Services

Studio 1 on 1

Studio Group

Home Visits

About Marcia Shapira

I am Marcia Shapira and I am a passionate Pilates teacher with over 14 years working in the fitness industry with strength and conditioning and rehabilitation.

I’m originally from Brazil where I lived for 30 years. During that time I studied and worked in hospitality, later graduating in Physical Education, majoring in Exercise Physiology and Sports Training.

My determination to overcome life’s obstacles helped me have a speedy recovery after I was involved in a car accident in 1994. And despite several injuries to my legs, I had a busy career as a personal trainer in my home town and now as a Pilates teacher.

I discovered Pilates in 2003 in Israel where I lived for 20 months. Pilates changed my understanding of the human body and I’ve never looked back. While in Israel I worked with cardiac rehabilitation patients and completed my comprehensive Pilates training.

I arrived in Australia in 2005 pregnant with my first son and soon after completed aditional training with Stott Pilates  and upgraded my qualifications to a Diploma of Professional Pilates Instruction with Pilates International.

I ran a successful Pilates studio in Willoughby NSW until late 2011 when I took a break to look after my second child. I now teach clients at their homes and at Pilates International Studio, in Pymble.

My teaching focus has always been in educating my clients how to establish and achieve their health and fitness goals. I love seeing my clients learn how to exercise independently, if only for 20 minutes a day between our classes.

I believe we all need to be proactive when it comes to our health. Our bodies respond better when we are fully engaged with our mind and body. And it’s this mind/body connection that contributes so much to a healthy and positive outlook on life.

About Home Visits

Pilates can be practiced at studios or at home and with or without equipment. The clients I train at home do so because they’re time-savvy: they know that travel time eats into their work or family schedule and that a 60 minute Pilates class outside of their home can take a few hours out of their day.

For some of those clients, having someone come to their homes meant they could make the life style change that otherwise they wouldn’t due to lack of time and discipline.

My clients who I teach at home tell me that teir workout is very challenging and effective even using only an exercise ball and a foam roller.

I can also advise on equipment purchase if you want to have your home space set up for your daily practice.

What gets me up in the morning:

“Keeping a positive attitude towards life and what appears to be a challenge is essential to maintaining self-confidence, achieving our goals and to keep moving forward. “

“Working with people of all ages and capabilities and I dedicating my time to learn how to make my programs safe, effective and enjoyable”.

What people say about me?

"I have been practising Pilates for over four years. Marcia has been outstanding in improving my technique and given me a much better understanding of how my body works. She works with a wide variety of equipment in the studio which makes her classes both interesting and challenging. Marcia's guidance has also helped me improve my performance at mat classes at the gym. She is a perfectionist with a profound knowledge of the body. She is so encouraging that I really look forward to our weekly classes. My body tells me how much better I feel as a result. ". Linka Stone

"I highly recommend Marcia for her professional and conscientious approach. Marcia provides a comprehensive and interesting program of exercises suited to the individual needs of her clients". Robin Drummond

"Marcia has been targeting my problem areas through a personalised programme. I can highly recommend the benefits of regular Pilates practice. I no longer have severe neck and back pain from too much time spent in front of the computer and my increased strength and fitness has meant that I now enjoy other sports such as skiing and cycling".?Susan Fairbairn

"I have referred numerous clients to Marcia over the years and have been impressed with her in-depth understanding of body dynamics and her commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for each client. I like the way that Marcia treats each individual as a unique presentation and ensures thorough understanding of their individual needs.?I constantly receive positive feedback on her skills and can confidently keep referring".? Deepak Yagnik - Ostheopath