting her certification before her move in 2014. Aside from contemporary Pilates, she is also sharpening her skill and knowledge in Classical Pilates and Rehabilitation Pilates. She has been mentoring under Senior Pilates Teachers in the lower mainland as well as in the US and the Philippines.
Seeing the transformation in her clients after doing just a few sessions of Pilates, keeps Pam motivated to continue teaching.
Pam’s personal interest also includes dancing, playing golf or badminton & running. She loves to be active to keep up with the engaging lifestyle here in Vancouver.
Pam is also a wife to a triathlete & mother of 3 active children
Sue Inden, PT
Bistra Stoyanova
Bistra was introduced to Yoga and Mat Pilates when she was completing her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance degree at the University of California in Los Angeles.
She loved the graceful and controlled movements, and the way Yoga and Pilates helped her improve her flexibility, balance, coordination, core strength and body awareness.
She started teaching Yoga first, shortly after she completed her first 200 hours of Yoga teacher training in November of 2013. In 2017 she completed her Mat Pilates certification with Body Harmonics and then added a few more modules and disciplines like TRX and Aerial Yoga. At the time though Pilates and Yoga were just hobbies and not a career.
Bistra began her full-time career as a comprehensively certified Pilates instructor after working in the financial planning industry for over 13 years. She started working at a few studios around the town, and joined V Pilates Studio, dwelling more into Classical Pilates as well as Rehabilitation Pilates under the mentoring of different Senior Pilates teachers.
She loves Pilates because she believes in the healing power of movement. She continues to learn from both her mentors and clients alike, as she believes that everyone can teach us something new and help us grow. She accepts the challenges and grows from the setbacks. Her passion is to educate more and more people about the benefits of Pilates and movement.
When Bistra is not working she enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog, or popping at the Pilates studio for a workout.
Teresa Tonks
Teresa’s Pilates Journey starting from her training in 2010 with STOTT PILATES Mat, Reformer, Injuries & Special Populations. She had the need to dwell deeper into Pilates education by immersing herself into Classical Pilates, and pursued Advanced Teacher Training Program Diploma 950 hours of Classical Pilates Instruction and Internship on all Apparatus from The Pilates Center.
She opened her Pilates studio in Salmon Arm BC, Introducing Classical Pilates to the Community.
She had missed her roots in British Columbia. In 2017, she decided to make her way back to the coast and took some time to decompress. She found herself back in the corporate world managing a company for the next 7 years only to realize how much she misses teaching. It was a feeling of authenticity, and a return to life of what she is supposed to be doing.
Movement has always been a part of her life and is definitely a passion. She enjoys working with people and helping them achieve greatness within themselves and in their bodies. Her experience has allowed her the privilege of working one on one and in group situations. Empowering people to believe they CAN DO IT is what brings joy to her.
