Second wind

Sara Yamada

Certification Director & Senior Instructor

Sara Yamada-Johnson is the Certification Director of Second Wind's Teacher-Training school. She is certified in Pilates through Second Wind® Pilates Plus® and is a Certified Integrated Movement Therapies (IMT)® Practitioner. Sara is also a Certified Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst® (CMA) through the Laban Institute of Movement Studies (LIMS) in New York.

With a background in gymnastics and rock climbing, Sara's previous work experience includes working with physically and mentally disabled children. Sara trained in Hatha Yoga through Whispering Winds Yoga and particularly enjoys the rehabilitative side of Pilates. The mother of a vivacious little girl called Miya (meaning 'increasingly beautiful' in Japanese), Sara is committed to helping clients discover the world of movement and their inner self.

Sara is and has been a vital part of Second Wind® for over a decade. Second Wind® would not be the exceptional place that it is without the special presence, mind, heart, and dedication that she brings to the studio!


Second wind

Jane Coburn
Office Manager & Studio Instructor

Jane is the Office Manager of Second Wind® Pilates Plus® and one of the studio's extraordinary instructors. Jane is a mother of three grown children and a grandmother. She first came to Second Wind® as a student 6 years ago for some "me" time. Discovering the difference that Pilates made to both her physical and mental well-being, she decided to pursue Certification.

Over the course of Jane's life, she has worked as a medical lab technologist, full time mom, school bus driver, retail manager, personal assistant and caregiver to her elderly mother. Jane brings sensitivity, compassion, and wisdom to her teaching. She has seen first-hand the positive benefits that proper posture, flexibility, and mobility can make in your life as you age.


Second wind

Cristina Chaparro
Certification Coordinator & Studio Instructor

Cristina came to Second Wind® Pilates Plus® with a background in theatre, where she first became fascinated with body awareness. She graduated from York University in 2007 with a BA in Theatre Studies and continues taking classes in acting, voice, and movement. After a quick dapple in the business world, attaining a Post-Graduate Certificate in Project Management, Cristina found Second Wind® Pilates Plus® where she fell in love with movement all over again.

A mother of one beautiful boy, Cristina is a Second Wind® Pilates Plus® certified instructor who feels blessed to be teaching at the studio with such a wonderful team of instructors and clients who truly inspire her. Cristina looks forward to continued learning and sharing of her knowledge and passion with others for many years to come.


 

Second wind

Janet Douris-Stringer
Senior Instructor

Janet is a Certified Second Wind® Pilates Plus® Instructor and Certified Integrated Movement Therapies (IMT)® Practitioner through Second Wind Pilates Plus®. She is certified in Hatha Yoga through Whispering Winds Yoga, and is presently pursuing certification in Thai Massage Therapy.

Janet has been teaching with Second Wind® for 10 years in both Pilates and yoga. She is a senior instructor with the studio and member of our certification instructor team. A wise and passionate wise teacher, Janet has a background in Kinesiology and has had a home-based business for 12 years. Janet embodies her personal journey through movement and service, continuing to deepen her knowledge through regular practice and study.


 

Second wind

Helen Holtham
Senior Instructor

Helen is one of Second Wind's senior instructors and part of our certification instructor team at Second Wind® Pilates Plus®. Helen a certified Integrated Movement Therapies (IMT)® practitioner and certified Pilates instructor through Second Wind®. She has also trained in Pilates at Body Harmonics. Helen has been a teacher and practitioner of fitness and wellness for 23 years in aerobics, Aquafitness (CALA and Water Art), Reflexology, and various body therapies. She most recently completed Downward Dog's Yoga Certification in Ashtanga Yoga, and studied Zumba.

Five years ago, Helen began voice lessons to 'find her voice' and low and behold, her journey into the world of voice and theatre has lead to "all kinds of weird and wonderful things" as she explains. Helen now announces for Skate Canada Figure Skating competitions regionally, nationally, and internationally. She takes acting classes regularly including Second City, and auditions whenever she can. Always smiling in herself and with you, Helen loves to see a smile on her participants as they accomplish something new, regain strength, become pain free, or are just having fun!


