Instructors

Deborah Watson

Deborah is the owner and founder of MatWorkz Pilates Studio.  At a young age, she understood how exercise positively benefited her mental health.  Movement has always been a major part of her life.  She has a B.B.A. in marketing and after a brief career as an American Council on Exercise personal trainer, naturally gravitated to Pilates and the mind, body, spirit connection.  She started her Pilates practice and teaching in 1997.  She attributes her success to her curious nature, her belief in the healing powers of movement and her ability to understand the importance of mental focus to be healthy and happy.  Her way of getting people to understand their body awareness and her great depth of technical knowledge in movement is due to her study of AIM (Amend Integrative Model).  She recently collaborated with  Carole Amend of Mill Valley, CA. to create a pilates mat continuing education program, Pilates by AIM.  She is enrolled in the Bodies Mind^® Academy Somatic Movement Teacher and Tutor program. She is on faculty at the http://orlandoballet.org/orlando-ballet-school . She has a teaching certificate for Mindfulness Meditation through Dharma Moon http://dharmamoon.com and Tibet House http://thus.org .  She is a ravenous reader, swims a couple of miles a week and loves any activity outdoors.

Certifications include:

• The Physical Mind Institute Mat Certification Mountainview , CA 1998
• The Pilates Method Teacher Training (Romana Kryzanowska) NYC 1999
• 3P’s workshop Clearwater, FL 2002 (Posture)
• GYROTONIC Expansion System^® Level 1 Tallahassee, FL 2004
• Polestar Pilates Studio Series Denver, CO 2005 (Bridging program)
• GYROKINESIS^® Level 1 Miami, FL 2007
• FAMI Workshop (Functional Anatomy for Movement & Injuries) NYC 2009
• GYROTONIC^®  Jumping-Stretching Board Training Orlando, Fl 2013
• Bodies Mind Associate Mill Valley, CA 2015

April Aubiel

April discovered the Pilates method when she was referred as a teenager to the Pilates Studio in New York City because of an injury she had sustained as a dancer. After leaving the field of dance, April began a 23 year career in management with Walt Disney World. While at Disney, she earned a master’s degree from Rollins College in Human Development, and later used movement therapy to help women overcome eating disorders. In 1994, April rediscovered Pilates and ignited a passion that would lead to a major career change. After leaving Disney, she completed Pilates Method training in Atlanta and with Romana Kryzanowska in New York City.

Certifications include:

• Pilates Method of Body Conditioning (Romana) 2000
• GYROTONIC^® Apprentice Teacher
• MatWorkz co-founder and instructor since 2000

Lisa Ryan

Lisa is a comprehensively trained Peak Pilates Certifiied Teacher. She has been teaching right here in Central Florida since 2008. She is committed to continuing education and lifelong learning. To that end, she is proud to be a graduate of the Kathy Grant Heritage Training taught by Cara Reeser. She is also currently enrolled in the Movement Science Made Simple graduate program.

Lisa began her personal pilates practice in 2004 as a cross training program for running. However, she quickly realized that everyone – regardless of age, goals, or fitness level – can benefit from this truly transformational movement system.

So whether you are an accomplished athlete, are just beginning your journey to physical fitness, or you’re somewhere in between, Lisa tailors safe and effective pilates sessions to help you achieve your goals.

Lisa herself enjoys an energetic and robust way of life. In addition to running and competing in the occasional local road race, she loves to paddle the Wekiva River whenever she gets the chance. She aspires to be a role model for her clients, and to instill in them a passion for engaging in an active, healthy lifestyle.

Certifications include:

• Peak Pilates Comprehensive Certified Pilates Instructor (2009)
• MatWorkz instructor since 2011
• Kathy Grant Heritage Training taught by Cara Reeser
• MatWorkz Instructor since 2012

PJ Catalano

PJ Catalano is orginally from Michigan and grew up a dancer, following in her mother’s footsteps and becoming a dance instructor. Bringing over 25 years of teaching experience, she began instructing mind-body fitness in 2001 after developing a passion for Pilates. She has trained in Stott mat & reformer and is fully certified through McEntire Pilates. Known for her hands-on approach, detailed corrections and the enthusiasm she brings to each session, PJ has worked with clients from all walks of life and varying abilities. In addition to teaching, she continues to learn and explore the possibilities of body movement.

