Melanie
Melanie founded Sanctuary on Peninsula Pilates in 2015 after seeing a need for quality Pilates on the Mornington Peninsula that wasn’t in a gym or clinical setting. It was also Melanie’s mission to create a studio that attracts the very best Pilates teachers that hold the highest Pilates education available in Australia and to provide them a supportive work environment that continues their growth and development as teachers.
Melanie started her own Pilates journey in 1999 while completing her BA Dance at the Victorian College of the Arts. Her love of all things movement based especially with attention to detail and technique had her soon training to become a Pilates teacher. Fortunate enough to do her training in an environment that was an apprenticeship style way of learning she was surrounded by experienced teachers and physiotherapists who helped shape the teacher she is today.
With now 17 years of Pilates teaching behind her she enjoys her time in the studio where she gets to help people improve their pain levels and give them back the confidence to move freely. She is passionate about educating clients on how to look after their bodies for the long term.
Her experience includes working with clients who have been referred from allied medical practitioner’s, along with clients needing to improve functional movements for specific sports.
In addition to her Pilates training Melanie runs a pre requisite Anatomy course for people wanting to become Pilates teachers, holds a Cert 4 in Work Place Training and Assessment and a Certificate 4 in Personal Training and lectures on the APMA teacher training course. In 2017 she was invited to sit on the APMA Council and Education Commitee and is a Level 4 APMA member.
Belinda
When Belinda was first introduced to Pilates she was impressed with the benefits to strength, posture, flexibility and balance and was amazed (and grateful) at the reduction in and pain and injury. After leaving behind her career in media and communications, she decided to pursue her passion and become a Pilates instructor. She is now an APMA level 2 qualified instructor, with over 8 years experience working alongside Physiotherapists, Myotherapists and Chiropractors.
She loves the dynamic nature of Pilates and is passionate about helping clients reach their potential and live pain free. Over the years of working with a variety of clients, Belinda received so much feedback about how much Pilates had helped her golf clientele. Belinda decided to start playing and specialise her Pilates in golf. She now works within the Mornington Peninsula and Sandbelt areas teaching her specialised Pilates for Golfers in some of the country’s best golf clubs when not at Sanctuary.
Sam
Sam’s love of Pilates began on the Mornington Peninsula 11years ago, after taking some time out from a demanding corporate career whilst managing a foot injury.
Sam studied classical and modern dance from the age of 8 until she was 16, and later dedicated her spare time as a young Mum (of one) to her health and fitness, attending group fitness and gym training sessions. Sam completed her Fitness and Group Instructor Training 23 years ago.
Pilates became a natural progression for Sam; it fitted in with her goals to find a lifelong physical activity that related more to her. She was seeking an exercise method that could provide a more centred focus an ongoing maintenance therapy for her mind, body and spirit. She also wanted to achieve an evenly conditioned body, improve her knowledge of her own physical capabilities and prevent further injury.
Sam later completed her Certificate IV in Pilates Instructor Training.
Sam’s initial studies led her to realise a deeper interest in client specific Pilates Movement Therapy.
“I soon realised there was more I wanted to give to my future clients, working further into understanding and analysing movement, individual posture, strength and conditioning needs. Having the opportunity to work in with other Allied Health Professionals to achieve individual client goals is very exciting.”
Sam then commenced further studies with the APMA (Australian Pilates Method Association) in their Level 2 Diploma of Pilates Movement Therapy Certification. Hence, Sam has over 300 hours of teaching experience and almost 400 hours of further study requirements behind her, under the guidance of the most talented and experienced APMA teachers on the Mornington Peninsula.
Throughout her former career as a Vocational Educator and Trainer in the Business and Retail sectors, Sam had always enjoyed working with people to help them be the best they could be. In her role as a Pilates Instructor, she also recognises her inner urge to give back, knowing how much the Pilates Method has given her personally.
Sam sees her role in teaching client centred practice as an absolute pleasure, a valuable opportunity to connect with and educate clients about their own bodies and how it is possible to live fuller lives through more focus, confidence and efficient pain free movement.
“I feel incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to have such an interesting and rewarding career within my Pilates teaching. No one client is the same and I love that. My constant aim is to make every client experience an enjoyable one.”
Lisa Ziino
After completing her education in Remedial Massage, Lisa fell into the world of pilates after a friend introduced her to the wonderful ways of strength, control and above all else, awareness of self.
16 years later and she is still teaching, along side treating, as a Remedial and myofascial release therapist. She loves both occupations as much as the other, finding they often go hand in hand, allowing her to integrate her knowledge of the 2 when needed.
She enjoys working with people of all levels, teaching them how beneficial and easy pilates can be integrated into daily life.
A real stickler for detail, Lisa believes there is a lot to be said for listening to and learning from your body by building the foundations and learning how to improve with confidence, awareness and fun.
Hayley Burke
Melanie 
Sam 
Hayley 
Lisa