 

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Marlene Hope
Studio Instructor

As a graduate of Ryerson's Fashion Design, Marlene worked in the clothing industry in retail and design for many years. She is an associate Broker with ReMax Realty and a mother of three amazing children. Marlene is certified in Pilates through Second Wind® Pilates Plus® and is an avid and passionate instructor at the studio. She also trained as a personal trainer through CanFitPro and loves to integrate resistance training with the postural and technical proficiency that Pilates offers and Second Wind® is known for. Second Wind® offers a class taught only by Marlene, called Power Plus™. Marlene is her own master, and you will be too when she finishes with you!


 

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Linda Sellers
Studio Instructor

I took the "Pilates Challenge" in 2009 after retiring from a 25 year teaching career. In the first 10 sessions I felt the difference! In twenty sessions I saw the difference! In thirty sessions I saw a whole new body! At the end of those 30 sessions and at the age of 50, I enrolled in the Pilates certification program at Second Wind® Pilates Plus® and started another wonderful journey of learning and teaching as a Pilates instructor with the studio. I enjoy the challenge of helping each student reach their full potential in a safe and comfortable environment. I guarantee you will leave my class feeling happier, healthier, fitter, and richer!


 

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Yuka Shimizu
Studio Instructor

Yuka Shimizu is a certified Yoga teacher through Downward Dog Yoga Centre, a certified Restorative Yoga practitioner through Judith Hanson Lasater, a Certified Second Wind® Pilates Plus® Instructor, a Certified Integrated Movement Therapies (IMT)® Practitioner through Second Wind® and a Nutritional Consultant with RHN credentials.

She has been dedicated to the practice of Yoga for ten years, currently practicing mysore under the tutelage of Ron Reid at Downward Dog Yoga Center and Delia Triolo in Toronto. Yuka has also trained with Nikki Doane, Eddie Modestini, Danny Paradise, and Richard Freeman. Through her extensive experience and dedication, Yuka has evolved inventive, direct, and powerful ways of helping students of all levels master their own unique practice.


 

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Kim Woolridge
Studio Instructor

Kim graduated from Sheridan College in Animal Care and worked as a veterinarian assistant for years, until she left to work in her family business. In 2001, Kim was in a car accident, which led to her discovery of Pilates and Integrated Movement Therapies (IMT)®. She credits her return to mobility, strength and decrease in pain to IMT, which has allowed her to reengage in her love and amazement of the body. Kim recently completed her certification training through Second Wind® Pilates Plus® and has now begun to share her patience, knowledge, and perseverance gained through her profound journey towards health and wisdom with clients at Second Wind® Pilates Plus®.


 

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Johanne Ouellet
Studio Instructor


Johanne has been in the hospitality industry for 20 years, which she regularly seasons with her Pilates passion for the last decade. If this wonderful lady serves you at her favourite restaurant, beware as you will probably have to learn a bit about your own body too. A wine connoisseur, vivacious and kind person, Jo-Jo, as she is affectionately known, is now part of Second Wind's exceptional team of instructors.


 

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Cathy Olszanowski
Studio Instructor

Cathy Olszanowski is a Certified Pilates Instructor and Certified Integrated Movement Therapies (IMT)® Practitioner through Second Wind Pilates Plus®. Her journey of helping herself and others lead healthy life styles led her to the practice Homeopathy (DHom.) for numerous years. She has trained in Aromatherapy (CAT), nutrition, energy work, and Kundalini Yoga. Cathy has studied postural stretching techniques with Dianne Woodruff and participated in various workshops related to osteoporosis and scoliosis. Her goal is to educate clients about the importance of physical and mental health with particular focus on functional and mindful movement.  She enthusiastically shares the fruits of her new discoveries with her clients, who inspire her to towards a co-learning philosophy that grounds her understandings of movement and role as a teacher. 


 

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Lanee Brown
Studio Instructor

I began my relationship with the mind-body-spirit experience in the 80's with meditation. Current training is in the field of non-dualism philosophy, Yoga Nidra, and Tantric philosophy. My yoga certification primarily focused on the work of Vanda Scaravelli whose philosophy was "with allegrezza – an intelligent heart'. Iyengar and Kripalu techniques were also integrated. I have completed courses in Yoga Therapy, Pilates, Integrated Movement Therapies (IMT)® and Nia, and continue to expand my knowledge of Hatha Yoga, as well as Tai Chi & Qi Gong. Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, and Native approaches to wellness are of interest to me, with particular focus on aromatherapy and herbs. May we share the joy of life together. Namaste.