Former ballerina at the Russian State Ballet (Moscow) and a principal dancer with Cape Town City Ballet, Katya launched a new career in Pilates in 2001, completing her training with one of the world's finest Pilates masters, Miriane Braaf (Canada). She is also a certified Equilibrium instructor and member of the Pilates Method Alliance (USA) and has participated in courses on sacro-iliac joint dysfunction, shoulder stabilization and muscle activation amongst numerous others.

Katya is one of the founders of the South African Pilates Educators and Professionals Alliance (SAPEPA).

Her vast experience has earned her the reputation of being a superb teacher who uses her formidable demonstration abilities, sense of humour and motivational techniques to inspire her clients.

Katya released Discreet Pilates at your Desk DVD in 2008. Her latest DVD, Pilates During Pregnancy was filmed when Katya was pregnant with her daughter Emma and was produced in collaboration with a gynaecologist, midwife and physiotherapist. It is currently in the final stages of editing and will be released in the course of 2011.

Catherine is a certified member of the Pilates Method Alliance (USA), has several international dance and drama qualifications and a diploma in Musical Theatre (specializing in dance). Her career in musical theatre took her around the world and it was on her return to SA that she was introduced to Pilates by Katya Kinski. Forging a new career, Catherine completed her training with Katya and joined the studio as an instructor in 2005. Inspired by the Pilates technique, Catherine explored a wide variety of movement arts, including Shaolin kung fu, tai chi, chi kung, yoga and belly dance and participated in numerous movement workshops. These disciplines have deepened her understanding of the body in movement. Constantly pursuing knowledge, Catherine is also completing a degree in Philosophy at UCT.

In 2008 Hayley graduated from Stellenbosch University with a BSc in Human Life Sciences. She majored in Physiology and Nutrition and has a particular interest in holistic nutrition.

Hayley has always had a great interest in movement, the human body and its functioning. Independent research led her to discover Pilates and she was quickly convinced of the profound impact of the technique. She studied the Pilates method under 3rd generation Advanced Pilates instructor Andri Marais. After an intensive 200-hour course which included postural analysis and rehabilitation of injuries, Hayley qualified as an instructor in the New York Method of Pilates.

Hayley excelled at hockey in her schooling days and now enjoys keeping fit by spinning, running and participating in half marathons. She is thrilled to be joining Katya and her team and looks forward to increasing her experience with us.

Felipe is a highly qualified and experienced instructor from Brazil. He holds a degree in Physical Education (University of Saint Amaro, 2002) and is a certified Stott Pilates instructor (2007). He has ten years of experience in Sports and Personal Training and has done numerous courses in bodybuilding. He is also a soccer referee and coach, with 8 years of experience at the São Paulo Federacy of Soccer and several soccer clinics under his belt. Felipe has recently arrived from São Paulo, where he was teaching Pilates. He is thrilled to be in Cape Town and at the Katya Kinski Pilates Studio, where he hopes to share his knowledge and increase his fluency in English. Felipe describes himself as a serene instructor who is influenced by Reiki, a method in which he qualified as a practitioner earlier this year.

Malcolm Gowans is a FLOWIN® master trainer, an accomplished rock climber and Men's Health model. Malcolm's approach is influenced by the practice of Yoga, Pilates and strength-and-endurance training programmes. He is an experienced and creative teacher with an eye for technical detail and a contagious enthusiasm for the FLOWIN® technique.