Marta Hernandez, is founder of The Space since 2000, formerly known as Yaletown Pilates.  Her involvement in dance from a young age has given her a natural ability to work with the body through movement.  She received her BFA in Dance from York University in Toronto in 1994 and completed her Pilates certification through The Physicalmind Institute in New York in 1999.  In 2004,  Marta was selected by the Physicalmind Institute to be a Certified Pilates Teacher Training Studio and in 2008 she became head of the Physicalmind Institute for Canada, where she certifies senior teachers to become certifying studios.  She became a certified Level 1 GYROTONIC® teacher in 2004 and in 2008 a certified GYROKINESIS® teacher through the inventor, Julio Horvath.  Marta is now working towards becoming a certified Qi Gong teacher in the Universal Healing Tao System, founded by the Taoist Master Mantak Chia.

Laura Crema - Laura began study of the Pilates Method in 1989 with Dianne Miller in Vancouver. Since then she has been certified by the PhysicalMind Institute in both mat and reformer. Laura is also a jazz vocallst, dancer, choreographer and interdisciplinary performer. She holds a BA in Economics and Fine and Performing Arts from Simon Fraser University.

Meghan Aris - Meghan first joined The Space in May 2006.  She is certified through the Physicalmind Institute in both mat and equipment Pilates under the instruction of Marta Hernandez.  Meghan has also practiced yoga from a young age and in 2007, completed her Yin Yoga teacher training at Prana Yoga Teacher College with Bernie Clark.  Meghan has worked closely with Wendy Eyton over the past year to further her understanding of the benefits of Deep Relaxation and Restorative yoga. She is also currently studying with Mary-Jo Fetterly and her team at Trinity Yoga.  Meghan’s goal is to help students restore, rehabilitate, and reconnect to their bodies.   Meghan holds a degree in Writing and Anthropology from the University of Victoria.  She is honoured to share her knowledge with the amazing clients at The Space.

Suzanne Hepburn - Having been a dancer from a young age, Suzanne found that pilates was a natural evolution in her work with the body. After discovering the remarkable rehabilitative qualities of pilates on her own body, Suzanne was prompted to study to become a teacher. She received her training through the Physicalmind Institute under the tutelage of Marta Hernandez, in both Mat and Equipment work, and is thrilled to be able to pass her knowledge on to clients in their aim to heal and develop their own bodies. Suzanne received a B.A. in English Literature from McGill University and is also an actor and acting instructor in Vancouver. She is passionate about helping people on their road to self-discovery in both body and mind.

Chantel Goller - Chantel has been practicing yoga and pilates since 2003. After suffering from chronic back pain, she was amazed when the pain disappeared after practicing Pilates on a regular basis. To expand her understanding of movement and the body, she took the Teacher Training program with Marta Hernandez at the Physicalmind Institute of Canada. Since then Chantel has been teaching Mat classes and most recently Reformer equipment at The Space. She is also working towards her BFA in General Fine Arts at Emily Carr. Chantel would like to inform people about the many ways pilates can benefit the mind and body.

Samantha Gray - After completing her BA in Law and Organizational Psychology at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, Sam spent two years at the Professional Graduate Dance Program at Arts Umbrella in Vancouver lead by Artemis Gordon and Lynn Shephard. Here, she was trained not only in many genres of dance, including ballet and contemporary, but also in different somatic work, including Feldenkrais and Donna Krasnow's CI training. Sam was first introduced to Pilates primarily through her development as a dancer.

She began her formal Pilates teacher's training under the directorship of Marta Hernandez and the Physicalmind Institute in 2007. Sam is currently an independent artist in the dance community and is also a dance teacher at Arts Umbrella and Vanleena. Sam is also very excited to be starting her teacher-training in Gyrontonic this coming January. She hopes to continue to explore the new ideas that movement has to offer and is thrilled to be able to share this experience with her clients at The Space. She is grateful to all her peers and mentors from whom she learns the wonders of both the mind and the body.

Sharon Snow:  bio to follow soon

Samantha Lefort - Originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Samantha moved to Vancouver in 2004 to complete a two year apprenticeship with Ballet British Columbia. Already an avid Pilates enthusiast, Samantha completed her teacher training with Marta Hernandez in 2005. She thoroughly enjoys sharing her knowledge and passion for movement and wellness. Currently studying at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Samantha integrates the elements of movement and anatomy into all her practices.

Caroline Farquhar :  Caroline has been a professional contemporary dance artist in the Vancouver community since graduating from the SFU dance program in 1996. She continues to have the privilege of working with many of the highly respected local companies and choreographers such as the Karen Jamieson Dance Co., Lola Dance, Co.Erasga, and Kinesis Dance. She was drawn to Pilates through the difference it brought to her dancing, and the desire to pass on her own experience of the joy of movement – the never-ending wonder of the intricacy of our own bodies and the ability of the human body to change and develop. Caroline appreciates the unique and inclusive approach to body wellness that the Space offers to their clients, and looks forward to continuing to develop her teaching process with the guidance of the staff and the clients of the Space!

