Doris Wakeman Cpt / Owner

Before becoming owner of the studio in 2005, Doris had a successful career, locally, in Mechanical Design and Engineering at AECL, Lumonics, JDS and Smart Technology.

Doris loves Pilates because it improves the way the body works. For her, it restores youthfulness and it’s extremely interesting in the way it makes the body and brain, move and feel. Her first Certification was in Pam Forth’s teacher training program, she has also completed Pilates Method Alliance exams and Dianne Miller ( Vancouver ) level 2 teacher training.

Doris has completed other training in: Myofascial Stretching at the Sutherland Academy of Osteopathy ( Toronto ); Workshops on Osteoporosis and Pilate with Sheri Betz; the Spine, the Knee with Irene Dowd; Pilates workshops with Ron Fletcher; and Mary Bowen; Program Design and Back Wellness with Mairin Wilde and more.

Her approach to Pilates is technical, pure, gentle and challenging. Through Pilates Doris has increased her flexibility, improved her core strength, has the best posture she's ever had, an increase in body awareness (not to mention a better game of golf!) and work she loves.

Lorrraine Chamas

Lorraine Chamas has been a professional dancer since 1985, dancing under the stage name “Jalilah”. In 1996 she began focusing her energy more on teaching than on performing. She became increasingly more concerned with teaching proper body alignment and with the idea of healing through movement. After having first studied Pilates in the New York tradition, Lorraine later certified with Core Dynamic Pilates a comprehensive teacher training program comprised of 450 hours based in New Mexico. She also completed a mat teacher training program in Montreal with Structural Studies Institute. She is a member of the Pilates Method Alliance.

In addition to Pilates, Lorraine also teaches Raqs Sharqi (Belly Dance)

Pam Forth, understands how the body works and how to coach people so they get results. She is an internationally recognized human movement specialist. Her fine tuned ability to break down movements and work in a supportive way with the human body helps clients achieve their goals. Certified in the New York style of Pilates, she also studied the method with worldwide Pilates expert Dianne Miller in Vancouver (Ron Fletcher) and has studied osteopathy under Guy Voyer DO at the Sutherland Academy. She has received Level 2 Dianne Miller certification. Pam's goal is to ensure that clients enjoy their sessions, get results and leave energized.

Pam has also worked as a professional dancer and personal fitness trainer (ACE certified) of actors and singers. Her degree in dance and specialization in kinesiology from Simon Fraser University and her certification in Reflexology add to her ability to work with people to improve their fitness level.

Rowena Hall

Rowena was fascinated when she first heard of Pilates in 1997.  She immediately knew that this was the exercise method that her body needed.  She undertook teacher training at the Body Control Pilates Studio in London , England (where she was living), and then moved to Ottawa in 1998.  Rowena resumed her teacher training through the Pam Forth Pilates Studio in November 2001.  She earned her mat certification in 2003, her equipment certification in 2004 and has since continued her training, most recently with Dianne Miller of Vancouver .  Since starting regular Pilates practice, Rowena has noticed many positive changes in her body, including better posture, along with increased strength and flexibility.  Rowena earned her Pilates Method Alliance certification in 2007.

Joanne Pearson

While living in Europe, Joanne became interested in Pilates...on a visit to Ottawa! However, it was only after having her son six years ago that she started to practice Pilates. Tendonitis in her shoulder, and low back pain dissapeared as a result and she gained a feeling of lightness and calm. Realizing the huge potential benefits to others like herself, who were dissatisfied with traditional execise programs, she decided to investigate Pilates Teacher Training. After visiting Pilates centers in London, Paris and Toronto, she chose to study here at the Pam Forth Pilates Studio in Ottawa. During training with Pam she has found that certain postural habits have righted themselves, almost magically it seems. She is convinced more than ever that helping others through teaching this mind-body form of exercise is the most valuable contribution she can make in a most sedentary society.

Maddalena Rispoli

Maddalena began Pilates in Toronto after extensively comparing various exercise disciplines. What impressed her most was the philosophy behind Pilates : movement through mind-body connection focusing on proper alignment and core strengthening.

After her husband was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a neurodegenerative disease, Maddalena gained a new perspective on Pilates. "If Pilates can do so much for the able-bodied person, how would it help those with impaired mobility." So began her instructor training at the Pam Forth Pilates Studio.

Along with her Studio teaching, Maddalena is working with the MS Society in developing an exercise program encorporating much of the Pilates principles. She is also finishing a second degree in health psychology at Carleton University.

Janice Touchette Cpt

Recently relocated to Ottawa from Saskatchewan, Janice has been studying and practicing Pilates for over 6 years and teaching for over 4 years. She has 15 years experience as a fitness instructor and continues to be a fitness enthusiast. She has completed her comprehensive training with Core Dynamics, of Santa Fe and has a Mat certification from the Physicalmind Institute of New York. Janice has attended Stott workshops in Athletic Conditioning on the Reformer and has created a great class.