OUR TEAM
MEET THE INSTRUCTORS
LISA PALMER
Lisa has been an integral part of the Merrithew™ Health and Fitness team since 2004 and is a Lead Instructor Trainer in Pilates Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Stability Chair, Barrels, Injuries, Special Populations, Zenga® and Total Barre®. She is the most highly qualified Instructor Trainer on the African continent and this is evident in the classes that she teaches. Each class is unique and modified to suit every client. Her vast repertoire and extensive knowledge ensure that you will never grow tired of her classes.
She travels abroad every year to expand her training, doing new courses and workshops to share these fresh ideas with the South African market. She has studied extensively in Toronto, London and Toledo. Lisa is always at the forefront of health and movement. She has taught multiple courses in South Korea, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Zambia and all over South Africa. She is passionate about anatomy, fascial release and enhancing the lives of her clients and students.
When Lisa started her first studio, there were no STOTT PILATES® Licensed Training Centres in Africa and she saw a gap in the market. Lisa found there was a booming demand for STOTT PILATES®, and decided to pursue the ideal of becoming an Instructor Trainer, and later, the first Merrithew™ Licensed Training Centre on the continent; this came to fruition in 2007, and set The Movement Lab in Port Elizabeth apart as a studio that not only offered Pilates to clients, but also offered STOTT PILATES® certification courses. Lisa has now expanded The Movement Lab’s brand by opening her second studio in Cape Town.
JESSICA MANDEL
Jessica graduated from the University of Cape Town with a Bachelor of Business Science in Finance and Accounting and is a Fellow of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation. Jessica is co-owner of The Movement Lab and manages the studio’s online presence.
Jessica has completed her STOTT PILATES Mat, Barre, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, Barrels and Injuries/ Special Populations courses. Her barre routines change weekly, choreographed to upbeat playlists that are guaranteed to get everyone’s heart rate pumping! Her background in dance and as Captain of the South African Synchronised Swimming team is evident in her creative (and hardcore) classes. Her passion for anatomy is conveyed through her precise and detailed cueing and hands-on corrections.
MARIZE FLAX
Marize Flax is a professional dancer trained in ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, Latin and Spanish. She studied and qualified at UCT Ballet School and also qualified as a modern jazz and solo Latina dance teacher.
Her successful career in dance has taken her around the world where she has starred as lead female dancer in musicals, like Cats in its South African tour. After retiring from the stage, she rekindled her love of movement with Pilates – rehabilitating, strengthening and reforming her body with this incredible practice.
She continues to train, shape and teach people how to move with confidence and achieve their body’s utmost flexibility and strength as a BarreBody and Pilates Instructor.
Marize is committed to teaching fierce & fun Pilates classes filled with passion and sweat!
LIESEL SWANEPOEL
Liesel realised dance and fitness was her passion at a very young age. She started dancing at 6 and eventually went on to study a 4 year dance degree at the Waterfront Theatre School of Performing Arts. She attained her professional dance status in Modern Dance, Jazz and Tap and also participated in Ballet training. After her studies, she performed professionally for 4 years whilst working in the events industry focusing on conceptualised events and productions. Liesel also completed her STOTT PILATES Intensive and Advanced Mat and Reformer courses. She has over 7 years of teaching experience – spanning multiple disciplines, including Barre, Mat Pilates, Reformer Pilates, functional fitness and high intensity interval training. Liesel’s passion is infectious and motivates you to push your limits. Be prepared to sweat and have the best time shakin’ your booty to fun and upbeat music!
LEXI RYMAN
Lexi is a dedicated and enthusiastic fitness professional qualified with over 500 hours in yoga and a certificate as an integrative nutrition coach. She owned, managed and taught at her own studio for over four years pre-pandemic and loves every moment of getting to share her passion for holistic health and well-being in the form of Yoga teacher trainings, classes and online courses and programmes.
Wanting to expand her understanding and offering of different movement principles, Lexi trained under Lisa Palmer in Intensive & Advanced STOTT Pilates Mat & Reformer courses as well as Total Barre in 2021 at The Movement Lab. Lexi sees herself as an eternal student of life and the human experience and is happiest when collaborating with others in creating and achieving a state of health and being that serves their best and highest selves.