Adrienne Pelchat:  bio to follow soon

Jessica Slonski:  Jessica started dancing at a young age and after completing her B.F.A. in Theatre Dance from Ryerson University, dancing professionally and teaching dance, she found that Pilates was a natural progression in her work and study. She received her Pilates training through the Physicalmind Institute in the Method Mat work and continues her training in equipment work. Jessica is excited to help clients feel good in their bodies and create awareness that will keep them healthy for a long time.

Marta Hernandez, founder of The Space (formerly Yaletown Pilates since 2000) was selected by the Physicalmind Institute in 2004 to be a Certified Pilates Training Studio in The Method style. Marta has been involved in dance since a young age giving her a natural ability to work with the body through movement. She comes highly trained receiving her BFA in dance from University of York in 1994, completing her Pilates certification through the Physical Mind Institute in New York 1999 and became a certified Level 1 GYROTONIC® teacher in the fall of 2004. Currently she is completing her level 2 GYROTONIC®, and has completed GYROTONIC® for Golfers with Dave Rasmussen, furthering her professional training and running her own studio at the Space since 2000.

Laura Crema - Laura began study of the Pilates Method in 1989with Dianne Miller in Vancouver. Since then she has been certified bythe PhysicalMind Institute in both mat and reformer. Laura is also ajazz vocallst, dancer, choreographer and interdisciplinary performer.She holds a BA in Economics and Fine and Performing Arts from SimonFraser University. 

Suzanne Hepburn - Having been a dancer from a young age, Suzanne found that pilates was a natural evolution in her work with the body. After discovering the remarkable rehabilitative qualities of pilates on her own body, Suzanne was prompted to study to become a teacher. She received her training through the Physicalmind Institute under the tutelage of Marta Hernandez, in both Mat and Equipment work, and is thrilled to be able to pass her knowledge on to clients in their aim to heal and develop their own bodies. Suzanne received a B.A. in English Literature from McGill University and is also an actor and acting instructor in Vancouver. She is passionate about helping people on their road to self-discovery in both body and mind.

Samantha Gray - After completing her BA in Law and Organizational Psychology at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, Sam spent two years at the Professional Graduate Dance Program at Arts Umbrella in Vancouver lead by Artemis Gordon and Lynn Shephard. Here, she was trained not only in many genres of dance, including ballet and contemporary, but also in different somatic work, including Feldenkrais and Donna Krasnow's CI training. Sam was first introduced to Pilates primarily through her development as a dancer.

She began her formal Pilates teacher's training under the directorship of Marta Hernandez and the Physicalmind Institute in 2007. Sam is currently an independent artist in the dance community and is also a dance teacher at Arts Umbrella and Vanleena. Sam is also very excited to be starting her teacher-training in Gyrontonic this coming January. She hopes to continue to explore the new ideas that movement has to offer and is thrilled to be able to share this experience with her clients at The Space. She is grateful to all her peers and mentors from whom she learns the wonders of both the mind and the body.

Sharon Snow:  bio to follow soon

Meghan Aris:  She first joined The Space in May 2006.  She is certified through the Physicalmind Institute in both mat and equipment Pilates under the instruction of Marta Hernandez.  Meghan has also practiced yoga from a young age and in 2007, completed her Yin Yoga teacher training at Prana Yoga Teacher College with Bernie Clark. Meghan has worked closely with Wendy Eyton over the past year to further her understanding of the benefits of Deep Relaxation andRestorative yoga. She is also currently studying with Mary-Jo Fetterly and her team at Trinity Yoga.  Meghan’s goal is to help students restore, rehabilitate, and reconnect to their bodies.  She holds a degree in Writing and Anthropology from the University of Victoria.  Meghan is honoured to share her knowledge with the amazing clients at The Space. 

Chrys Tucker was first introduced to yoga through the short story "The Wonderful Life of Henry Sugar" by Roald Dahl and later the works of Andre Van Lysbeth. He began taking courses in 1991 and, after having travelled and practiced in India, returned to Vancouver to find yoga taking off at home. When the Wandering Yogi on Commercial Drive opened up he was introduced to the flowing studio practice we now call "yoga" and never looked back. "Yoga means different things to different people. It can involve stretching, breathing, chanting and sitting still. I believe that pretty much anyone can benefit from some sort of yoga providing they find the right teacher and the right practice for them. Enjoy!"

Skyler started on her journey into the study of health and movement nine years ago through vigorous and competitive dance training. She completed her 500-Hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training with Prana Yoga College in 2008. Studying under teachers such as; Shakti Mhi, Bernie Clark, and Marta Hernandez, a strong base of knowledge came to loosely form Skyler’s eclectic teaching style.

A Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher, Skyler has extensive experience working with clients who suffer from; sciatica, neck/back/knee injuries, and arthritis. Skyler loves her Vinyasa classes, facilitating strength and cultivating profound heat in the body. She also enjoys her Yin and Hatha classes, maintaining the ease and integrity of a gentle, effective flow of movements combined with long held, static stretches. As a student of Skyler’s you will gain a deeper understanding of how the many thoughts, movements, activities and breathing techniques we engage in, affect the physiological and structural aspects of the body and mind. With a deep interest in Nutrition and Physiology, Skyler enjoys integrating her knowledge and education with her teaching. She also enjoys learning as much as she can from the world around her, including her students. Currently, Skyler is working on her Pilates Mat Training and BCRPA Personal Training Certifications, as well as her BSc. Degree in Human Kinetics and Nutrition.