Instructors
Stephen Williams - Founder, Director, is a former professional dancer and choreographer. Stephen has had a private Pilates/Anatomy practice in NYC for almost 30 years. He is most proud of the community he has built throughout his career and to have worked with many of the same students continuously. He has studied and assisted with Anatomist Irene Dowd throughout his career and continues to do so. Stephen is honored to host Irene's Kinesthetic Anatomy & Biomechanics of Motion courses as well as courses on Ideokinesis, Movement Problem Solving, PNF Patterns, Stress, and Osteoporosis to name a few.
The studio also hosts workshops on Ayurveda, which Stephen has been practicing under the guidance of Rebecca Dietzel and Cary Twomey for over a decade. Stephen’s approach as a neuromuscular educator is to give students a better understanding of correct biomechanics, as well as physical, mental and nutritional health that they can take with them and use in every day life. He specializes in rehabilitation from orthopedic injuries/surgeries. He was originally certified in Pilates by Romana Kryzanowska (a protege of Joseph Pilates) and continued his studies
with Deborah Lesson. Stephen also studied with Mary Bowen (also a protege of Joseph Pilates) in Pilates and Jungian Analysis for many years. When the pandemic hit in 2020 Stephen started teaching mat classes on zoom in Japan as well as workshops on different topics with Irene Dowd. Stephen co-wrote a book published in Japan titled, Pilates for Health Promotion. His 7 chapters include exercises for anyone but especially for those with a sedentary life style that can learn to move even in ones chair. Here's the link.
https://www.bunkodo.co.jp/book/LJAYIB565O.htmlhttps://www.bunkodo.co.jp/book/LJAYIB565O.html
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Yuuko Kolbylarz Yuko Igarashi Kobylarz began dancing at 12 years old in Tokyo, Japan. After completing her professional training, she performed for several Japanese dance companies.She also performed in television and in film in Japan, Canada and Greece. While dancing professionally, she was teaching dance in Japan and in Montreal, Canada. Yuko studied Pilates for two years with Romana Kryzanowska where she earned her Pilates Certificate in 2001. She continued her Pilates study with Ron Fletcher, Kathy Grant, Deborah Lessen and Pat Guyton. Yuko has been a presenter at PMA Conference (2005-2008 and 2015). She has been an assistant presenter at the PMA Annual Meeting with Deborah Lessen, and Pat Guyton. Yuko also is a translator for other international teachers visiting Japan including Ron Fletcher, Pat Guyton and Deborah Lessen. She has studied Dance Medicine with Marika Molnar at Westside Physical Therapy. She feels honored to have been studying under Irene Dowd ever since she first took her anatomy course in 2003 and working with Irene at Noho Pilates.
Johanna S. Meyer is a Pilates instructor, choreographer and performer, who has been teaching in New York since 1996. Johanna was originally inspired to train in Pilates while- studying dance at New York University with Kathy Grant, a protegé of Joseph Pilates. She was certified in Pilates Method by Deborah Lessen at the Greene Street Studio, and has since rounded out her teaching through studies in yoga, dance and Alexander Technique. Johanna has also studied anatomy with Irene Dowd, and assisted Rebecca Dietzel at The Alvin Ailey school at Fordham University. She has taught movement skills at Hunter College and University of California at Santa Barbara. Johanna enjoys helping people connect deeply to their bodies. To contact Johanna please email at johanna@thinaar.com
Steven Fetherhuff, NCPT, has been a student of the Pilates Method since 1990. He completed his teacher training at the Pilates Center in Boulder, Colorado and has studied with many of the leading educators in the field. His two greatest mentors are First Generation Master Pilates Teacher Kathy Grant and renowned anatomist, Irene Dowd. He has taught students and trained teachers in France, Japan and around the US. Steven is the Pilates Program Coordinator at Hospital for Special Surgery, working within the medical community to provide Pilates-based movement education for physical rehabilitation patients. To contact Steven about scheduling a session at Noho Pilates, please email sfetherhuff@yahoo.com for more information.
Guest Workshop Instructors
Rebecca Dietzel, M.S. is an anatomist who specializes in biochemistry. She maintains private practices in New York City and Vermont teaching anatomy, physical re-education and nutrition. Rebecca also teaches anatomy and kinesiology for the Ailey/Fordham BFA program and is the nutrition consultant for Canada’s National Ballet School. She received her Master of Science from Columbia University’s Institute of Human Nutrition. She is also an Ayurvedic practitioner in the tradition of the Wise Earth School and co-author of A Dancer’s Guide to Healthy Eating.
Irene Dowd, Irene Dowd is on the dance faculty of the Juilliard School, Movement Research, and Hollins University/ADF MFA program in dance. She has been a long-time regular guest to NYU Tisch School of the Arts and Canada's National Ballet School. Author of Taking Root to Fly, she has maintained a practice in kinesthetic anatomy and neuromuscular re-education since 1970 in NYC, while continuing to be a guest teacher in academic and dance institutions throughout the US, Canada, and Europe. Irene is recipient of the 2014 Balasaraswati/Joy Ann Dewey Beinecke Endowed Chair for Distinguished Teaching at the American Dance Festival, 2015 Juliard John Erskine Faculty Prize, 2016 Dance Science & Somatics Educators Lifetime Service Award, and 2018 Honorary Fellowship from Trinity Laban Conservative of Music and Dance.