ALICE MAYBIN
Alice is a graduate of the UCT School of Dance, having completed her BMus Degree in Dance in 2018. She has furthered her studies and is now a qualified contemporary dance teacher under the umbrella of the Association of International Dance Teachers (AIDT). She currently runs the contemporary dance department at Reddam House, Durbanville. Alice’s dance background includes training in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Spanish, Acrobatics, Tap and the Horton technique. Her professional dance career has allowed her to perform with the Kalk Bay Theatre, Brigitte Reeve Dance Company, Darkroom Contemporary and Jazzart.
Alice has completed her STOTT PILATES Intensive Mat & Reformer courses at The Movement Lab under Lisa Palmer. She is also a qualified Barre instructor and is passionate about the fitness industry, believing that with solid technique everyone has the ability to achieve. She is a stickler for perfection and correct posture. She enjoys imparting her wisdom to her clients, finding it gratifying and fulfilling to see growth and progress. Alice is a bundle of energy, personality and professionalism rolled into one and her classes will leave you feeling stronger, energised and on top of the world.
HANNAH MARSHALL
Hannah found her passion for dance at an early age, deciding to follow her dream of becoming a professional dancer and studied the performing arts at The Waterfront Theatre School. Graduating in 2019, Hannah obtained the highest levels in ballet, modern, tap and musical theatre. During her time at WTS her love for teaching was ignited and she attained her Associate Teaching Diplomas in Ballet and Modern through the ISTD in London.
Having found movement as an integral part of her life, Hannah wanted to deepen and diversify her knowledge and understanding of the body and so she completed her Intensive and Advanced STOTT PILATES Mat Course through The Movement Lab in 2019, under Lisa Palmer, and then later her Total Barre Course in 2020. Her goal is to never stop growing and learning through each new fitness chapter in her life.
Hannah is happiest when sweaty, laughing and connecting with clients through creative and challenging movement. You can expect to feel empowered and inspired in her classes as you mindfully move and groove.
GABRIEL MELTZ
Gabriel has been involved in a multitude of movement practices his whole life. He studied acting at the California Institute of Arts, in Los Angeles, where he was first introduced to Pilates, yoga, alexander technique, Tai Chi and other movement practices. After moving to Cape Town in 2016, he completed his 200hr yoga teacher training and has since done further trainings focusing on trauma-informed and social justice in yoga and anatomy. His studies as an actor and interest in yoga have culminated into a deep enthusiasm for the mindfulness practice and a passion for movement. Gabriel is pursuing his STOTT PILATES qualification through The Movement Lab under Lead Instructor Trainer, Lisa Palmer.
Gabriel loves teaching a vigorous class with creative sequencing and a banging playlist with a wide variety of music. He is dedicated to making his classes inclusive and welcoming to all bodies with a focus on the fun!
SUZANNE ANNENBERG
Movement has always been a key feature of Suzanne’s life – ballet and dance lifelong passions. After retiring from the fashion industry, Suzanne went to New York to study Barre and was certified as a Barre teacher by Exhale. With the intention of deepening her Barre practice, she enrolled in various STOTT Pilates classes, workshops and courses at The Movement Lab. Having completed all her training, Suzanne is fully certified to teach STOTT Pilates Advanced Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair and Barrels. She has also completed workshops in Injuries & Special Populations, Zenga, Total Barre and Anatomy. She loves learning about how the body works and moves and is inspired to share her knowledge with others. She gets immense pleasure guiding people in their quest to get stronger and find joy in movement in a safe, fun and challenging setting. In her second career, Suzanne is having the time of her life!
JODI VAN STUIVENBERG
Jodi trained at a dance academy in Rotterdam, Netherlands for 11 years, graduating with a Degree in Dance Education, specialising in ballet, contemporary, jazz and fitness-focused styles including Pilates and Barre.
She fell in love with Cape Town a few years ago during her internship at the University of Cape Town, where she gained experience as a dancer and instructor. She has been teaching Pilates and Barre classes for the last 6 years both in Cape Town and abroad.
Jodi is currently furthering her studies, pursuing a STOTT PILATES education under Lead Instructor Trainer Lisa Palmer at The Movement Lab. Jodi’s vast experience and broad range of techniques make for incredible classes, where her positive energy shines through to motivate and inspire clients.
GEMMA MACROBERT
Gemma studied through the Royal Academy of Dance in London and is a qualified Ballet teacher and well as a qualified Modern Dance teacher with the Association of International Dance Teachers. Gemma has completed her STOTT PILATES Intensive and Advanced Mat and Reformer Pilates courses at The Movement Lab under Lisa Palmer. Gemma is also a qualified Barre instructor. Gemma currently teaches at various dance schools in Cape Town.
