Meet Our Instructors
The teachers at Ning Pilates are very passionate about Pilates and are dedicated to studying each movement and its teaching methods. They have all completed 600+ hours of classical Pilates training and have accumulated over 200+ hours of teaching experience. We welcome everyone to come and take classes with their favorite teachers!
Founder/ Instructor
Michelle （English Chinese）
Trained in pre/post natal pilates
Michelle, the founder of Ning Pilates, began her classical Pilates journey when took her first class in 2016. She had been immediately impressed by how the practice promoted physical wellness and introduced her to have an awareness of her body.
With the purpose of sharing her love for Classical Pilates with more people, Michelle rigorously trained for more than 600 hours to complete her 3rd Generation Classical Pilates certification at Real Pilates. To add on to her experience, she is also trained in Prenatal & Postnatal Pilates to help new mothers readjust to their changing body.
Michelle has the ability to assess different bodies and provide appropriate exercises to help clients at all levels achieve their goals and take care of their body. Her classes often focus on the alignment of asanas and the precision of each movement. She is keen to apply hands-on instruction to effectively support clients’ postures and guide them toward a more healthy and balanced body through Joseph Pilates sequences.
Instructor
Nicole (English Chinese)
Trained in pre/post natal pilates
Chuyi began to practice pilates in 2018, and has been practicing off and on for 6years. She became a mother during the epidemic. Postpartum depression and physical pain made her decide to get her Pilates certification. Chuyi is amazed by how classical pilates positively impacted her mind and transformed her body. She is fully certified Pilates Instructor from Power Pilates. She was inspired to help others absorbing positive energy through practicing classical pilates.
Instructor
Duffy（English Chinese）
Trained in pre/post natal pilates
Duffy Du began her Pilates journey while working at a contemporary art museum in Beijing, China. The demands of a sedentary work lifestyle led to shoulder pain, prompting a friend to introduce her to Pilates as a potential remedy. The practice quickly became an integral part of her routine, offering relief and rejuvenation. After moving to New York City, Duffy was drawn to the historical roots of Pilates, which originated in the city during the time of Joseph Pilates. Through the Real Pilates Teacher Training Program, she pursued a professional study of the method to deepen her understanding and expertise.
With a background in the contemporary art world and a major in anthropology, Duffy views Pilates as more than just an exercise; it's a holistic approach to healing both the body and mind. Her teaching philosophy is grounded in precision, aligning with the Classical Pilates method, and she strives to help others experience the transformative power of this practice.
Instructor
Sarah （English）
Trained in pre/post natal pilates
Sarah is a maker, a mover, and a New Yorker through and through. Her love of Pilates began when she was young, doing VHS tapes of mat classes with her mom. Since then she has cultivated her passion for her personal practice into teaching, completing her 600 Hour Comprehensive Immersion at Core Pilates NYC, and teaching both in person and online in fun costumes (more on that later!).
With her 2 degrees in art and design from New York University, she loves to infuse a creative perspective on the classical exercises that is both Pilates principle-focused and fun. When she’s not in the studio experimenting on the Wunda Chair, catch her at TheLaserGirls Studio, designing and creating 3D printed props and armor for comic con- she’s a proud geek!
Instructor
Melissa（English）
Trained in pre/post natal pilates
Melissa loves pilates because it is a full body workout that is fun, challenging, and supports everyday functional movement.
She enjoys building postural alignment and body awareness to become more centered as a whole. Pilates is a lifestyle and with consistency builds strength, stability, mobility, and flexibility throughout. What she loves the most about Pilates is becoming centered, present, feeling the movement, deep in not just your core, but the core of your being.
She would love to help people reach their personal goals and simply, feel amazing everyday!
She is also trained in pre/post natal pilates and functional movement for bone and joint health.
Melissa has her Mat and Comprehensive Pilates Certification from Core Pilates NYC. She is an avid lover of continual education, running, hiking, biking, and playing time in the mountains.
Instructor
Jenny (English Korean)
Trained in pre/post natal pilates
I became fascinated with physical fitness after receiving a lesson from a personal trainer at a gym. Since then, I have tried several exercises; weightlifting, yoga, Zumba, Salsa, etc. I gravitated towards Pilates because it was a challenging workout that helps improve core
strength and flexibility. From my past experience as an office worker and in
the service industry, I am familiar with the stress daily life can place on the body.
I believe that Pilates helps to strengthen body and mind. MY goal is to help others improve their health just like my inspiration, actress Hanee Lee, who taught me that beauty should be on the inside as well as the outside.
Instructor
Emma (English Chinese)
After discovering Pilates as an inspiring balance to a demanding corporate career, Emma became a certified instructor to share its transformative benefits with others. With a deep understanding of how movement enhances both physical and mental health, Emma creates tailored sessions that help clients build strength, flexibility, and confidence. Whether you’re new to Pilates or looking to refine your practice, Emma’s expert guidance offers a welcoming space to move, grow, and feel your best.
Instructor
Anny (English Chinese)
After years in a sedentary professional environment as a designer, Anny discovered Pilates as the ultimate antidote to "desk life." Inspired by its transformative impact, she deepened her knowledge and practice by completing a 600+ hour comprehensive program at Real Pilates NYC.
She found that Pilates is the key to an active lifestyle—it's what allows her and her clients to pursue the activities they love with greater strength and without pain or restriction.
Anny is passionate about empowering her clients to gain true ownership of their movement, helping them feel strong, capable, and good in their own bodies. Her teaching focuses on technical precision and clear, actionable cues to build a resilient and balanced powerhouse. She is happy to offer instruction in both English and Mandarin.
Instructor
Linda (English )
Linda came to Pilates through her Tai Chi practice, drawn by a deep interest in posture and body awareness. After one transformative class, she was inspired to enroll in a classical certification program. Trained in the lineage of Joseph Pilates, her teaching is intentional, with a focus on precision, alignment, and mindful movement.
She views movement as a form of medicine and is passionate about helping clients discover strength, balance, and the awakening of new muscles. Linda looks forward to deepening her practice through ongoing workshops and continued work with clients.
Instructor
Katie (English Korean)
Katie first discovered Pilates as a way to improve her health and posture, and it quickly grew into a passion for helping others feel strong, confident, and balanced in their own bodies. She completed her comprehensive Pilates certification through Equinox, building a strong foundation to guide her teaching.
With a nurturing approach, Katie creates a welcoming and supportive environment tailored to each client’s unique needs and goals. Her sessions focus on mindful movement and helping clients build a connection with their body, whether they’re looking to improve strength, posture, flexibility, or overall well-being. Katie believes Pilates is not just about fitness but about empowering individuals to feel their best, both physically and mentally.
Instructor
Olga (English Russian)
With nearly three decades of experience as an art educator and university professor, Olga brings a thoughtful and refined approach to her work as a Pilates instructor. Her background in the arts has deeply shaped her understanding of movement, balance, and the expressive intelligence of the body.
Her connection to movement began in childhood through dance and continued through many years in the fitness world, including participation in international fitness conventions and competitions. Pilates became a natural continuation of this journey—offering a method that unites precision, awareness, and strength.
Olga completed her Comprehensive Classical Pilates Certification through Real Pilates in New York. Her teaching focuses on developing alignment, control, and a deeper relationship with the body. She enjoys working with clients at all levels, guiding them toward greater strength, stability, and confidence in movement.
For Olga, Pilates is not simply exercise, but a thoughtful practice that supports both physical well-being and inner balance.