Risa Mathews, MA
Founder & Director
Risa’s personal practice in the Pilates Method began in 1987, whilst studying at SFU, attending dance classes on campus & at the Dance Gallery (Dianne Miller), and working in aquatics for the Vancouver Parks Board. A chronic knee condition led her to eventually give up dance and begin Pilates at the Dianne Miller studio in 1988. In 1993 Risa was involved in a motor vehicle accident which left her unable to walk the following year. The combination of aggressive rehabilitation involving chiropractic, osteopathic, physiotherapy, massage therapy, and rehabilitative pilates, assisted the healing process. The focus on personal well-being also set the ground for a change in careers from academics to movement education.
Apprenticeships in a number of established Pilates studios took place in Sydney, Australia, where Risa was attending post-graduate studies in Communication. Her many years of teaching (swimming, aerobics, movement for rehabilitation, as well as teaching in academics) combined with a personal need for ongoing physical rehabilitation, set the foundation needed for moving full-time into physical medicine. Risa’s first studio “Boditree Physical Conditioning Pilates Studio” opened in 1995 in Sydney, Australia, seeing regular referrals from local Osteopaths, Physiotherapists, Massage Therapists, and Physicians. In 1999 Risa sold her Sydney studio to return to her hometown of Vancouver, BC, to open Boditree Pilates & Healing in Kitsilano.
Since 1996 Risa has presented workshops in Canada, the US, & Australia, in addition to training and apprenticing Instructors through comprehensive educational programs. Risa’s work has been greatly influenced by a number of Master Instructors including Ron Fletcher, Dianne Miller, Michelle Larsson, and Marie-Jose Blom Lawrence. What makes Risa’s work unique is the integration of classical Pilates with pain management techniques found in Osteopathic stretching principles, physical medicine release work, and brain integration exercises developed by Applied Kinesiology (TFH).
Risa is a founding member of the Canadian Pilates Association, and served on the Board of Directors for 3 years.
Founder & DirectorRisa’s personal practice in the Pilates Method began in 1987, whilst studying at SFU, attending dance classes on campus & at the Dance Gallery (Dianne Miller), and working in aquatics for the Vancouver Parks Board. A chronic knee condition led her to eventually give up dance and begin Pilates at the Dianne Miller studio in 1988. In 1993 Risa was involved in a motor vehicle accident which left her unable to walk the following year. The combination of aggressive rehabilitation involving chiropractic, osteopathic, physiotherapy, massage therapy, and rehabilitative pilates, assisted the healing process. The focus on personal well-being also set the ground for a change in careers from academics to movement education.
Apprenticeships in a number of established Pilates studios took place in Sydney, Australia, where Risa was attending post-graduate studies in Communication. Her many years of teaching (swimming, aerobics, movement for rehabilitation, as well as teaching in academics) combined with a personal need for ongoing physical rehabilitation, set the foundation needed for moving full-time into physical medicine. Risa’s first studio “Boditree Physical Conditioning Pilates Studio” opened in 1995 in Sydney, Australia, seeing regular referrals from local Osteopaths, Physiotherapists, Massage Therapists, and Physicians. In 1999 Risa sold her Sydney studio to return to her hometown of Vancouver, BC, to open Boditree Pilates & Healing in Kitsilano.
Since 1996 Risa has presented workshops in Canada, the US, & Australia, in addition to training and apprenticing Instructors through comprehensive educational programs. Risa’s work has been greatly influenced by a number of Master Instructors including Ron Fletcher, Dianne Miller, Michelle Larsson, and Marie-Jose Blom Lawrence. What makes Risa’s work unique is the integration of classical Pilates with pain management techniques found in Osteopathic stretching principles, physical medicine release work, and brain integration exercises developed by Applied Kinesiology (TFH).
Risa is a founding member of the Canadian Pilates Association, and served on the Board of Directors for 3 years.