“Hi neighbours!
I’m Kiri. A proud local resident, toddler mom and movement nerd. My journey with Pilates began over 22 years ago, and it has helped me find balance throughout a professional dance career and into motherhood. Opening a movement studio in our beloved community has been a dream come true!
At Pinewood Pilates & Movement, I aim to cultivate a warm and inviting environment where everyone—regardless of experience or fitness level—can discover the benefits of authentic Pilates. I can’t wait to share this space with you, to connect, and to help you cultivate strength, vitality and overall well-being. Here’s to feeling amazing together!”
Our Instructors
Kiri Figueiredo
Kiri is a seasoned Pilates instructor and professional contemporary dancer & choreographer. She received her training from Merrithew/Stott Pilates, Pilates Process, Studio3, and Body Harmonics in Pre and Postnatal Pilates. Kiri also holds yoga certifications from Octopus Garden Yoga, YYOGA, and Yoga Mamas. Her extensive background includes studying and performing contemporary dance across Canada, the US, Europe, Israel and India. Most recently, she performed as The Matador in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of La Traviata. Kiri is passionate about tailoring her instruction to meet each client's needs, focusing on improving their daily movement, supporting injury rehabilitation, pre and postnatal care, and promoting mindful movement for overall well-being.
Sarah Rodd
Sarah has been teaching yoga for over 10 years. She emphasizes optimal alignment, breath, functional movement, and mindfulness in her classes, guiding students to explore their capabilities while deepening their body awareness and connection. Having been an instructor with YogaMamas, Sarah has specialized training and a deep passion for prenatal yoga, helping expectant mothers maintain both physical and mental well-being. She has been teaching in and around the neighborhood for years - you might've seen her running summer classes in Cedarvale Park! Since the pandemic, she has mostly focused on private sessions but is excited to join the new community at Pinewood Pilates. Sarah is also a proud mother to her two boys and is inspired by how yoga impacts the body, mind, and spirit and builds community.
Ashley Dyment
Ashley is a certified yoga and pilates instructor, writer, and global wellness leader with an MA in International Relations. With experience teaching and practicing yoga, writing and volunteering across 20+ countries, her approach is shaped by her background in development work and her passion for healing and transformation. Ashley brings a dynamic energy to her classes, guiding students toward deep mind-body connection through movement techniques that can help them live happy, strong and healthy lives. She also leads yoga teacher trainings, retreats, and workshops worldwide, while mothering two wonderful boys right here in our St. Clair West neighbourhood. Discover more at https://www.ashleyholly.com
Meredith Clinton
Meredith came to Pilates through dance. After discovering the many therapeutic, strengthening, and mind-body benefits of Pilates training, she pursued her certification. Meredith taught Pilates to support her own professional dance career in New York City, Las Vegas and Toronto, for over 15 years.
Now as a specialist in Therapeutic Pilates, Meredith’s dance background greatly informs the way that she teaches, to the great benefit of her clients. She uses fluid transitions, specific imagery to help with positioning and movement quality, and exercise progressions to build body awareness and strength. Meredith integrates her knowledge of mindfulness techniques to deepen the mind-body connection in her clients, and achieve their strengthening, mobility, stability, and overall wellness goals. Meredith brings a great breadth of experience to her Pilates sessions and is highly sought out for her expertise.
Denise Mitsche
Another local in the neighbourhood, Denise, has been teaching Pilates for 20 years. Denise started her life long career in movement at the age of 8 with ballet. She is a graduate of the National Ballet school of Canada and went on to be a professional ballet dancer with The Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam.
After a 16 year long career as a dancer, Denise Started a family, and moved back to Canada. Since then, Denise has been teaching Pilates and movement at various studios in Toronto.
Denise enjoys helping people get stronger, more flexible, and move with more ease in their everyday lives.
