Meet
the team
Feel Good Fitness for Everyone
With over 15 years in business, Esprit Pilates is a family, fitness and rehabilitation focused studio. All of our teachers hold internationally recognised qualifications with Polestar Pilates – the leading Pilates education body in the world. We welcome you to our nurturing environment of wholistic health, wellness and fun!
Melissa Franks
Owner & Founder of Esprit & Pilates Teacher
As owner and founder of Esprit, Melissa has been teaching Pilates for over fifteen years.
She first discovered Pilates as a young dancer and went on to teach dance for fifteen years whilst simultaneously becoming a Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor. From there she moved into Pilates instruction, finding it to be her passion and eventually focusing on it exclusively.
Melissa loves the precision of movement required in Pilates and the way it blends rehabilitation with fitness to create an activity that can suit almost all bodies, conditions and goals. She has a keen awareness of holistic health, nutrition and energy therapies. Her other interests include yoga, pole dancing, astrology, traditional Chinese medicine essential oils, cooking and meditation.
Qualifications:
- Level 4 Practitioner with Pilates Association Australia
- Diploma Professional Pilates Studio and Rehabilitation (Polestar)
- Provide First Aid
- Diploma Dance Education (FATD)
- Cert IV Complete Pilates Mat Work (Polestar)
- Cert IV Personal Trainer (TAFE)
- Cert IV Children’s Fitness (CHISM)
- Cert III Fitness Instructor (specialising Group Exercise)(TAFE)
- Level 1 Power Plate Instructor
- Advanced Reformer (Polestar)
- Advanced Assessment Skills (Polestar)
- Critical Reasoning (Polestar)
- Polestar Meets Spinefitter
- Makarlu Masterclass
- Advanced Props (Polestar)
- Pilates for Seniors (Polestar)
- Science of Strength (PMA)
- Runity Online
Karen Scanes
Pilates Teacher
Karen began Pilates mat classes as a mother of two young boys who was looking to regain her flexibility, core control and a little bit of sanity! Within a few short months, not only did she notice an improvement in her body ‘age’, but also a noticeable difference in her mood, mindfulness and ability to manage stress. After years of practice and becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of Pilates for all walks of life, Karen set out to share the joy of Pilates with others – as Joseph Pilates famously said, “Everyone is the architect of their own happiness” and for Karen, Pilates was a key factor in this. Now qualified in mat and studio Pilates through Polestar Education, Karen’s teaching is motivated by successfully helping others feel better by finding improvement in flexibility, range of movement, lengthening and strengthening – whether this be for general health and well-being, or targeted exercise to support functional movement (e.g. for injury recovery or lifestyle athletic pursuits).
Qualifications:
- Member of the Pilates Association Australia
- Diploma of Professional Pilates Studio and Rehabilitation (Polestar)
- Provide First Aid HLTAID011
- Cert IV Complete Pilates Mat Work (Polestar)
- Bachelor of Science Honours – Botany
- Bachelor of Science – Natural Sciences
- Polestar Meets Spinefitter
Raya Cole
Pilates Teacher
Raya has been enjoying Pilates for over ten years and teaching Mat Pilates since becoming a Certified Practitioner of Mat Pilates through Polestar in 2019.
She loves helping people find joy and ease through movement and believes that ‘movement is medicine.’
When not teaching Pilates, she enjoys staying active by running & walking. She is also a mum of two girls and enjoys soaking up some sunshine with a good book.
Qualifications:
- Cert IV Complete Pilates Mat Work (Polestar Pilates)
- Pilates for Pregnancy (Polestar)
- Ultimate Reformer Certification (Polestar)
- Polestar Meets Spinefitter
- Runity (Polestar)
Clare Greenwood
Pilates Teacher
Clare’s Pilates journey began many years ago, with her first Pilates Mat class at a dedicated studio. From her first class to now, Clare has grown to understand the rehabilitative benefits of Pilates as she gained relief from long standing injuries.
It was after the birth of her second child, an experience that put her life in the balance, that she embraced it as a holistic practice for nourishing mind and body. Pilates played a vital role in her eighteen-month journey to recovery. A journey that was not only restorative, but transformative. It imbibed in Clare, a renewed zest for life and a drive to help others through the restorative practice of Pilates.