Certifications include:

• Certified Pilates Instructor 2000
• Certified Level I GYROKINESIS^® Trainer 2010
• Licensed Massage Therapist (#MA74094)
• Certified Thai Massage Therapist 2006
• Reiki Master 2006
• Dance Masters of America (tap, jazz, ballet & acrobatics) 1991
• Cecchetti Council of America Teachers Grade I & II 2000
• Certified Level I GYROTONIC^® Trainer 2016
• GYROKINESIS^® Level 2 pretraining
• MatWorkz Instructor Since 2013

Thouraya Zapara

Thouraya began her journey with Pilates in 2006. Her movement background began with dance at the age of six, which she continued through the university level. She found Pilates while dealing with a repetitive injury. The increased strength and flexibility she obtained was accentuated by the stress relief and relaxation that her Pilates practice afforded her. Throughout her Pilates practice she became fascinated with the rehabilitative origins and applications of Pilates. This interest initiated her pursuit of Pilates instructor training in 2011. She completed comprehensive Pilates instructor training through Balanced Body in 2013.

Committed to continuing her education, she regularly takes courses and workshops to further expand her knowledge of healthy movement patterns. She completed a certificate in Pilates for Neurological Conditions with Mariska Breland in 2017. She is currently studying the Amend Integrative Model, a somatic approach to Pilates developed by Carole Amend.

Thouraya has a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego and an MBA with a concentration in Finance from San Diego State University. A San Diego native, she relocated to Orlando following a twelve year stretch in central Texas.

Thouraya has worked with clients of various fitness levels and ages. She enjoys helping clients gain awareness in order to create a stronger and healthier body.

Certifications include:

• Comprehensive Pilates Instructor, Balanced Body 2013
• MatWorkz instructor since 2016

Monica Heiz

Monica Heiz is a pioneer in exercise with over 25 years of experience.  She earned her degree from Florida State University with a B.S. in Nutrition & Fitness.

Monica's training in Pilates is grounded in the original method created by Joseph Pilates. Trained and certified in STOTT Pilates, her experience began in 2007 in NYC, the home of Pilates first Studio in 1926. The culture of Pilates runs deep, professional and detail oriented in NYC maintaining the richness clients travel far and wide for.  Monica trained in Anatomy Trains with Tom Myers himself and besides Brooke Siler, author of The Pilates Body and founder of re:AB Pilates Studio

STOTT Pilates is a comprehensive training method with world class education.

Her depth of wisdom, detail oriented focus in Pilates helps her clients find more peace in their body's, gaining more strength, mobility and overall well-being.

Noor Gandikal

In 2018, I turned to Pilates as a last resort to address the debilitating hip and lower back pain that had completely halted my life. After my first session, I felt a renewed sense of hope that I could regain control over my body. What I didn’t expect, however, was the profound impact Pilates would have on reinvigorating my mind and bridging the gap between my mind and body that had perpetuated the cycle of chronic pain.

With a dedicated training regimen of 3-5 sessions per week for three years, under the guidance of Jennifer O’Mara (The Pilates Loft), I was able to reclaim my physical and mental well-being, ultimately healing from chronic pain. As an added benefit, Pilates also helped me lose over 50 pounds!

In 2021, driven by my passion for the method, I earned my comprehensive certification through Classical Pilates USA™️, the successor to U.S.P.A.®️, under the tutelage of Master Teachers Jennifer O’Mara, David Freeman, and Brett Howard. These mentors instilled in me a deep sense of curiosity and dedication to the practice, which led me to further my training with Deborah Watson of MatWorkz.

I work with a diverse range of clients, from individuals experiencing chronic pain due to illness or injury to athletic persons seeking to complement their training regimens.

I love that Pilates is for every body! It can be used as a rehabilitative tool, as well as a transformative workout for a lifetime!