Our passionate team of certified Pilates instructors is committed to guiding you towards your wellness objectives, providing personalized attention, and fostering a sense of well-being in every session.
Marcia Rosales
Marcia Rosales, a 3rd generation certified classical Pilates teacher, is renowned in the industry for her extensive expertise. Trained by Brett Howard at Classical Pilates USA, she skillfully combines movement styles to craft personalized workouts. With a strong background in anatomy, Marcia excels at optimizing clients' movement patterns.
Having completed her Pilates certification in 2014 through the New York Pilates Studio Certification Program, she has worked with a wide range of clients at esteemed studios in NYC, Jersey City, Washington, & Vancouver B.C. Holding a specialty in Pre and Post-natal Pilates, Marcia continues to educate & empower women on the benefits of exercising during and after their pregnancy. She is also the creator & facilitator of a Pre & Postnatal Course for BCRPA, where she educates other fitness leaders on creating safe Pilates classes for their pre & post-natal clients.
Having a deep desire to share the practice of Pilates full time, Marcia decided to transition out of a 17-year corporate fashion career, and founded Canvas Pilates in 2019. Certified as a Franklin Method Fascia Trainer for the Lower Back in 2023, she continues to inspire through workshops and mentorship, leading others to a life that's Better Than Good.
Lela Dawson
Lela Dawson is a Classical Pilates Teacher and a graduate of The Pilates Centre. She is certified with the NPCT and has been teaching Pilates for over 20 years. In addition, Lela is also a BCRPA Trainer of Fitness Leaders and has been a personal trainer and fitness leader for over 30 years.
Lela is a passionate advocate of health and wellness and looks to inspire people of all fitness levels, ages and sizes to experience the benefits of Pilates and how the method will positively enhance their everyday activities and the quality of their lives. She looks forward to meeting and working with the wonderful clients at Canvas Pilates.
Alex Nicolas
Alex first came to Pilates because of low back pain induced by many years of sitting at a desk. After a few months of practice, she was feeling better and her low back pain was on its way out. A few years later, reading Joseph Pilates’ Return to Life through Contrology, she was blown away by his vision: empowering people to take care of their physical and mental health in a proactive manner through breath and movement. When the pandemic hit, she took the opportunity to enroll into The Pilates Center Teacher training program. Having recently graduated, Alex is looking to empower people to take care of their physical and mental health in a proactive manner through breath and movement.
Peter Chen
Peter came from a competitive dance background and was introduced to Pilates through his physiotherapist. Pilates helped him learn awareness through movement and was monumental to his successful dance career, holding a Canadian Champion title in Ballroom Dance. Experiencing the benefits that Pilates had on him, Peter became certified through the reputable Physicalmind Pilates method. He is also a personal trainer specializing in functional training. Peter is a Level 2 Franklin Method Educator, and sees great benefit in utilizing functional anatomy, imagery, and awareness training in his class. Helping people rehabilitate and improve mobility is why he continues his dedication to the Pilates method.
Peter also enjoys working with high level athletes, such as Canadian Silver Medalist in Ballroom Dance, and National Level Junior Swimmer. Peter believes that every exercise and repetition in Pilates is an opportunity to learn, and the experience and heightened awareness can be applied to everyday life.
Anastasiia Viekua aka Sia
Sia is a Certified Classical Pilates teacher with a passion for movement and love of learning and discovery. She earned a Masters Degree in fitness and recreation from Kyiv National University of Sport and Physical Recreation in 2016. From there, her curiosity led her to a yoga certification which then led her to discovering and falling in love with the Pilates method, which she’s been teaching since 2017.
In Sia’s words… “Pilates is the perfect method for transforming the body into its best, most vital, strong, and aligned version. I’ve seen firsthand how it enhances not only physical health but also other disciplines. In my own experience, it has deeply improved my practice of contact improvisation dance, helping me feel more connected, grounded, and free in movement during my spare time.”
Sia completed Noam Gagnon’s Beyond Pilates 500-hour Bridge Teacher Training Program graduate in June of 2024. She’s also certified with Lolita’s Legacy Pilates Teacher Training Program, and is Prenatal and Postnatal Pilates certified.
A graduate of Somática femina in Instituto Macuil and graduate of Introduction to Somatic Psychology training with Annie Brook, Sia is a somatics practitioner & facilitator which focuses on “waking up the body” to achieve your body’s full potential.
She lives by Thonas Hanna as a personal motto: “The human body is not an instrument to be used, but a realm of one’s being to be experienced, explored, enriched and, thereby, educated.” It is an honor for me to witness the body process.
Emmie Li
Emmie has been instructing Pilates for over 20 years, at her own studio in Burnaby and later in France. She was a graduate of The Pilates Center in Boulder, CO, and holds a National Pilates Certification Program (NPCP) comprehensive teacher certification since 2005. She was the first BC Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA) Trainer of Fitness Leader in Pilates (2007) and currently conducts instructor-training courses at Douglas College.
She is also a faculty instructor in Philosophy and Critical Thinking and is passionate about education and certification standards.
Emmie has been featured in Burnaby Now, CFUN Radio, and Flare Magazine as a Pilates expert. She integrates her knowledge to support clients of diverse backgrounds, learning capabilities and fitness levels. She is dedicated to her clients’ success, satisfaction, and overall well-being!