Having been a dancer her whole life, Pilates has added a completely new dimension to Gemma’s training as well as to her life. Pilates has allowed her to understand her body better and as a result live a stronger and more balanced life. Gemma strives to assist clients in forming a sound knowledge of their own bodies and how they work in order to enable them to enhance their lives and feel their best.
Gemma is passionate about creative and mindful movement and anatomy is committed to constantly learning more about the body and how it moves, and imparting that knowledge onto her clients.
KIM FREDERICKS
During a career in global travel as a private flight attendant for VIP clients in the Middle East and Europe, Kim completed her STOTT PILATES Mat and Reformer courses with Lisa at The Movement Lab.
She has since returned to Cape Town for good, ready to pursue her passion for Pilates full time.
Kim is dedicated to making Pilates more accessible. She wants to be part of a movement that removes the barriers to fitness by issuing a different kind of exercise experience; one where there is no “type” of person who does Pilates, but that recognizes the beauty and uniqueness of every body type, fitness level, and personal journey to enable clients to reach their own wellness goals that they never dreamed possible.
Her goal is to enable people of all fitness levels and abilities to define their journey toward health and vitality with safety and confidence.
RAPHAELLA JOANNOU
Raphaella graduated from the University of Cape Town with a first class Honours in Economics, and BSocSci in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Although her full-time job is a digital marketer and content editor, Raphaella’s passion for movement hasn’t left and is still growing. She danced at the Waterfront Theatre School for 8 years, building repertoire in Ballet, Tap, Modern, Musical Theater and Drama, and finished her international exams with top grades and trophies. She also has a background in Contemporary, Belly Dancing, Ballroom and Latin dance too.
Before completing her STOTT PILATES® Intensive and Advanced Mat courses under Lisa Palmer at The Movement Lab in 2021, Raphaella had qualified as a Kinesiology Touch for Health Practitioner at 16 years old, further growing her passion for mindful movement and the body’s incredible capability.
Raphaella loves moving and grooving to upbeat music, with creative sequences and challenging combinations, getting the mind and body working together. After enduring an injury of her own, and healing through movement, her barre classes are dedicated to building strong and supple bodies, sustainably and healthily.
MISHKA KAMALDIEN
Mishka graduated from the University of Cape Town in 2019 and works full-time as a Business Systems Analyst. Her love for Pilates and anatomy started when she was in high school following Blogilates’ routines daily. She enjoyed the intense workouts and satisfaction of the movement. Mishka’s passion was evident and she was awarded The Movement Lab’s Instructor Scholarship in 2022, where she completed the STOTT Pilates Intensive and Advanced Mat courses and the Total Barre course under Lisa Palmer.
In her spare time, she studies Arabic and is an obsessive cat mom. You can expect to be challenged by her strength-based classes. Her goal is to empower people to grow strong, healthy bodies and have fun while doing it. Move with Mish at The Lab!
MICAELA JADE TUCKER
Micaela Jade Tucker is an Actor and Musical Theatre performer. Having recently completed her honours degree in Dramatic Arts at Wits University, she decided to relocate to Cape Town to further her training at LAMTA Musical Theatre Academy. When she is not on the screen or stage, she is sweating it out in a Barre, Yoga or HIIT workout. Micaela is a health and fitness fanatic, with an intensive dancing background including RAD and Cecchetti Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Horton and Tap. Micaela makes an effort to incorporate mindful movement as a “non-negotiable” part of her everyday routine. The Movement Lab is a part of Mic’s daily ritual and she looks forward to making it part of yours too!
THANIA MOHIDIN
Thania’s relationship with movement began at the age of two. It started with swimming and branched off to ballet with the Sarah Daniell School of Ballet. In 2009, she continued with ballet and ventured into tap dance, modern dance, musical theatre and drama at the Waterfront Theatre School.
She is a practising physiotherapist after graduating from UCT in 2021 with a BSc Honours (Physiotherapy) and completing her community service in the Eastern Cape in 2022. Thania has completed the STOTT PILATES Intensive Mat and Reformer courses under Lisa Palmer at The Movement Lab. She was the recipient of our 2023 TML Instructor training Scholarship. She hopes to further her studies in rehabilitation and performing arts medicine.
Thania believes that movement is quality of life, and her goal is to carry this throughout her treatments as a physiotherapist and sessions as a pilates instructor to promote optimal function in her clients and patients.