Clare’s experience provides a unique perspective and compassion for women who have experienced complicated births and birth trauma. Pilates was part of her healing journey and it is this healing that she wishes to share with others.
With the driven determination to be a positive, strong and inspiring role model for her daughters, Clare sought a career change. Moving from a corporate world of insurance claims she become a certified practitioner of Pilates Mat.
Clare has studied meditation and mindfulness integrating the benefits of a holistic approach into her practice. This inspired her to create a Pilates for Better Sleep class. Clare continues to look for ways to calm, restore, heal and invigorate mind, body and soul.
Qualifications:
- Diploma of Professional Pilates Studio and Rehabilitation (Polestar)
- Provide First Aid HLTAID011
- Cert IV Complete Pilates Mat Work (Polestar)
- Polestar Certified Course in Pregnancy & Postnatal Pilates
- Mindfulness & Meditation, Self Love & Self acceptance course
- Polestar Meets Spinefitter
Elissa Millhouse
Pilates Teacher
Elissa has worked as a sports and remedial massage therapist for 20 years, working in multidisciplinary clinics with physios, osteopaths, sports docs, Pilates instructors and strength and conditioning coaches. She has treated amateur and professional endurance athletes, people with pain presentations and non-sport related injuries, as well as women’s health conditions including pregnancy. She saw how massage could help people out of pain and into movement and developed a curiosity to see how her previous experience and understanding of anatomy and pathologies could combine with movement instruction to continue supporting her clients on the next part of their healing journey.
Elissa completed her Studio & Rehabilitation and Pilates Mat Work Instructor training at Polestar Pilates. She is a passionate believer that movement and massage complement each other in a wonderful way to enable a shift from pain to movement and beyond, paving the way to a return to life pre injury or feeling better than before.
Elissa grew up doing ballet, water skiing, horse riding, swimming, and has always been a runner and is currently training for the Sydney Marathon. Pilates features strongly in her training plan, of course!
Phoebe Price
Pilates Teacher
Phoebe is a passionate Pilates instructor who believes in empowering women through movement. Her own journey began during her first pregnancy, and Pilates has since become key in preventing running injuries while providing rehabilitative benefits. Phoebe tailors her classes to meet individual needs, ensuring all fitness levels are supported and challenged. She creates a positive, welcoming space where everyone can thrive. Outside the studio, Phoebe enjoys running, family time, and staying active.
- Diploma of Professional Pilates Studio and Rehabilitation (Polestar)
- Provide First Aid HLTAID011
- Cert IV Complete Pilates Mat Work (Polestar)
- Womens Health-pregnancy and pelvic floor
- Polestar Meets Spinefitter
Samantha Manevski
Pilates Teacher
Sam’s passion for Pilates started quickly and it wasn’t long after that she knew she wanted to share her joy for it with others. Since starting her Pilates journey, she has learned how to challenge her body with the goal in mind to improve both strength and flexibility.
Sam enjoys teaching and helping clients reach their goals. In her classes she likes to focus on the traditional movements and a add little spice with some barre moves.
Outside the studio she enjoys staying active, being by the beach with a good book or at a football game.
Qualifications
- Cert IV Complete Pilates Mat Work (Polestar)
- Barre Body Barre Instructor
- Ultimate Reformer Certification (Polestar)
- Polestar Meets Spinefitter
Sophie Finnane
Yoga Teacher
Yoga, for Sophie, is a journey within; it’s deep awareness & connection to self and the divine. Her teaching is rooted in pranayama (breathwork) – the bridge between body and mind, and the key to unlocking deeper layers of presence, vitality, and healing.
With over 350 hours of YTT training, she guides students through both dynamic vinyasa flows and breath focused yin practices. Pranayama is at the heart of her teaching, whether it’s igniting inner fire in strong, energetic sequences or facilitating deep nervous system regulation in stillness. Through conscious breathwork, we can shift stagnant energy, release tension, and cultivate a profound sense of balance.
Rhiannon Marden
Administration
Rhiannon is Mum to two beautiful girls and has over 15 years’ experience in Admin and Reception roles. She has worked at Esprit Pilates, keeping all things Admin running smoothly since 2018 and also helps out in the creche.
Her hobbies include Golf and Pilates.