CHELSEY MCLUCKIE
Chelsey has spent the past 7 years fine tuning her career in movement and mindfulness. With a strong background in yoga, mobility and pilates; her focus is on helping others build functional strength, recover from injury and deepen awareness of their bodies in space. Chelsey completed her STOTT PILATES Mat and Reformer training under Merrithew Lead Instructor Trainer, Lisa Palmer, at The Movement Lab.
She is passionate about helping others and pours her energy into classes and clients. Her classes are accessible and inclusive, with purpose. Chelsey has a keen interest in private sessions creating personalised programmes to achieve client specific goals. She thrives in the rehab space helping people regain movement and strength, in an encouraging and motivating environment.
AMBER MORGAN
Amber’s lifelong journey into the world of movement began with her early experiences in dance and performance, pushing her to the study at the Waterfront Theatre School, where she immersed herself in Musical Theatre and Dance. During these transformative years, Amber discovered her passion for teaching. Graduating with the highest accolades in Modern, Tap, and Ballet, she furthered her expertise by completing two dance teaching diplomas in Modern Theatre Dance and Tap Dance in 2020 through the ISTD in London.
Amber has amassed over 5 years of teaching experience in dance and has nurtured the talents of numerous aspiring dancers, professional and recreational. Amber certified as a spin instructor in 2022 and has been dancing on a spin bike ever since. Driven by her passion for movement and a desire to deepen her understanding of the human body, she successfully completed the Intensive and Advanced STOTT PILATES Mat Course and Barre Course at The Movement Lab under the mentorship of Lisa Palmer. Amber is happiest when she is moving her body and connecting with people. Drawing from her dance background and belief that fitness should be fun, Amber’s classes aim to blend the Pilates principles with creative movements and music.
OLIVIA BLOOMER
After earning her Undergraduate degree in Anatomy and Physiology and Honours in Biokinetics from The University of Cape Town, Liv dove into the field, bringing her unique approach to various roles. At the Sports Science Institute, she not only served as a Biokineticist but also founded the EmpowHer program, designed to empower women through strength training.
With certifications in STOTT Pilates Mat and Yoga, Liv seamlessly combines science-based movement with mindfulness, creating holistic experiences for her clients. Liv also instructs rhythm based cycling, allowing her to take her love for music-infused fitness to new heights. Now, running her own practice, Olivia specializes in orthopedic rehabilitation and sports-specific conditioning, continuing to inspire others on their wellness journeys.
Expect to leave Liv’s classes feeling invigorated, empowered, and deeply connected to your body and mind. Her passion for movement and music creates an atmosphere of fun and enjoyment, making movement a joyful experience.
NELINE THERON
Meet Neline, a believer that movement is medicine for the soul, and a gift to be cherished. With a background as a professional ballerina and a dedication to Pilates since a young adolescent, Neline has honed her craft over the years, enriching her practice with STOTT Pilates and Barre Instructor Training under the guidance of Lisa Palmer, Women’s Circle Facilitator Training, Trauma-Informed Training, and multiple Yoga Teacher Trainings.
As an instructor, Neline’s mission extends beyond the physical realm. Her ultimate goal is to lead her clients toward embracing and embodying their true selves, guiding them to achieve both their movement goals and personal aspirations.
For Neline, movement is inclusive and transformative – it’s for everybody and every body. Join her on the journey to discovering and celebrating the joy and healing power of movement!
ABIGAIL DE WAAL
Abigail’s love for dance is what shaped her life. She graduated from UCT having majored and excelled in Music and Dance and pursued it full time as a Senior Artist at Cape Town City Ballet. She then travelled extensively as a professional dancer and eventually settled in Hong Kong in 2018, where she was a full time dance teacher and Barre Fitness instructor. She also supplemented her teaching by completing her yoga Teacher Training, which she infuses into her classes.
Traveling allowed her to be inspired by teachers from all walks of life, to dance in companies and teach in cities around the world. Her teaching style is influenced by all of the disciplines that she has learned along the way.
“Movement is how I communicate and remove that which does not serve me. As a barre instructor and movement enthusiast, it gives me enormous fulfilment to guide my students through carefully crafted & well balanced classes in order to drive their imagination and to tap into that magic that is available to each and every one of us. We will shimmy & shake until we radiate! I cant wait to sweat, sculpt and stretch with you! Xx”
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